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Apple TV FAQ
Update Published May 28, 2021
Also see: Apple TV Specs | All Apple Q&As
With the Apple TV Q&A you can get answers to all of your Apple TV questions from "What type of television supports Apple TV?" to "What are all the differences between the current Apple TV models? Which should I buy?" and everything in between.
Please note that the Apple TV HD (4th Gen, Siri) and Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen, 2021) are the current models and earlier models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A covers all Apple TV devices old and new.
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Most Frequently Asked Apple TV Q&As:
What are all the differences between the current Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models? Which should I buy?
What are the "pros and cons" of the Apple TV 4K models? Is one worth it?
What type of television supports the Apple TV models? Is Apple TV compatible with HDTV and SDTV?
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 4K (2021) and the Apple TV 4K (2017) replaced? Is the newer model a worthwhile upgrade?
How do you connect the black Apple TV models to a television?
Do the Apple TV models support 1080p? Do they support 4K?
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 2nd Gen and Apple TV 3rd Gen? How many of these models are there? Is one of these older models still worth considering?
What type of hard drive does the original Apple TV use? How do you upgrade it?
What is the difference between 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p?
How many movies, television shows, songs, and photos can the Apple TV models hold?
General Apple TV Q&As:
What exactly is Apple TV? Is it a television? Is it a Mac?
Can the Apple TV models record television shows and movies? Can they play DVDs?
What type of television supports the Apple TV models? Is Apple TV compatible with HDTV and SDTV?
How many movies, television shows, songs, and photos can the Apple TV models hold?
How do you rip DVDs and transfer the movies to an Apple TV?
Do the Apple TV models support 1080p? Do they support 4K?
What are the "pros and cons" of the Apple TV 4K models? Is one worth it?
What are the "pros and cons" of the black Apple TV 4th Gen (Apple TV HD)? Should I still consider one?
What are the "pros and cons" of the earlier black Apple TV models? What do they do? Do I need one?
What are the "pros and cons" of the original Apple TV? Is it right for my needs?
Apple TV Comparison Q&As:
What are all the differences between the current Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models? Which should I buy?
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 4K (2021) and the Apple TV 4K (2017) replaced? Is the newer model a worthwhile upgrade?
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 4th Gen (Siri) and Apple TV 4K (2017)? Which is for me?
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 3rd Gen and Apple TV 4th Gen (Siri) models?
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 2nd Gen and Apple TV 3rd Gen? How many of these models are there? Is one of these older models still worth considering?
What are the differences between the original Apple TV and the Apple TV 2nd Gen? Is one still worth buying?
What are the differences between the Apple TV 3rd Gen and the Aluminum Mac mini available at the time of its introduction?
What are the differences between the black Apple TV 2nd Gen and the Aluminum Mac mini available at the time of its introduction?
What are the differences between the original Apple TV and the Mac mini available at the time of its introduction?
What is the difference between SDTV, EDTV, and HDTV?
What is the difference between 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p?
Apple TV Software Q&As:
What operating system do the Apple TV models use? Do they run Mac OS X? Does they run iOS?
Can the Apple TV models run Mac OS X software applications? Can they run iOS applications? Can they run iPod games?
Can the Apple TV models run Windows or Linux?
What audio and video formats does the original Apple TV support? Does it support video streaming directly from the Internet?
What audio and video formats do the black Apple TV models support? Do they support video streaming directly from the Internet?
What is the difference between "syncing" and "streaming"? How many computers do the Apple TV models support for each?
How do you setup the black Apple TV models to stream content from a Mac or PC?
Do the Apple TV models support 5.1 channel surround sound?
Apple TV Hardware Q&As (Original - Discontinued):
What type of hard drive does the original Apple TV use? Can it be upgraded?
What type of processor and video processor does the original Apple TV use? Can either processor be upgraded?
How much RAM of what type does the original Apple TV support? How do you upgrade it?
How do you connect the original Apple TV to a television? How do you connect the original Apple TV to a Mac or PC?
What ports are provided by the original Apple TV?
What is HDMI?
What can you do with the original Apple TV USB port? Does it support an input device like a keyboard or mouse? Does it support an external hard drive or an iPod?
What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?
What are the "pros and cons" of the original Apple TV? Is it right for my needs?
Apple TV Hardware Q&As (Black Models):
How much storage do the black Apple TV models contain? Can it be upgraded?
What type of processor do the black Apple TV models use? Can it be upgraded?
How much RAM of what type do the black Apple TV models support? Can it be upgraded?
How do you connect the black Apple TV models to a television?
What ports are provided by the black Apple TV models?
How do you setup the black Apple TV models to stream content from a Mac or PC?
What is HDMI?
What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?
What are the "pros and cons" of the black Apple TV 2nd Gen and Apple TV 3rd Gen models? What do they do? Do I need one?
What are the "pros and cons" of the black Apple TV 4th Gen (Apple TV HD)? Should I still consider one?
What are the "pros and cons" of the Apple TV 4K models? Is one worth it?
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