# Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd Generation)

- Source: https://stierproducts.com/products/apple-tv-4k-2022-3rd-generation
- Category board: https://stierproducts.com/categories/streaming-devices
- Placement: #2 of 15 in Streaming Devices, S tier
- Brand: Apple
- LP on this board: 950
- Last researched: 2026-08-30T07:12:32.312Z
- Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology
- Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22062813 - every board at once, one dated snapshot per release, same licence, prices and photographs left out
- Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.

## Verdict

The 3rd-gen Apple TV delivers the most robust firmware support and longest software life of any consumer streaming box. It receives continuous OS updates for over five years, has a very low failure rate in owner surveys, and its silicon is built to last.

## For

- Robust firmware support with over five years of OS updates
- Very low failure rate reported by owners
- Silicon designed for long-term durability
- Best overall streaming device per Wirecutter
- Top RTINGS rating for picture quality

## Against

- Recent price increase frustrates owners

## Evidence

Consolidated from 57 cited sources across 45 outlets

| Outlet | Said by | Stance | Link | Link status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AVS Forum | avsforum.com | B | https://www.avsforum.com/threads/appletv-4k-device-has-greatly-improved-audio-quality.3338699/ | fetched and confirmed |
| What Hi-Fi? | whathifi.com | S | https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/apple-tv-4k-3rd-generation | fetched and confirmed |
| VICE | Matt Jancer | B | https://www.vice.com/en/via/apple-tv-4k-streaming-review/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Stuff | Dan Grabham | B | https://www.stuff.tv/review/apple-tv-4k-review-3rd-gen/ | fetched and confirmed |
| MacDailyNews | MacDailyNews Webmaster | B | https://macdailynews.com/2026/05/05/apple-tv-4k-released-in-2022-is-still-the-fastest-streaming-device-on-the-market-bar-none-vice/ | fetched and confirmed |
| ecoATM | Scott Strandberg | B | https://blog.ecoatm.com/sell-apple-tv/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Pcmag | Jibin Joseph | B | https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-may-finally-refresh-the-apple-tv-4k-homepod-mini-this-year | fetched and confirmed |
| Digital Trends | Digital Trends | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpgz-7hddys | fetched and confirmed |
| RoTech | RoTech | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01v8BcOn8Lg | fetched and confirmed |
| Pete Matheson | Pete Matheson | C | https://www.petematheson.com/apple-tv-4k-review-whats-next-for-apple-tv/ | fetched and confirmed |
| r/appletv | u/indelibleink89 | B | https://www.reddit.com/r/appletv/comments/1omz2pw/good_news_everyone_after_months_of_patience_i/ | fetched and confirmed |
| HiFiVision.com | suku_patel_22 | C | https://www.hifivision.com/threads/apple-tv-4k-price-hike-is-insane-managed-to-grab-one-at-old-pricing-just-in-time.104257/ | fetched and confirmed |
| BGR | José Adorno | B | https://www.bgr.com/2120139/apple-tv-4k-3rd-gen-worth-upgrading-2026/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Pocket-lint | Eli Becht | D | https://www.pocket-lint.com/apple-tv-4k-new-remote/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Instagram | - | B | https://www.instagram.com/p/DUREXJMDJ42/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Audio Advice | Danielle Welch | B | https://www.audioadvice.com/blogs/expert-advice/apple-tv-tvos-27-guide?srsltid=AfmBOop3uZRUd-QsFcT3trhNsFhxXjPIkwCMBM2lxwbPP4RElren0EM1 | fetched and confirmed |
| An Insight into my Hindside | Scurvy Dawg | D | https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/09/20/apple-tv-4k-3rd-gen-plex-heat/ | fetched and confirmed |
| 6 Months Later | 6 Months Later | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZohQzadl_c | fetched and confirmed |
| Digital Trends | Digital Trends | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFaD2CrYjiw | fetched and confirmed |
| Brandon Butch | Brandon Butch | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU7VHkYkm1M | fetched and confirmed |
| James Shin | James Shin | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdhYtzUIMVk | fetched and confirmed |
| Faiz Aly | Faiz Aly | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymzaANwh8Rk | fetched and confirmed |
| Gio San Pedro | Gio San Pedro | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pieECxl-ELg | fetched and confirmed |
| Andrew Ethan Zeng | Andrew Ethan Zeng | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INdNL8-pFfQ | fetched and confirmed |
| Mark Ellis Reviews | Mark Ellis Reviews | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf17KWGgxOI | fetched and confirmed |
| Digital Trends | Digital Trends | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwop1xmxGDU | fetched and confirmed |
| HotshotTek | HotshotTek | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL5MSx0d3nc | fetched and confirmed |
| HotshotTek | HotshotTek | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE_ahupkqYI | fetched and confirmed |
| ZDNET | ZDNET | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ekMFI6pIs | fetched and confirmed |
| Tech Done Casual | Tech Done Casual | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIdE6cFO6fs | fetched and confirmed |
| Prithwiraj \| PR75K | Prithwiraj \| PR75K | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4obHhAz26xk | fetched and confirmed |
| Ravi Singh | Ravi Singh | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUDdklCOnLY | fetched and confirmed |
| Faiz Aly | Faiz Aly | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hgemZI9hfU | fetched and confirmed |
| Faizan Jahangir | Faizan Jahangir | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFJK1tWhVL8 | fetched and confirmed |
| HotshotTek | HotshotTek | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HAFZn2uZ1k | fetched and confirmed |
| Jimmy Tries World | Jimmy Tries World | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECHl7XtAGk | fetched and confirmed |
| 9to5Mac | 9to5Mac | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6oQqPQPilw | fetched and confirmed |
| SARATH. | SARATH. | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4NJfIqoY7w | fetched and confirmed |
| Craig's Tech Talk | Craig's Tech Talk | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mP3sAbuLxs | fetched and confirmed |
| 6 Months Later | 6 Months Later | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBnAJG9XweU | fetched and confirmed |
| Adam's Tech Life | Adam's Tech Life | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-92OwVuBHlU | fetched and confirmed |
| CNET | CNET | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szKSPGgau-I | fetched and confirmed |
| Faiz Aly | Faiz Aly | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6YNPhb-OcU | fetched and confirmed |
| iFixit | iFixit | C | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGLj6osf4eU | fetched and confirmed |
| Joseph K Morris | Joseph K Morris | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDhG7gNfCZw | fetched and confirmed |
| SMART Bike Trainers | SMART Bike Trainers | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds5wxfc97BI | fetched and confirmed |
| 6 Months Later | 6 Months Later | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa3E8ORKDms | fetched and confirmed |
| Craig's Tech Talk | Craig's Tech Talk | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwwIybqIXPY | fetched and confirmed |
| Ceemeagain | Ceemeagain | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQE3ibBnR1w | fetched and confirmed |
| Kyle Erickson | Kyle Erickson | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws-s1BLyOjs | fetched and confirmed |
| What Hi-Fi? | whathifi.com | B | https://www.whathifi.com/av/live/apple-event-2025-live-the-airpods-pro-3-and-iphone-17-phones-are-expected-but-what-about-the-homepod-mini-2-and-a-new-apple-tv | fetched and confirmed |
| Engadget | Matt Tate | C | https://www.engadget.com/2212812/is-apple-tv-4k-worth-after-price-hike/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Smart Select | info@smartselect.guru | B | https://smartselect.guru/product-review/apple-tv-4k-2022-review/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Tech Torque Media | techtorquemedia.com | B | https://techtorquemedia.com/apple-tv-4k-2022-long-term-review/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Pocket-lint | Roger Fingas | B | https://www.pocket-lint.com/how-long-will-your-apple-tv-last/ | fetched and confirmed |
| ZDNET | Elyse Betters Picaro | B | https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/apple-tv-change-settings-upgrade/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Americantv | americantv.com | B | https://www.americantv.com/do-i-need-a-box-if-i-have-a-smart-tv.php | fetched and confirmed |

## Nearest alternatives on this board

| Rank | Product | Tier | Page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Google TV Streamer (4K) | S | https://stierproducts.com/products/google-tv-streamer-4k |
| 3 | Roku Streaming Stick 4K | A | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-streaming-stick-4k |
| 4 | Roku Ultra | A | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-ultra |
| 5 | NVIDIA Shield TV Pro | B | https://stierproducts.com/products/nvidia-shield-tv-pro |
| 6 | Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max | B | https://stierproducts.com/products/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-max |
| 7 | Roku Streaming Stick Plus | C | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-streaming-stick-plus |
| 12 | Amazon Fire TV Stick HD | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/amazon-fire-tv-stick-hd |
| 13 | Chromecast with Google TV (4K, 2020) | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/chromecast-with-google-tv-4k-2020 |
| 14 | Roku Express 4K | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-express-4k |
| 15 | Ugoos AM6B+ (CoreELEC) | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/ugoos-am6b-coreelec |

The full board is at https://stierproducts.com/categories/streaming-devices.

## What this tier means

- S: Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category.

## How to read this

- Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.
- LP is this product's points on its own category ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories.
- Link status reports what our pre-publication link check found when it fetched the cited URL. It says nothing about the quality of the review.
- A citation with no usable link is listed rather than dropped, and is excluded from the counted total above.

## Image

https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/apple-tv-4k-2022-3rd-generation.webp

Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.