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For a new purchase, buy the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) at the U.S. preorder price of $299 if you want the current hardware. It can be preordered on October 13, 2026, with store availability beginning November 13. Apple has not published a storage capacity or confirmed an Ethernet port for this generation on the official pages reviewed, so do not assume it is a 64GB, 128GB, Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi-plus-Ethernet model.
If you specifically need a documented 128GB capacity, built-in Ethernet and Thread networking, look for the remaining Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet model. It is older hardware, so its price should be meaningfully below the new $299 model before you choose it.
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The buying decision in one view
| Model | Documented storage | Networking | Who should consider it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | Not stated on the official pages reviewed | Built-in Wi-Fi and Thread; Ethernet availability is not confirmed | Most new buyers who want the current A19-based Apple TV |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), Wi-Fi | 64GB | Wi-Fi | Buy only when discounted and you do not need wired networking |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), Wi-Fi + Ethernet | 128GB | Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Thread | Buy when you need wired networking or a documented 128GB and the price is substantially lower |
The 3rd-generation capacities and connection differences are published in Apple’s technical specifications. Apple’s current Store listing for the 4th generation gives the product name, price and release timing but does not provide an equivalent capacity figure or describe an Ethernet configuration.
What is new in the Apple TV 4K (4th generation)?
Apple announced the 4th-generation Apple TV 4K on October 13, 2026. The device uses an A19 chip and adds Siri AI, three far-field microphones, a redesigned Siri Remote with Find My support, a dedicated AV1 decoder, built-in Wi-Fi and Thread, and support for a four-speaker HomePod setup.
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Apple claims up to 50 percent faster CPU performance and up to twice the GPU performance compared with the previous generation. Those are Apple’s maximum comparative figures, not an independent benchmark, and actual gains depend on the app or game. The A19 platform is nevertheless the clearest reason to choose the new model when you are buying for several years of software updates or more demanding games.
The new Siri Remote’s Find My support addresses a common practical annoyance: locating a misplaced remote. The three far-field microphones and Siri AI are also new features, but they do not change the storage or network decision. Thread is a low-power mesh-networking standard used by compatible smart-home devices; it is not a replacement for your internet connection.
How much storage do you need?
What the documented capacities mean
For the 3rd generation, Apple specifies 64GB for the Wi-Fi model and 128GB for the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model. Storage holds the operating system, installed apps, downloaded media and game data. Streaming video itself does not consume a permanent copy of every movie you watch, so a streaming-focused household normally does not need the larger tier merely for Netflix-style viewing.
Capacity becomes more relevant when several people install large games, keep many apps, download content for offline use, or want to avoid deleting apps as the device’s library grows. tvOS can manage space, but free capacity is still useful for updates and games.
Is 64GB enough?
On the documented 3rd-generation 64GB model, 64GB is generally sufficient for a household centered on streaming apps, live-TV services, music and a modest game collection. It is less comfortable for a family that treats the Apple TV as a game console or installs many high-storage titles. Because the 64GB and 128GB capacities are tied to different 3rd-generation network configurations, choosing 128GB also buys Ethernet and Thread rather than storage alone.
Does the 4th generation have 64GB or 128GB?
Apple has not published a 4th-generation storage capacity on the official product pages reviewed. Do not carry the 3rd-generation 64GB and 128GB labels forward, and do not rely on an unverified retailer specification. Confirm the capacity in Apple’s technical specifications or the exact retail listing when that information is posted.
When is Ethernet worth paying for?
Choose wired Ethernet when reliability is the priority
A wired connection can be preferable when the Apple TV is close to your router, access point or network switch and you want to avoid wireless interference. It is useful in apartments with congested Wi-Fi, homes with thick walls, entertainment rooms far from the access point, and households that stream high-bitrate 4K content while many devices share the same wireless network.
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Ethernet does not automatically make a streaming service’s internet connection faster. It removes the Wi-Fi link between the Apple TV and your local network; your broadband plan, router, service congestion and the streaming provider still determine internet performance.
Wi-Fi is the practical choice for many rooms
Use Wi-Fi when the television is not near a network cable, when your wireless coverage is strong at the set, or when running cable would be disruptive. A modern, well-placed access point can provide more than enough bandwidth for 4K streaming. Test the signal at the television rather than judging coverage from another room.
What is known about 4th-generation Ethernet?
The 4th-generation announcement and Store material confirm built-in Wi-Fi and Thread but do not confirm an Ethernet port or a second connectivity configuration. Treat Ethernet availability as unpublished until Apple provides a technical specification. If a wired connection is a firm requirement today, the documented 3rd-generation Wi-Fi + Ethernet model is the safer specification-based choice, provided its price and remaining stock make sense.
Thread: what it does and does not do
Thread is a low-power mesh protocol for compatible smart-home accessories. A Thread-capable Apple TV can help provide a network path for those accessories and may improve coverage as Thread devices relay traffic. Thread is separate from Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and it does not provide broadband internet to the Apple TV.
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Apple documents Thread on the 3rd-generation Wi-Fi + Ethernet model and confirms it is built into the 4th-generation release. The 3rd-generation 64GB Wi-Fi model does not list Thread in the documented configuration. If your smart-home plan depends on Thread, avoid assuming the cheaper 64GB model includes it.
Price and timing for the current model
The Apple TV 4K (4th generation) is listed at $299 in the United States for preorder. Apple says preorders open October 13, 2026, and store availability begins November 13, 2026. The price and timing are U.S.-specific; other countries can have different taxes, currency conversion and release dates.
Compare any remaining 3rd-generation stock against that $299 price. The older model should earn consideration through a clear discount or a feature you specifically need, such as its documented 128GB capacity and built-in Ethernet. Paying close to the new model’s price for older hardware usually removes the reason to choose it.
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Requirements and cables
Apple’s Store requirements call for a television with HD capability or better, a wireless network or wired Ethernet, and broadband internet. HDMI cables are sold separately. For ordinary HD streaming, use a compatible HDMI cable; for 4K HDR, use a cable compatible with the required 4K HDR or Dolby Vision signal.
- Check that the television has an available HDMI input and supports the resolution and HDR formats you intend to use.
- Plan for a suitable HDMI cable because one is not included according to the Store listing.
- If you select a wired 3rd-generation model, run an Ethernet cable from the device to your router or switch.
- Make sure your broadband service and home network can sustain your household’s simultaneous streaming traffic.
Step-by-step buying process
- Decide whether you are buying new or clearing a specific requirement. Start with the 4th generation unless you need a documented 128GB and Ethernet configuration.
- Set your network requirement. Choose Wi-Fi for a strong wireless room; choose Ethernet only when you can connect a cable and value a dedicated wired link.
- Set your storage requirement. Streaming-first households can normally target the smaller documented 3rd-generation tier. Large game libraries and offline downloads favor more capacity, but the 4th-generation capacity is not yet published.
- Check the exact generation and configuration. A listing that says “Apple TV 4K” without generation, storage and networking details is not enough. Confirm whether it is 3rd generation 64GB Wi-Fi, 3rd generation 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet, or 4th generation.
- Compare the total cost. Add a compatible HDMI cable and, for a wired setup, an Ethernet cable. Compare the resulting older-model total with the 4th-generation $299 U.S. preorder price.
- Verify delivery timing. The 4th generation is scheduled for store availability beginning November 13, 2026; a discounted 3rd-generation unit may be available sooner while stock lasts.
Common buying mistakes and fixes
Assuming the new model is 128GB
Problem: A retailer or forum repeats the 3rd-generation capacity tiers as if they apply to the 4th generation.
Fix: Look for an Apple-published 4th-generation capacity or an exact manufacturer specification. Until then, treat the capacity as not stated.
Buying the 64GB 3rd-generation model for Ethernet
Problem: The 64GB Wi-Fi model is mistaken for the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model.
Fix: Confirm both fields. On the 3rd generation, 128GB identifies the Wi-Fi + Ethernet configuration; 64GB identifies Wi-Fi-only hardware.
Expecting Thread to improve video streaming
Problem: Thread is treated as a faster form of Wi-Fi.
Fix: Use Wi-Fi or Ethernet for the Apple TV’s internet connection. Consider Thread only for compatible smart-home networking.
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Forgetting the HDMI cable
Problem: The box is opened without a suitable cable for the television or 4K HDR signal.
Fix: Budget for a compatible HDMI cable before installation. Apple states that HDMI and USB-C cables are sold separately.
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Problem: Scarce 3rd-generation stock is priced near $299.
Fix: Compare the discount with the value of the 4th-generation A19 chip, newer remote and current feature set. Choose the older model only when its 128GB, Ethernet and Thread combination solves a real requirement.
Which option should each buyer choose?
Most first-time buyers
Choose the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) at the current U.S. preorder price. It is the current model, adds the A19 chip and newer Siri Remote, and avoids buying hardware that is already one generation old. Recheck the final capacity and port details when Apple publishes the technical specification.
Buyers who require wired networking now
Choose the 3rd-generation 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model if you can find it at a meaningful discount and cannot wait for confirmation of the 4th-generation ports. Its Ethernet and Thread support are explicitly documented.
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The 3rd-generation 64GB Wi-Fi model can be sensible when discounted, your wireless coverage is strong, and you do not need Ethernet or documented Thread. Do not select it solely because 64GB sounds familiar; verify that the lower price compensates for older hardware.
Smart-home households
Choose a configuration with documented Thread support if Thread accessories are part of your plan. That means the 3rd-generation 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model or the 4th generation, whose release confirms built-in Thread. The 3rd-generation 64GB Wi-Fi specification does not document Thread.
Bottom line
Buy the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) for a normal new purchase: it is the current A19-based model, priced at $299 in the U.S. for preorder and scheduled to reach stores November 13, 2026. Buy the 3rd-generation 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet version only when you specifically need its documented capacity, Ethernet and Thread and can obtain it at a worthwhile discount. Treat the 4th-generation storage capacity and Ethernet status as unpublished until Apple provides those specifications.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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