Apple TV 4K: Price Shock, Siri Skepticism

HostThe voices in this episode are synthetic, and the script was written by a language model. The positions are real, and they come from the thread.

HostToday, we're diving into a heated discussion over on Hacker News, where a thread of 553 comments grappled with Apple's latest announcement. The article from apple.com unveiled the new Apple TV 4K, touting it as 'supercharged by Siri AI' with far-field microphones and an A19 chip.

HostBut the room wasn't exactly thrilled. Most of the conversation revolved around the device's $299 price tag, with many feeling it's a significant overreach for what's on offer. There's a lot of skepticism about the new Siri features, and a smaller camp of technical users pointing out what's still missing.

Price shocked underwhelmedHonestly, the price is just ridiculous. Three hundred dollars for a streaming box? It's an exorbitant jump from the previous generation's $129 or even $199 models. What are we even paying for?

Apple tv loyalistI think you're missing the bigger picture. It's not just a streaming box; it's a premium device with a superior user interface and a commitment to privacy that you just don't get from other manufacturers. That longevity and reliability make the initial investment worthwhile.

Price shocked underwhelmedBut what new features justify that price increase? For $300, I could buy a basic 4K TV, or a mini PC that offers way more functionality. The 128GB of storage is completely unnecessary for streaming, and it just drives up the cost. Apple's forcing us to pay for things we don't need.

Technical puristAnd it's not even a complete solution for home theater enthusiasts. Despite that powerful A19 chip, it still lacks critical features like lossless audio passthrough for TrueHD Atmos or DTS:X. We're still stuck at 4K/60Hz, with no 120Hz support, which is a huge miss at this price point.

Siri ai cynicLet's not forget the 'supercharged Siri AI.' Siri's historical performance has been so unreliable and slow, I can't imagine how 'supercharging' it will make it any better. It's just not a compelling feature for most people, and it's certainly not worth paying extra for.

Price shocked underwhelmedExactly! And the price is even worse internationally. People are paying $429 CAD or €350 in Europe. It's just not right to charge that much for a device that's barely an upgrade for most users who just want to stream.

Apple tv loyalistI'd argue that the smooth, ad-free UI alone is a huge advantage over the sluggish, ad-infested smart TVs and other streaming sticks. For those of us who want to avoid connecting our smart TV directly to the internet, it's a necessary purchase for a clean streaming experience.

Siri ai cynicBut those far-field microphones are a concern. It's an always-on listening device in my private space. And given Siri's track record, it's likely to cause conflicts with other HomePods or just not work well at all. I don't want to have a conversation with my media player.

HostThe thread certainly saw a lot of skepticism about Siri's capabilities, with many pointing to its past performance. But what about the privacy aspect you mentioned earlier?

Apple tv loyalistApple's business model isn't primarily reliant on data harvesting, unlike Roku or Google TV. They've got the most incentive to deliver privacy, and they've invested in things like Secure Enclaves. It's the one box I can reasonably trust not to be mining my viewing habits.

Price shocked underwhelmedI appreciate the privacy, but is it worth a $300 premium? I can get a Roku 4K for $50-60 that handles basic streaming just fine. The value proposition just isn't there, especially when there are no compelling new features to justify the cost.

Technical puristAnd it's not just about basic streaming. For those of us with serious home theater setups, the lack of lossless audio passthrough is a dealbreaker. My $12,000 Trinnov processor can handle 4K at 120Hz, but the Apple TV still can't pass through high-fidelity audio properly.

Siri ai cynicPlus, Siri AI isn't even available in all languages or regions. It's a US-centric feature that doesn't justify the global price increase. People are saying Siri AI on iOS 27 is 'horseshit' and 'dire' in beta; why would it be any better on the Apple TV?

Price shocked underwhelmedIt feels like Apple's just removing the cheaper options to force us into paying more. They used to have lower-storage models, but now you're stuck with 128GB, which is overkill for most streaming users. It's a cynical move.

Apple tv loyalistBut the integration with HomeKit and HomePods is seamless for those in the Apple ecosystem. And features like AV1 decoding and Find My for the remote are genuinely useful additions. It's a complete package for many.

Technical puristAV1 decoding is a basic expectation for a modern device, not a premium feature. And while HomePod surround sound is an improvement, it's not a substitute for a dedicated, high-end system. It's still missing Dolby Vision Profile 7 support, so ripped Blu-rays won't play correctly.

Siri ai cynicAnd what about the gaming aspect? Apple keeps putting powerful chips in these, but their attempts at making it a gaming platform have been half-hearted at best. It just feels like overpowered hardware with features like AI that don't have a clear purpose.

Price shocked underwhelmedThe Nvidia Shield Pro, which is an older device, still offers superior codec support and flexibility for advanced users, and it's around the same price. Why would I choose the Apple TV when it's missing so much for the cost?

Apple tv loyalistThe Shield Pro is older, though, and it's not without its own issues. Apple's ecosystem, the consistent updates, and the overall polish still make the Apple TV the best streaming box on the market for many, even with its shortcomings.

HostThe discussion often became quite heated, with some commenters accusing others of 'fanboyism' or 'paranoia' when it came to Apple's privacy claims. It seems there's a strong divide on how much trust to place in the company.

Price shocked underwhelmedIt's not paranoia to question a $300 streaming box that doesn't offer significant upgrades. The price increases over the years have been staggering, from $79 to $299 in a relatively short time. It's just not good value.

HostBeyond the main points, a few less common views popped up. Some thought the Apple TV could be a good gaming platform, or that its storage was primarily for games, despite the general consensus that Apple's gaming efforts are limited.

HostThere were also a couple of people who suggested a mini PC running Linux or LineageOS as a viable, easy-to-use alternative for streaming all major services, though most found that idea impractical for a simple media player.

HostSo, where did the thread ultimately land? There's a clear consensus that the new Apple TV 4K is significantly overpriced for what it offers, especially for existing owners or those just wanting basic streaming. The 'supercharged' Siri AI was met with widespread skepticism, and many felt the device still lacks crucial home theater features.

HostWhile some defended its privacy and user experience, the prevailing sentiment was one of disappointment, leaving many to wonder if Apple's pricing strategy has finally pushed the device out of reach for its core audience.

HostSloppod out.

HostSloppod is sponsored by Taskpile.app.

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