Apple TV (1st generation) vs Apple TV (2nd generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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TV (1st generation) compared with TV (2nd generation)

	AppleTV (1st generation)	AppleTV (2nd generation)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2007	September 2010
Video and audio
Resolution
Resolution	720p	720p
HDR
HDR	None	None
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	No	No
Video
Video	H.264 up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC), 1280 × 720 at 24 fps or 960 × 540 at 30 fps; MPEG-4 up to 3 Mbps, 720 × 432 at 30 fps; .m4v, .mp4 and .mov files. Maker lists compatible TV timings up to 1080p/1080i, which are distinct from its maximum decoded video resolution	H.264 up to 720p at 30 fps, Main Profile level 3.1; MPEG-4 up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 × 480 at 30 fps; Motion JPEG up to 35 Mbps, 1280 × 720 at 30 fps. Protected content requires HDCP
Audio
Audio	AAC, protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 pass-through on the retained maker sheet, reflecting software added after the launch reviews	HE-AAC (V1), AAC, protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 pass-through
Performance
Software
Software	Apple TV Software	Apple TV Software
Storage
Storage	160 GB	–
Chip details
Chip details	Intel processor (Apple); 1 GHz Pentium M with Dothan core and NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 graphics with 64 MB VRAM (Ars Technica teardown)	Apple A4 chip; Apple does not publish its clock speed on the model's spec sheet
Memory
Memory	256 MB DDR2 (Ars Technica teardown)	256 MB RAM (iFixit teardown, from the A4 package marking)
Storage
Storage	40GB or 160GB hard drive; 160GB option first sold in the US on 31 May 2007 and in the UK on 1 June. Originally synchronised with one iTunes computer and streamed from up to five additional computers	8GB NAND flash (iFixit teardown); used for streaming cache rather than a user-accessible library. Home Sharing replaced the original model's synchronised local media
Software and services
Software and services	Apple withdrew iTunes Store access from 25 May 2018 (MacRumors, quoting Apple's notice); the retained spec sheet and launch reviews describe historical services	Reviews describe historical services available at launch, including US-only Netflix and TV programme rentals. Netflix's current compatibility list requires Apple TV HD (4th generation) or later; this model is no longer supported
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11n (draft), 802.11b/g	802.11a/b/g/n
Ethernet
Ethernet	Yes	Yes
Voice remote
Voice remote	No	No
Ports
Ports	HDMI video and audio; component video; optical audio; analogue RCA stereo audio; 10/100BASE-T Ethernet; USB 2.0; IR receiver	HDMI; optical audio; 10/100BASE-T Ethernet; IR receiver; Micro-USB for service and support
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	IEEE 802.11n draft specification, compatible with 802.11b/g; wireless video streaming requires 802.11g or 802.11n	802.11a/b/g/n; wireless video streaming requires 802.11a, g or n. The maker sheet does not list Bluetooth support, although iFixit identified a combined Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chipset
Remote
Remote	Included Apple Remote, using infrared	Included seven-button aluminium Apple Remote using infrared; Apple's iOS Remote app also supported control over the network
Design
Type
Type	Box	Box
Power
Power	Built-in 48 W universal power supply	Built-in 6 W universal power supply
Size
Size	197 × 197 × 28 mm (W × D × H); 1.09 kg, varying with configuration and manufacturing	98 × 98 × 23 mm (W × D × H); 0.6 lb, varying with configuration and manufacturing
In the box
In the box	Apple TV, Apple Remote, power cord and Quick Start guide; video and audio cables sold separately	Apple TV, aluminium Apple Remote, power cord and documentation; HDMI cable sold separately