After the first test reports on the iMac and iPad Pro have already been published, the first reviews of the new Apple TV 4K and the revised Siri Remote now follow.
These reviews go into detail about the performance improvements of the new Apple TV with an A12 Bionic processor inside, as well as real life with the new Siri Remote. So explained CNN Underscored that the redesigned Siri Remote is the "best" they've ever tested. The new remote is a "must-buy" for Apple TV users:
The Siri Remote is the star here. It's the best remote we've ever tested. It's simple, minimalistic and most importantly, intuitive to use. It's a serious upgrade over the original and if you're currently happy with your previous generation Apple TV 4K, we'd recommend the new remote. If you have an aging Apple TV HD, now is a great time to upgrade to cover yourself for several years. Of course, you also get the new Siri Remote.
However, the review adds that the price of the Apple TV will be a deterrent for many people:
The new Apple TV 4K is faster than competitors like the Roku Ultra, Streambar, and Google Chromecast. Spending $50 for Chromecast or Roku Express 4K gets you similar features and support for major visual standards at a cheaper price, though we prefer the aluminum and intuitive Siri remote over the plastic remotes bundled with Roku's. The Apple TV 4K runs tvOS, and you have access to the App Store for thousands of streaming services that historically come to the Apple TV before other platforms. Finally, the Apple TV 4K makes sense as a player for those in the Apple ecosystem, since photos, music, and what you watch will sync across all your devices.
Apple TV 4K: Brand new Siri Remote with old make
Meanwhile reported iMore that the new Back button on the Siri Remote suffers from some of the same problems as the mysterious Menu button it replaces:
What the update won't solve is the Home button. Apple renamed it "Back," but like its predecessor, it's more of a random action button. When users are watching a video in the TV app and press it, they get an options bar at the bottom of the screen. Then they have to press it again to exit. But when they press the button in Netflix or Disney+, for example, users are immediately pulled out of the video. On YouTube, the overlay exits with "Back." When users can't anticipate something, they get frustrated. That's why consistency is a huge benefit to the user, and I hope Apple uses the power of the HIG to force standardization of this basic control.
The sixth generation Apple TV is an update to the product line with new internals, led by the A12 Bionic CPU. It also includes the redesigned Siri Remote, which is intended to serve as a universal remote to control all devices. The new remote has a clickpad with 5-way navigation for improved accuracy. It also offers a circular gesture on the edge for jog control, similar to the iPod classic. While the Apple TV 4K with the new remote is available from 199 euros, Apple TV owners of older generations can also purchase the remote separately. This is available from Apple for around 65 euros. (Image: Apple)
