Apple TV (3rd generation) vs Apple TV 4K (2nd generation)

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TV (3rd generation) compared with TV 4K (2nd generation)

	AppleTV (3rd generation)	AppleTV 4K (2nd generation)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2012	May 2021
Video and audio
Resolution
Resolution	1080p	4K (better)
HDR
HDR	None	Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG (better)
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	No	Yes
Video
Video	H.264 up to 1080p at 30 fps, High or Main Profile level 4.0 or lower, Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower; 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	H.264/HEVC SDR video up to 2160p, 60 fps, Main/Main 10 profile
HDR
HDR	–	HEVC Dolby Vision (Profile 5), HDR10 (Main 10 profile) and HLG up to 2160p, 60 fps
Audio
Audio	HE-AAC (V1), AAC, protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 pass-through	Dolby Atmos; AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1) and E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1); Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, AAC, HE-AAC and MP3; ARC or eARC over HDMI
Performance
Software
Software	Apple TV Software	tvOS
Storage
Storage	–	32 GB
Chip details
Chip details	Apple single-core A5; maker model numbers A1427 and A1469 (Rev A) are both third-generation Apple TVs	A12 Bionic with 64-bit architecture
Memory
Memory	512 MB RAM (AppleInsider review); Apple does not publish RAM on the model's spec sheet	3 GB LPDDR4 (iFixit teardown)
Storage
Storage	Streaming device with flash storage for caching rather than a synchronised local media library; maker does not publish its capacity. Home Sharing supported streaming from a Mac or PC running iTunes	32GB or 64GB
Software and services
Software and services	Legacy Apple TV Software, with built-in channels rather than a third-party App Store. Reviews describe services available in 2012–2017. Netflix's current compatibility list requires Apple TV HD (4th generation) or later; this model is no longer supported	–
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n	Wi-Fi 6
Ethernet
Ethernet	Yes	Yes
Smart home hub
Smart home hub	–	Yes
Voice remote
Voice remote	No	Yes
Ports
Ports	HDMI; optical audio; 10/100BASE-T Ethernet; IR receiver; Micro-USB for service and support, not external media playback	HDMI 2.1 (up to 4K 60 fps HDR output, ARC or eARC); Gigabit Ethernet; IR receiver
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	802.11a/b/g/n; wireless video streaming requires 802.11a, g or n. Bluetooth support for Apple Wireless Keyboard requires Apple TV Software 5.2 or later	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 with MIMO, simultaneous dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz); Bluetooth 5.0
Smart home
Smart home	–	Home hub; Thread, for HomeKit or Matter Thread accessories
Remote
Remote	Included aluminium Apple Remote using infrared; Apple's iOS Remote app also supported network control	Siri Remote (2nd generation) with clickpad, microphone for Siri, Bluetooth 5.0 and IR transmitter; controls the TV or receiver by IR or CEC; rechargeable over Lightning; 136 × 35 × 9.25 mm, 63 g
Design
Type
Type	Box	Box
Power
Power	Built-in 6 W universal power supply	Built-in power supply
Size
Size	98 × 98 × 23 mm (W × D × H); 0.6 lb, varying with configuration and manufacturing	35 × 98 × 98 mm (H × W × D); 425 g
In the box
In the box	Apple TV, Apple Remote, power cord and documentation; HDMI cable sold separately	Apple TV 4K, Siri Remote, power cord, Lightning to USB cable, documentation