What we like
- Streaming, an Apple home hub and Thread in one box
- Gigabit Ethernet provides a wired network option
- 128 GB storage and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos
What could be better
- The cheaper third-generation 64 GB model omits Thread and Ethernet
- HDMI and remote-charging USB-C cables are sold separately
- Costs substantially more than a HomePod mini if you only need a hub
The extra $50 buys useful hardware
The 128 GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet version is the third-generation Apple TV 4K we would choose for a new Apple Home setup that also needs a streaming box. You get Gigabit Ethernet and a Thread border router alongside double the storage of the 64 GB version. Those are more useful distinctions than the nearly identical black enclosures suggest.
Apple listed the 128 GB model at $249 in the US, £249 in the UK and €299 in Germany on September 10, 2026. Regional taxes and checkout terms apply. The 64 GB Wi-Fi version was $199, £199 and €229 respectively. In the US, the $50 difference buys all three hardware additions; it is not simply a storage upgrade.
That premium makes sense when you will use Ethernet or need your first Thread hub. If another device already supplies Thread and your TV's Wi-Fi connection is satisfactory, the cheaper model remains a reasonable streaming choice. The home does not need every box to repeat the same network role.
A streamer with a useful second job
The A15-based player supports 4K video up to 60 frames per second, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. Its rechargeable Siri Remote has a physical clickpad and USB-C charging. Those are tangible reasons to consider the box alongside the apps already built into a television.
The purchase is less convincing if those existing apps already do everything you want. More storage does not improve the picture by itself, and the Thread radio does not make a film stream better. We would buy this model for a combined streaming and home-control need.
The box includes the remote and power cord, but not an HDMI cable or a USB-C cable for charging the remote. Streaming subscriptions are separate too. Reuse suitable cables where possible and judge the cost against the services you actually watch.
Ethernet helps one connection
A wired connection is the most appealing reason to use Apple TV as a permanent home hub. It removes reliance on Wi-Fi for the box's own network connection. With multiple Apple home hubs, the Home app also lets you select a preferred hub instead of relying on automatic selection.
Ethernet does not turn the separate Thread radio into a wired connection to your locks or sensors. A TV cabinet at one end of the house is not necessarily a useful location for every Thread device. There is no basis for replacing a working hub on a blanket promise that this one makes the whole smart home more reliable.
Home Assistant also lists this exact Apple TV as a usable Thread border router. It does not replace Home Assistant's Matter controller, but an existing unit can serve a mixed Apple/Home Assistant home without requiring a second border router solely because the apps differ.
Check what you already own
The second-generation Apple TV 4K already has Thread. Keep one that handles your streaming and home-hub needs satisfactorily; moving to the third generation is not a prerequisite for using Thread accessories.
If you only need an Apple home hub and no new streamer, the $129 US HomePod mini saves $120 at the checked list prices. Choose this 128 GB Apple TV when the television and the smart home both benefit from the purchase. Otherwise, the right upgrade may be no new box at all.
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