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Apple TV 4K (2nd generation)
A12 Bionic power, high frame rate HDR and a redesigned remote.
Overview
Four years after the first Apple TV 4K, Apple refreshed the box with the A12 Bionic from the iPhone XS. The faster chip decoded high frame rate HDR, with Dolby Vision at up to 60 frames per second, which made sports and gaming content smoother.
A new feature called Color Balance used the iPhone's light sensor to measure a television's colours and compensate. Support for HDMI 2.1 and Wi-Fi 6 made the connection ready for the next generation of sets.
The Siri Remote was reworked with a circular clickpad that functions as a d-pad, a dedicated power button and a mute button. Many users disliked its sensitivity, and Apple later replaced it with a USB-C version. The box itself kept the same size and ports as the first 4K model.
Why it mattered
Brought a modern chip and a new remote design to the 4K box, preparing it for gaming and sports.
At a glance
- Announced
- April 20, 2021
- Released
- April 30, 2021
- Discontinued
- October 18, 2022
- Launch price
- $179
- Status
- Discontinued
Highlights
- A12 Bionic chip
- High frame rate HDR
- Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.1
- Color Balance with iPhone
- New Siri Remote with clickpad
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A12 Bionic
- RAM
- 4 GB
Storage
- Storage
- 32 GB or 64 GB
Video
- Max output
- 4K (2160p) at 60 fps, HDR10, Dolby Vision (high frame rate), HLG, HDMI 2.1
Audio
- Audio
- Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 7.1, Dolby Digital Plus
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
- Ethernet
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Smart home
- HomeKit hub
- Ports
- HDMI 2.1
- Remote
- Siri Remote (2nd generation) with clickpad
Design
- Dimensions
- 98 x 98 x 35 mm
- Weight
- 425 g
Software
- Launch OS
- tvOS 14.5
How it compares
More in the Apple TV 4K family
Apple TV 4K (1st generation)
Ultra HD and high dynamic range arrive on Apple TV.
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)
Smaller, lighter and cheaper, with an A15 Bionic chip.
Apple TV 4K (4th generation)
A19 chip, Wi-Fi 7 and far-field Siri in the new box.