With the introduction of a lower-priced Apple TV 4K, Apple appears to be discontinuing the entry-level model. According to MacRumors, the Apple TV HD is no longer available through the company’s online store. It’s unclear whether the device will still be available at retail or through other online stores, but if you find it at a discount, you should act quickly. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment.
This isn’t a surprising move. The Apple TV HD debuted in 2015 and remained officially priced at $149, despite later 4K models offering significantly more power for as little as $30 more. With the 2022 Apple TV 4K starting at $129, there’s little reason to keep the legacy player around — especially since it uses an iPhone 6-era A8 chip that limits its theoretical capabilities.
There are some conditions. The new Apple TV 4K does not include Ethernet or Thread support in the base 64GB model, so you’ll need to upgrade to the 128GB model for $149. Furthermore, Apple still lacks a truly low-cost living room media player. If you simply want an alternative to your TV’s built-in features, you’ll have to look to competitors like Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
However, you get a lot more for your $149, including support for all of the major HDR standards, a much faster processor, and more storage. If nothing else, Apple is sharpening its focus — it’s staking out the high end of the market while leaving the rest to competitors.
