Apple stops selling the Apple TV HD

Now that Apple has introduced a lower-priced Apple TV 4K, it’s apparently getting rid of the entry-level model. MacRumors notes the company is no longer selling the Apple TV HD through its online store. It’s not clear if the device will still be available at retail or through other online shops, but you may want to act fast if you find it at a discount. We’ve asked Apple for comment.

A move like this isn’t surprising. The Apple TV HD launched in 2015 and stayed at an official $149 even as later 4K models offered much more power for as little as $30 extra. Now that the 2022 Apple TV 4K starts at $129, there isn’t much point to keeping the legacy player around — certainly not when it uses an iPhone 6-era A8 chip that limits its theoretical capabilities.

There are catches. The new Apple TV 4K doesn’t include Ethernet or Thread support in the base 64GB model, so you’ll still have to pay $149 for the 128GB version if you want that connectivity. Also, this still leaves Apple without a truly low-cost living room media player. You’ll have to turn to competition like the Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max if you just want an alternative to your TV’s built-in features.

You are getting much more for that $149, though, including support for all the major HDR standards, a far brawnier processor and more storage. If nothing else, Apple is clarifying its focus — it’s staking out the high end of the market, and seems content to let rivals battle for the rest.