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Western Digital’s Latest WD_Black SSDs Target Consoles, Affordable PCIe 4.0

(Image credit: WD)

While in-person Computex has been canceled, companies still have new product to roll out, and today Western Digital adds a trio of new drives to its gaming-focused WD_Black line. There are a pair of D30 Game Drives targeting next-gen consoles, with one model aiming for the PlayStation 5 market, and a WD_Black D30 Game Drive SSD for Xbox targeting Sony’s console competition. But for PC builders and gamers, the internal WD_Black SN750 SE will be of most interest, as it brings PCIe Gen4 support at a starting price of just $49.99. But without DRAM, it will probably have a hard time making it to our best SSD list.

But first, let’s tackle the console-focused externals. Both models will come in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities, with the Xbox model starting at $99.99 and the more generic WD_Black D30 Game Drive SSD starting at $10 less ($89.99). Both come in typical bulky-looking rugged housings with detachable stands, with the non-Xbox model delivering claimed speeds of up to 900 MBps. This drive will allow you to play and store PS4 games, but only allow for archiving of PS5 games. (The PS5 only plays the latest-gen games from the internal SSD).

The D30 Game Drive SSD for Xbox, meanwhile, will ship with a one-month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to help make up for the slight price difference. Similar to the other drive, you’ll be able to play and store Xbox One games on the drive, but only archive Xbox Series X/S titles. WD says the white-accented Xbox-branded drive should arrive in June, while the more generic black model should be available today at “select retailers” and the WD Store.

(Image credit: WD)

Shifting to the new internal M.2 drive, the WD_Black SN750 SE is an NVMe drive that supports PCIe 4.0 (and is also backwards compatible with Gen3). WD says it will deliver read speeds of up to 3,600 MBps. So it’s no barn-burner, but WD says it will consume up to 30% less power than the previous SN750, which may help its appeal for laptop gamers. Note, though, that this model will be a DRAM-less drive, which no-doubt helps keep costs (and power consumption) down.

The WD_Black SN750 SE will start at $49.99 for the 250GB model. Pricing on the 500GB and 1TB capacities has not been revealed, nor is there a mention of a 2TB model. But we’re sure to learn more (and hopefully have a full review for you) as we get closer to availability. WD says the WD_Black SN750 SE is available for preorder from WD now, and will land on store shelves this summer.

Valve may be working on a handheld Steam console

Over the last couple of years, Valve has been working on Steam Cloud Gaming, allowing users to connect their Steam libraries to services like GeForce Now. Valve’s cloud ambitions may not end there though, as evidence is pointing to a new handheld streaming device currently known as ‘SteamPal’.

SteamDB creator, Pavel Djundik, brought attention to this today. After some datamining, code strings were found referring to “SteamPal”, “SteamPal Games” and “Neptune”, which is the codename for a controller Valve is also working on. There were also references to a “NeptuneGamesCollection” and a separate string for “Device Optimized Games”.

What this appears to be alluding to is a handheld streaming device with its own dedicated controller, which would be used for streaming Steam games. Not all games on Steam support gamepads/controllers, so that is where the ‘device optimised’ list comes into play.

Valve dropped the Steam Controller and its Steam Link streaming device in favour of an app-focused approach for smartphones. It seems that Valve isn’t done with ideas to deliver Steam games in a more streamlined, console-style format.

KitGuru Says: Valve works on new projects all the time, a lot of which don’t reach the public announcement phase. Still, with cloud gaming finally beginning to gain some ground, this is a concept that has a lot of potential, especially as a replacement for the Steam Link concept. Would you like to see Valve bring out its own console-style streaming device for Steam games?

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Square Enix and Team Ninja working on Final Fantasy spin-off inspired by Souls games

Over the last year, Square Enix has announced a slew of new Final Fantasy projects, including expansions for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy XIV, as well as the next major game in the series, Final Fantasy 16. It looks like the publisher isn’t stopping there either, as rumours are pointing to another new Final Fantasy spin-off game.

Speaking with Fanbyte, sources confirmed, that Square Enix is working with Team Ninja, the studio behind Ninja Gaiden and Nioh, to develop a new Final Fantasy spin-off inspired by games like Dark Souls and Nioh.

This will be a more accessible take on the genre, so don’t expect it to be as gruelling as a Souls game. Apparently, there is already a playable demo planned for this summer, similar to what Team Ninja did in the past with early demos for Nioh. This game is currently expected to be announced at E3.

The final little piece of information we have on this is that it will apparently be a PS5 console exclusive, with a PC release coming a bit later down the line.

KitGuru Says: I loved the Nioh games, so I’m intrigued to see something similar in a Final Fantasy setting. It looks like we have our first surprise of E3 to look forward to.

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Next-gen version of Fallen Order release date leaked

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was one of the biggest games of 2019, selling well over 10 million copies. The 3rd person action-adventure game received PS5 and Series X|S support shortly after the consoles’ launch, but a bespoke next-gen version was also promised to be coming – with a new retailer listing suggesting that the team is aiming for an end-of-June release.

According to two separate Brazillian retailers, the PS5 (and series X|S) versions of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order are set to release on the 26th of June, just over a month away. Being two separate retailers, and the nature of their status within the country itself lends credence to this release date being legitimate.

EA previously announced that a native PS5 and Series X|S version of Fallen Order was in development, with a release set for some time in Summer – though no specific date was given at the time. Currently, little is known about this remaster, with the team only revealing that it will bring “a number of technical improvements to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S console versions of the game,” and that “this will be a free cross-generation upgrade to current owners.”

With its release date seemingly so close, hopefully more specifics on the exact details will be revealed sooner rather than later. Furthermore, with the previous-gen version already receiving next-gen patches, it will be interesting to see what specific upgrades are coming to this native port.

KitGuru says: Did you play Fallen Order? What do you want to see from this upgrade? Are you excited for a sequel? Let us know down below.

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Days Gone tops the Steam best sellers list

Each week, the best selling games on Steam globally are collected and ranked. For the week ending on the 23rd of May, the previously PlayStation-exclusive Days Gone has topped the charts, dethroning Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and boding well for the future of PlayStation games on PC.

The top 10 best selling Steam games (as ranked by revenue) for the week ending 23rd of May are:

Days Gone
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
BIOMUTANT (preorder)
Resident Evil Village
Subnautica: Below Zero
Red Dead Redemption 2
Valve Index VR Kit
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition
It Takes Two
Cyberpunk 2077

The biggest addition to the charts is Days Gone, which has managed to take the top spot. This is likely aided by the game’s PC port offering many robust graphical options, giving the game an overall higher critic and user score than that of its original console counterpart.

The early success of Days Gone on PC, and the previous success of Horizon Zero Dawn (despite a rocky start) bodes well for the future of PlayStation on PC. Days Gone marks the second first-party PS4 game to make its way to the PC platform. Other previously PlayStation exclusive games, such as Death Stranding and Detroit: Become Human also found their way to PC – though both of these titles were developed externally.

With Days Gone now on PC, it will be interesting to see what Sony’s long-term plan for the platform is, and if more PlayStation games will find their way onto PC.

KitGuru says: Have you purchased Days Gone on Steam? Do you think Sony will bring more games to the platform? What game would you like to be ported next? Let us know down below.

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Dying Light: Platinum Edition leaks

As fans of the open-world zombie fighting parkour game Dying Light eagerly anticipate the release of its sequel, developers Techland are re-releasing the first game, bringing all of its content into one neat package. Dying Light: Platinum Edition has now leaked, bringing into question whether a next-gen patch is on its way.

Though not yet officially announced, Dying Light: Platinum Edition has leaked on the Microsoft Store with a release date of the 27th of May. According to the listing, the Platinum Edition lets fans “enjoy Dying Light to the fullest with the richest version of the acclaimed open world zombie survival game. Containing four DLCs and seventeen skin bundles, Dying Light: Platinum Edition brings together everything you need to explore all the post-apocalyptic world has to offer. Drive across Harran, as you spread carnage in your buggy, face and survive Bozak’s trials, explore new quarantine zones, and enjoy plenty of new skins and weapons!”

While ‘ultimate editions’ are nothing new in the industry, the time between the release of the original game and this new package is longer than most developers choose to wait to bundle a game and its DLC together in such a way. This has led some fans to speculate that Techland may be planning to release a next-gen patch alongside the release of this new bundle.

Dying Light first launched in 2015, running at 30fps on consoles. Being a game focused on movement, Dying Light would benefit greatly from a 60fps next-gen console patch. We will have to wait and see what exactly this bundle brings, and why the team are choosing to release it now.

KitGuru says: Did you play Dying Light? Are you excited for its sequel? Do you think Techland will release a free next-gen patch? Let us know down below.

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USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

Soon, the majority of portable PCs won’t need to be equipped with an ugly barrel jack and a proprietary power brick to charge. The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has just announced (via CNET) that it’s more than doubling the amount of power you can send over a USB-C cable to 240 watts, which means you’ll eventually be able to plug in the same kind of multipurpose USB-C cable you currently use on lightweight laptops, tablets, and phones to charge all but the beefiest gaming laptops.

Previously, the USB-C Power Delivery spec tops out at 100 watts, and it’s definitely held the industry back a tad — for example, while my own Dell XPS 15 can technically charge over USB-C, it needs 130W of power to charge and run at full bore simultaneously. Some manufacturers have sold off-spec USB-C adapters (I have a Dell dock that outputs 130W), but they don’t always come bundled with machines and generally have a fixed, non-detachable cable to prevent against misuse.

But with 240W of power — something that the USB-IF is calling “Extended Power Range” or EPR for short — you could theoretically charge an full-fat Alienware m17 gaming laptop over USB-C.

You’ll need new USB-C chargers and cables to take advantage of the new spec, of course, though you should hopefully be able to tell which is which: “All EPR cables shall be visibly identified with EPR cable identification items,” reads part of the USB-IF’s requirements for the new spec. A cable will need to support up to 5A and 50V to be compliant.

Judging by the photos below, it looks like manufacturers may need to tweak their charger designs as well:

There will still be exceptionally beefy laptops that demand more than 240W of power, of course. 330W power supplies still come standard with some machines, and there are always exotic machines that require more than one power supply to function. Gaming desktops generally require far more power, with a 650W PSU or higher PSU required for the latest desktop graphics cards, and 240W may not be quite enough for the latest game console from Sony and Microsoft.

On the other hand, some computers are getting more efficient as the years go by. Case in point: the colorful new iMac comes with a 143W power adapter. In a year or two, it’d be a viable candidate for USB-C power.

Go read iFixit’s damning take on Samsung’s ‘ruined’ upcycling program

In a new blog post, iFixit heavily criticizes Samsung’s recently announced Galaxy Upcycling program (via ArsTechnica), an initiative which the repair specialists helped launch in 2017. It’s a damning look at how the initiative morphed from its ambitious origins to a “nearly unrecognizable” final form, and completely sidelined iFixit in the process.

Here’s how iFixit describes the original plan:

The original Upcycling announcement had huge potential. The purpose was twofold: unlock phones’ bootloaders—which would have incidentally assisted other reuse projects like LineageOS—and foster an open source marketplace of applications for makers. You could run any operating system you wanted. It could have made a real dent in the huge and ever-growing e-waste problem by giving older Samsung devices some value (no small feat, that). It was a heck of a lot more interesting than the usual high-level pledges from device makers about carbon offsets and energy numbers.

You can see this original vision on display in a Samsung trailer from 2017 (embedded below). Samsung outlined how an old smartphone could be turned into a sensor for a fish tank, simultaneously re-using an old phone while at the same time helping to stop people from needing to buy a dedicated single-use device. Other potential ideas included turning old phones into smart home controllers, weather stations and nanny cams.

It sounds like a cool initiative, and iFixit was initially heavily involved. It lent its branding to the launch, and its CEO Kyle Wiens helped announce the project onstage at Samsung’s developer conference. It had even planned to expand its support pages and spare parts program for Samsung phones had the project shipped, but…

Instead, we heard crickets. The actual software was never posted. The Samsung team eventually stopped returning our emails. Friends inside the company told us that leadership wasn’t excited about a project that didn’t have a clear product tie-in or revenue plan.

So what’s the problem with the program in its 2021 form? Two things: it only goes back three years to the Galaxy S9, and it only gives it basic smart home functionality. Less, in other words, than what’s possible from a cheap $40 Raspberry Pi.

So instead of an actually-old Galaxy becoming an automatic pet feeder, full-fledged Linux computer, retro game console, a wooden-owl Alexa alternative, or anything else that you or a community of hackers can dream of, the new program will take a phone you can still sell for $160 and turn it into something like a $30 sensor.

Most will have probably just shrugged and moved on when they saw Samsung’s upcycling announcement in January. But it’s disappointing to realize that the project could have been so much more. iFixit’s post is well worth reading in its entirety.

Apple reckons Microsoft is secretly behind Epic Games lawsuit

The Epic Games v Apple trial is starting to wind down after several long weeks of testimonials in court. One issue Apple has raised during this time is Microsoft’s testimony in court, during which it was claimed that Microsoft has never made a profit selling Xbox consoles. Apple is trying to get this particular testimony struck from the proceedings.

A couple of weeks ago, Apple’s legal team requested an “adverse credibility finding” against the testimony of Lori Wright, Microsoft’s VP of gaming, media and entertainment. Now, Apple is bringing this back up again, with another filing claiming that Microsoft is secretly behind Epic Games’ lawsuit.

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple is claiming that Microsoft is using Epic Games as a “stalking horse”, a term used to describe an entity using a third-party to challenge an idea or concept in order to gauge the reaction. This is essentially an accusation that Microsoft is the puppet master behind Epic Games legal battle with Apple.

Apple also previously took issue with Microsoft’s lack of supplied documentation to support Wright’s testimony in certain aspects, such as the claim that Xbox console sales are not or have never been profitable. Microsoft of course denies these claims, labelling them as a way to distract from the legitimate concerns that were raised during trial, such as the treatment of game streaming services on iOS versus the treatment of TV/film streaming services.

KitGuru Says: The judge hasn’t made any decisions yet, but Apple is very keen to get Microsoft’s testimony thrown out before this lawsuit comes to a conclusion. Tim Cook is taking the stand today, so we should get more news out of this trial over the coming days.

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Gigabyte details FI32U gaming monitor with 4K resolution, HDR and 144Hz refresh rate

Last month, Gigabyte announced its first gaming monitor to sport HDR, 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Now, the full spec sheet for the FI32U has been revealed, fully detailing Gigabyte’s impressive upcoming 32-inch display.

For those that care about gaming performance and picture quality equally, the Gigabyte FI32U comes equipped with a 31.5-inch Super Speed IPS panel with a 4K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate (120Hz console mode), and a 1ms G2G response time. The 10-bit (8-bit + FRC) panel covers 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 123% of the sRGB spectrum and features DisplayHDR 400 certification. Rated brightness is set at 350 nits and the contrast ratio at 1000:1.

Like most other premium gaming monitors, the FI32U packs a slew of gaming-oriented features including Aim Stabilizer Sync, Black Equalizer, ANC for consoles, and the Game Assist overlay. Other features include flicker-free technology, OSD Sidekick, Dashboard overlay, PIP, PBP, HDR modes, a 6-axis colour control, and a KVM switch.

Available video outputs include 2x HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4. There’s also a 3.5mm mic jack, a 3.5mm audio jack, 3x USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port. Both audio ports are powered by an Audio ESS Sabre HiFi chip. The back of the monitor features RGB Fusion 2.0 lighting, which users can synchronise with other compatible RGB products of their system.

The included stand of the Gigabyte FI32U is very versatile, allowing users to swivel (±20º), pivot (+90º), tilt (-5º to 21º), and adjust the height (0-130mm). Kensington lock and support for VESA wall mounting 100x100mm is also included.

KitGuru says: Looking for a new high-end monitor? The Gigabyte FI32U might be worth considering.

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A 20-year-old Xbox Easter egg has been revealed, and there may still be more

Kotaku has revealed an Easter egg that’s been hidden on the original Xbox for almost twenty years, after a developer who worked on the console sent in a tip. The Easter egg, which has apparently remained secret until now, can show you the Xbox Dashboard Team’s names after you follow a byzantine set of steps (as is par for the course when it comes to some video game secrets).

Kotaku was able to find someone with a working Xbox who could actually carry out those steps, which you can see in the publication’s video below. If you’ve got one of the consoles, you can try it out for yourself by ripping a CD as a soundtrack and calling it “Timmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” (using 26 “y”s to reach the maximum amount of characters allowed). After the rip is complete, going to the Xbox’s Settings > System Info screen will instead display the names of the people who worked on the dashboard.

The Easter egg is similar to another one that exists on Microsoft’s original console, where naming a soundtrack rip “<>” will immediately play credits thanking the console’s development partners and players.

Developers hiding their names in games and consoles is nothing new. In fact, it’s widely believed that the first video game Easter egg was created by a developer trying to get their name into their game. As the story goes, developer Warren Robinett hid his name in the 1980 game Adventure after Atari refused to give him credit.

Modern consoles also like to incorporate various winks and nods to gaming culture as well — the PS5 has PlayStation’s iconic circle, triangle, square, cross symbols molded into some of its plastic, and this Fisher-Price gamepad for literal babies incorporates the famous Konami Code.

Despite gamers being ever-vigilant for hidden secrets, it seems as if there’s still at least one hiding somewhere in the Xbox. As Kotaku points out, Seamus Blackley, the creator and designer of the Xbox tweeted in 2017 that there was still a hidden secret that no one had found. But the one revealed Friday wasn’t what he was referring to, he told Kotaku:

Thankfully, Blackley was kind enough to respond to a few queries about all of this. He confirmed that yes, the Xbox Easter egg he has in mind does in fact revolve around the Xbox’s boot animation, and is not the “Timmy” secret we’re revealing today—which he actually didn’t know about.

It seems the egg hunt can continue on for fans of the ancient console.

The PlayStation 5 is available at Walmart

Sony’s elusive PlayStation 5 console is in stock at Walmart. If you’re one of the many people who has struggled to get one for yourself, today is looking good for you, and it’ll look better if more retailers jump in with stock later today. As usual, Walmart might not immediately appear to be selling consoles today, but you might be able to get one added to your cart if you refresh frequently. (Note: make sure your payment method and shipping address are entered ahead of time on each site before you try to buy a console. The faster you can checkout, the more likely your chance of success. Also, Walmart tends to release more consoles in 10-minute waves, so try again if 3:00PM ET doesn’t work, try again at 3:10PM ET.)

The PS5 with a UHD Blu-ray disc drive and 1TB of built-in SSD storage costs $499.99 and is available from Walmart. Due to the disc drive, this model is slightly thicker and heavier than the digital edition.

PlayStation 5

$500

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Sony’s flagship next-gen console, which includes a disc drive, allowing you to play both digital and physical games on the PS4 and PS5.

$500

at Walmart

If you want to save a little money (and a little space in your entertainment center), the PlayStation 5 digital edition without a disc drive is available for $399.99. Other than lacking the ability to play discs, this model is exactly the same as the more costly version.

I wish you the best of luck in getting a console today. Whether you get one today, or plan to get one when the next restocking happens, there are a few must-have accessories to accompany your purchase.

Returnal

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The latest title from Housemarque is a roguelike third-person shooter that puts you in the shoes of Selene, an astronaut tormented by a seemingly never-ending time loop.

$70

at Amazon
$70

at Best Buy
$70

at Walmart

Game File Sizes on PlayStation 5 Are 60% Smaller Thanks To Crazy Compression Tech

(Image credit: Sony)

The PlayStation 5 has one of the smallest storage sizes of any console over the last decade, but it’s not as bad as it seems. Sony is reportedly using a specialized data compression technology that can shrink game file sizes by as much as 60%. This would more than compensate for 825GB of storage on the console.

Twisted Voxel reported that the survival game Subnautica has just a 5GB file size on the PS5. Compare this to 14GB on the PlayStation 4 and you’re saving more than 60% of storage space.

TechRadar reports that Control: Ultimate Edition also benefits significantly from Sony’s compression tech, coming in at just 25.79GB on the PS5 compared to 42.5GB on the Xbox Series X. That’s a 39% reduction in file size.

A lot is still unknown about Sony’s compression technology, all we know at this time is Sony’s name for the tech, so-called “Kraken”. We don’t know if all PS5 games are supported, or if games need to be optimized for this compression tech. Kraken could also extend to support PS4 games and older but we’re making educated guesses at this point.

Traditionally, compression technologies have never required game developers to optimize for compression, so technically all games running on the PS5’s built-in SSD should support Kraken.

Hopefully, PS5’s Kraken compression will expand to the console’s second M.2 SSD slot, once Sony unlocks it. We could also see Kraken coming to external USB drives, but that could be wishing for too much.

It’s great to see such massive advances in compression technology in an era where games are doubling in size every three to four years. Hopefully it means people can upgrade their storage a bit less often and keep more games on their systems.

Best handheld video game consoles 2021: Get amazing games on the go

(Pocket-lint) – Gaming is one of modern life’s great pleasures, whether you love simple and cheerful platformers, or you’re more into intense competitive multiplayer titles.

Best games console: Should you get an Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch?

It’s even better when you can enjoy them on the go, though – handheld games consoles have been hugely popular for decades now, and show no sign of stopping. We’ve gathered some of the very best you can pick up right now, here for you to check out.

Our guide to the best gaming handhelds to buy today

Pocket-lint

Nintendo Switch Lite

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Nintendo’s pared-down version of its supreme Switch is an absolutely beautiful handheld console, quite possibly the best one ever released.

You get access to a huge library of excellent games, including many from past generations, and its big screen is perfect for playing them on.

Nintendo Switch Lite review: Practically perfect in every way

Pocket-lint

New Nintendo 3DS XL

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The 3DS generation from Nintendo also holds some of the best handheld games ever released, and this version of the portable console is the best possible.

You can play any 3DS or DS game on it, and there’s a simply massive library to play through. So, while it might not be the newest, this it still a top-grade option.

New Nintendo 3DS XL review: Handheld gaming has never been so good

Pocket-lint

Nintendo Switch

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Of course, you could also opt to get the main version of the Nintendo Switch, which can very much be a handheld console first and foremost.

This way, though, you also get the option of plugging it into a TV or monitor to play it on the big screen if you fancy.

Nintendo Switch review: Redefining the games console

Pocket-lint

Nintendo Game and Watch

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A retro throwback release, Nintendo has given the old Game and Watch a fresh lick of paint and sent it back out into the world.

This one won’t last forever, though, as stock is limited, so if you’d like to enjoy some classic Nintendo games on a delightful little console, act now.

Beijue

Beijue 16 Bit Handheld Games

squirrel_widget_4576895

Moving back to true handhelds, this device from Beijue is perfect if your favourite era of gaming was back in the 16-bit days.

There are loads of fun games to try out on it, from sports games to shooters and platformers, so you won’t get bored anytime soon.

Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Dan Grabham.

Apple TV 4K (2021) review: The future of streaming or just more of the same?

(Pocket-lint) – The last Apple TV 4K launched in 2017. At the time it coincided with the start of the movement to embrace the growing trend of 4K content from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.

In 2021 watching TV hasn’t changed that much, but we are doing a lot more of it. Subscription services have boomed, we’ve now got more choice – including Apple’s own TV+ service – and therefore even more content to watch.

But does the 2021 Apple TV 4K set-top box embrace current viewing habits enough to be worth the upgrade – or even a purchase in the first place – especially given the crowded marketplace dominated by a host of other, cheaper options from Amazon, Roku, Google and the likes?

Everything feels the same

Puck-style box design, measures 98 x 98 x 35mm
Supports: 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
32GB / 64GB storage variants available
Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, AirPlay

The design of the Apple TV box itself hasn’t changed at all for the 2021 model. It’s a squarish box that’s certainly larger than the competition. It features just three inputs on the back: Ethernet, HDMI, and power.

Pocket-lint

You’ll still need a shelf or a wall-mount to put it on, and if you were hoping for a miniaturised stick to put straight into a spare HDMI socket on your telly then, well, you’re out of luck.

As has always been the case there are no buttons on the box itself, so everything is controlled via the included remote. Or you can use your iPhone, iPad, or voice control via Siri.

The Apple TV 4K’s interface hasn’t changed either, so the focus is about giving you access to all the relevant streaming services – as long as they have a supporting app.

The continued push into a central place to discover more content from supporting streaming services, rather than silo-ing everything in their respective apps, does help you discover content that’s available. However, it’s hard at times to differentiate whether that content is going to cost you above and beyond your current subscriptions. And it’s still missing Netflix within those content recommendations – which is a glaring omission.

As with the 2017 model, you get 4K resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), including Dolby Atmos object-based audio and Dolby Vision HDR support – which is great stuff if your TV and/or AV setup supports it (Apple’s AirPods Pro or AirPods Max still don’t with the Apple TV but do for the iPhone and iPad, for example).

Pocket-lint

The ability to connect game controllers (sold separately) via Bluetooth 5.0 means you can grab one of those spare Xbox or PlayStation controllers to jump in too.

Best Xbox controllers: Get the edge with these third-party and official pads
Best PlayStation controller: Pick up an extra PS4 or PS5 game pad

Apple hasn’t increased the storage options for the 2021 model either. It still comes in 32GB and 64GB capacities, but that’s not really an issue as everything is streamed these days anyway.

New, new, new

High Frame Rate (HFR) support up to 60fps
Apple A12 Bionic processor
Updated Siri remote
HDMI 2.1 port

There are some changes of course. Internally the 4K TV box now comes with a much faster processor – the one previously found in the iPhone XS – and that helps on the gaming side of things via Apple Arcade.

Pocket-lint

Why only the iPhone XS processor and not the iPhone 12 processor or the iPad Pro’s M1? It’s likely to come down to cost and need. After all, this isn’t a Mac mini nor a fully-fledged games console. Most Apple Arcade games are designed to work nicely on the provided processor – we didn’t have any trouble running NBA2K21 or other games, but the loading times could be improved.

The new box also gets better connectivity. There’s Wi-Fi 6 (ax), allowing it to better connect to your Wi-Fi in dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) for those high bandwidth streams you’ll be planning. There’s also HDMI 2.1 support to enable a new High Frame Rate mode that allows you to play content up to 60 frames per second (supported by the iPhone 12 Pro, for example) and any future benefits that will come from that port over time.

Apple has also added support for Thread. This fairly new smart home connectivity technology is backed by Apple, Amazon, and Google. Again, you might not find a use for it out of the box on day one, but it’s likely to become much more important in our smart home futures, so having some level of future-proofing is welcomed.

There’s a new colour-balancing mode that’s not exclusive to this model, which uses your iPhone to help ensure the Apple TV is optimised for the best colour balance in your room. It’s clever, but for us made very little difference.

A new, much needed remote

Remote measures: 136 x 35 x 9.25mm

Although you can buy the new remote on its own – which is a way to easily ‘upgrade’ the older box – the new one included in the this box is the biggest and most visible change for the 2021 Apple TV 4K. It’s one feature that removes a lot of the pain barriers (first-world problems, we know) to using the Apple set-top box on a daily basis.

The new remote is considerably bigger than its predecessor, doesn’t sport a design you’ll get the wrong way up, nor a Siri button that you’ll accidentally press by mistake all of the time.

The Menu button has been ditched, there’s a new mute button, and Apple has thankfully shifted the Siri button to the side to emulate other remotes and match the same experience found on the iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch.

Swiping is still available, but it’s now via a circular physical touch button d-pad with a dedicated scroll option for scrubbing through shows – reminiscent of using an iPod from days gone by. That said, you can ignore that and still swipe left to right too – which can cause some muddled responses.

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There’s even a new ‘power’ button that can not only turn off your Apple TV 4K, but also your TV and AV kit. Handy.

What is a surprising omission, however, especially given the recent launch of AirTags, is that the remote doesn’t have a finding option to help you find it down the back of the sofa when lost. No Find My Support, no ‘play a sound’ option. It’s another glaring own goal.

The ecosystem shines through, but you have to pay for it

Third-party app support, including Disney+, Amazon Prime, Netflix, more
Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade
Support for catch-up services (including BBC iPlayer)

Against the competition the Apple TV 4K does deliver, but it can also be seen as very expensive for what you get – it’s almost four times as much as the Roku Streaming Stick+, for example. That’s a big premium to pay for just watching movies and getting access to the Apple TV store – something which you might already have if you’ve got the right TV.

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Where Apple is hoping to convince you though is that the benefits to be found in being part of the Apple ecosystem. Getting started is incredibly easy thanks to a simple setup process using your iPhone. Apple Fitness+ users benefit with connectivity to the Apple Watch, and Apple Arcade subscribers get a wealth of games to play too – but that’s a lot of extra cash for features that not everyone might want or have the need to use.

Verdict

There is no denying that the 2021 Apple TV 4K delivers what it sets out to do: packaging streaming services and Apple services all in the one place. It’s the extras like Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness+ that make this a nicely rounded package that will cater for the TV viewer as well as the casual gamer and fitness fan.

Despite this, we can’t help feeling that there are better and cheaper ways to get streaming content like Disney+, Netflix, or even Apple TV+ on your television from the likes of Roku and others.

The Apple TV has always come at a premium, but the 2021 model doesn’t move things on enough to justify either an upgrade or a recommendation over the competition – unless you really believe you’ll be able to maximise on all the additional Apple services and features it offers. And if you’re a current Apple TV 4K owner then you can simply buy the updated Siri remote on its own.

If you’re looking for an inclusive package that has potential to grow over the coming years and possibly adapt to how you use your TV or enjoy content in the home, then that’s one angle. The trouble for many with the 2021 box is that you’ll have to take the hit and pay for all that potential up front – whether it’s ever fully realised or not.

Also consider

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Roku Streaming Stick+

Roku is s big name in streaming, offering access to all the major services in a slim device that supports the latest 4K HDR formats. A simple remote makes it easy to control, while its asking price undercuts the majority of the competition.

Read our review

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Amazon Fire Stick 4K

Amazon’s media streamers keep getting smaller and more affordable, with features like Alexa voice control via the remote making it a no-brainer for many. Although it leans towards Amazon’s content, it does also cover all services – including Netflix – and supports 4K HDR formats and Dolby Atmos object-based audio too.

Read our review

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Writing by Stuart Miles.