It seems that this Fall, the choice for those in the market for Apple’s streaming set top box, will still include the early Apple TV model prior to the new and improved version introduced this year.
With that said, there are a few key differences between all three versions of Apple TV, all capable of appealing to different types of consumers.
2013 Apple TV
Starting with the original Apple TV, consumers on a budget still have the option of purchasing a very respectable streaming box in its own right.
The 3rd revision of Apple TV, updated in 2013, is powered by a single-core A5 CPU, with the same 1080p video output as the new Apple TV, but without the a/c option for Wi-Fi connectivity, which is restricted to the a/b/g/n standards available in 2013.
Both old and new Apple TVs feature 10/100BASE-T Ethernet and Bluetooth 4.0. Also, the 2013 model features the original iteration of HDMI, which the new Apple TV connects to TV sets using HDMI 1.4.
If gaming, and access to the App Store are not a requirement, consumers will get by just fine with the 2013 version, which will still be available at the reduced price of $69, at least until such time as Apple decides to discontinue it.
2015 Apple TV 32GB
For $150, the 32GB version of the new Apple TV offers a number of options that come with a full version of iOS 9 as the operating system. Access to the App Store introduces the gaming element into Apple TV, effectively turning Apple TV into a gaming console in its own right.
This is a big step for Apple, due to the fact that finally, consumers will be able to play their favorite iOS games, on their big screen home theater systems, without being affected by lag, or flicker, caused by casting iOS devices using Continuity.
The 32GB version of the new Apple TV offers twice as much storage as most newer iPhone and iPod Touch devices, which makes it easier to negotiate space for apps and games. To ensure that enough space for apps and games is available, Apple also caps TV app downloads at 200MB, which still allows plenty of buffer for high-definition video streaming.
2015 Apple TV 64GB
The top-end 64GB option of the Apple TV comes with a $200 price tag, and offers twice the storage of its entry level version, which makes a difference in the volume of apps and games available to store. The great thing about more storage is also that Apple TV will cache a higher volume of most frequently accessed content, which enables instant playback for movies and shows, on nearly every app.
2013 VS. 2015 Apple Remote
There is a radical difference between the old and the new remote. The 2013 version of the Apple TV remote is still currently available separately for $17, and it’s still a great product, very lightweight, elegant and easy to use, and just like the new remote, it doesn’t require to be in direct line of sight with Apple TV.
With that said, the 2015 version is a completely different product, offering a completely different set of features.
For starters, Siri is now integral part of the experience, with consumers now able to issue voice commands, directly to the remote, which now features a Force Touch trackpad.
The new remote also integrates a range of sensors that make it a great game controller, including the same accelerometer and gyroscope found in the iPhone and iPad.
The not-so-subtle caveat is that neither remotes are interchangeable, which means that the new 2015 remote will not work with the 2013 version of Apple TV, although this is merely a formality, as both Apple TVs come with their respective remotes.
Video Review of the new Apple TV