Apple TV HD Discontinued
October 21, 2022 at 11:57 a.m.
Apple recently discontinued the manufacture and sales of its last HD-only TV device. The company will continue to build and ship 4K compatible Apple TVs, with a newly released refreshed model shipping soon.
Although Apple released its first HD TV box in 2010, it discontinued this primordial device in 2012, replacing it with a full 1080p HD model. Apple TV HD refers to the fourth-generation model released in 2015. Apple continued selling this device alongside newer 4K models until it pulled it from stores this week.
For those who own a fourth-generation Apple TV HD, rest assured that you will still receive tvOS updates, including the upcoming tvOS 16 release, coming out on Friday, November 4, 2022.
Although one can still purchase an Apple TV HD device from third-party retailers, at an MSRP of $129, the newest 4K Apple TV features an A15 Bionic chip, compared to the HD’s A8 processor. You may be able to save $20 or more on the older HD version, but the newest model is a better value, with Apple offering support for many more years.
Given that Apple TV features an App Store with games and interactive media, a faster processor delivers superior performance. I still own an Apple TV HD, and it’s getting slower with every update. I can still stream video and play some simple games on it, but the 4K version opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
For those who still have HD TVs, the 4K version is backward compatible. tvOS enables users to choose screen resolutions from 4K to below 720p.