Apple TV Model Guide: Which Apple TV Should You Buy in 2026?
Apple TV Buyer’s Guide 2026: Which Model Is Right for You?
Apple’s streaming box has quietly become one of the best living room devices you can buy. While many smart TVs include apps for Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, YouTube and Prime Video, the Apple TV continues to offer a noticeably smoother, faster and more polished experience.
However, buying one isn’t always straightforward. Search eBay or Facebook Marketplace and you’ll quickly discover dozens of different model numbers, storage capacities and generations. Some are over ten years old, while others are among the fastest streaming devices currently available.
So which Apple TV should you buy in 2026?
Let’s break it down.
Apple TV HD (4th Generation – Model A1625)
Released in 2015, the Apple TV HD marked a significant redesign. It introduced tvOS, an App Store, Siri support and transformed the Apple TV from a simple streaming box into a genuine entertainment platform.
Specifications include:
Apple A8 processor
1080p output
HDMI 1.4
Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth 4.0
32GB or 64GB storage
Although it still receives software updates, its age is beginning to show. Apps launch noticeably slower than modern hardware, multitasking feels sluggish and it lacks support for 4K HDR content.
That doesn’t make it useless. If you simply want an inexpensive streaming device for a spare bedroom or older television, it remains perfectly capable.
For a main television, though, there are much better options.
Apple TV 4K (1st Generation)
Apple introduced its first 4K model in 2017.
Major improvements included:
4K resolution
HDR support
Dolby Vision
Apple A10X Fusion processor
Gigabit Ethernet
Faster graphics performance
This was a massive upgrade over the HD model and still performs surprisingly well today.
If you find one at the right price, it’s still an excellent streamer for movies and television.
Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation)
Released in 2021, this version refined almost everything.
Highlights include:
Apple A12 Bionic processor
HDMI 2.1
Higher frame rate HDR
Improved Siri Remote
Better wireless performance
The A12 chip made navigation almost instantaneous and improved gaming through Apple Arcade.
This generation also introduced Apple’s redesigned aluminium Siri Remote, replacing the much-criticised glass touch remote supplied with earlier models.
Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation)
This is the current Apple TV and, in many ways, the best streaming device Apple has ever built.
Two versions were released:
64GB Wi-Fi model
128GB Wi-Fi + Gigabit Ethernet model (Model A2843)
Powered by the A15 Bionic processor, it delivers desktop-like responsiveness.
Features include:
4K HDR
Dolby Vision
HDR10+
Dolby Atmos
HDMI 2.1
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.0
Thread Border Router support
HomeKit Hub functionality
Everything feels instant.
Applications launch immediately.
Scrolling is perfectly smooth.
Menus remain responsive regardless of how many apps are installed.
Even if your television is only 1080p, the faster processor makes everyday use significantly more enjoyable.
Performance Comparison
One of the biggest surprises when moving from an older Apple TV is just how responsive the latest hardware feels.
The Apple TV HD uses Apple’s A8 processor from 2014.
The latest Apple TV uses the A15 Bionic, the same family of processors found in modern iPhones.
That’s several generations of architectural improvements, resulting in:
Faster app launches
Smoother interface animations
Better multitasking
Improved Apple Arcade performance
Faster AirPlay transfers
Longer software support
It’s one of those upgrades you notice every single day.
Which Model Offers the Best Value?
If you’re shopping used, here’s my advice.
Budget Choice
The Apple TV HD is still worthwhile if you can find one for around £20–30 and only need basic 1080p streaming.
Anything more than that and you’re paying too much for ageing hardware.
Best Used Buy
The first-generation Apple TV 4K remains excellent value.
If you don’t need every modern feature, it delivers fantastic performance for considerably less money than the latest model.
Best Overall
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation), particularly the 128GB model with Gigabit Ethernet, is the clear winner.
Its A15 processor, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Thread support and long software lifespan make it one of the safest Apple purchases you can make today.
Should You Upgrade?
If you’re currently using an Apple TV HD, the answer is simple: yes.
You’ll gain:
Much faster performance
Better image quality
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Future software updates
Better HomeKit integration
Faster networking
Improved gaming performance
Even if your television isn’t 4K, you’ll still benefit from the dramatically faster hardware.
Final Thoughts
Apple rarely reinvents the Apple TV, instead refining it every few years with faster processors and new technologies. That strategy has paid off.
The latest Apple TV isn’t just a streaming box, it’s a HomeKit hub, a Thread Border Router, an Apple Arcade console and one of the fastest media players available today.
If you’re browsing the second-hand market, the model number matters.
An inexpensive Apple TV HD may be enough for a spare room, but if you’re buying a device you’ll use every evening, spending a little more on an Apple TV 4K especially the latest third-generation model, is money well spent.
Sometimes the best upgrades aren’t the most exciting ones. They’re the ones that quietly make everything you do feel faster, smoother and just that little bit better.
