Apple TV 3gen Pro Reviews

The AppleTV is easy to use and has some great features, but some odd content limitations and dependency on other Apple products won't suit everyone

I like the Apple TV: the UI is easy to navigate and, if retrograde, nonetheless paves the way for apps; the remote is excellent; it's responsive, and playback is good; and the box itself is compact and doesn't need a power brick. It is one elegant, compact set-top box. But it's also useless if you're an iTunes refusenik, or you like to look over the garden wall from time to time. Yes, you can jailbreak it, but you should do that because you want to, not because you need to. Alas, with so few extra, non-Apple - and, crucially, non-US - content sources included out of the box, it's a necessity here.

If you already own an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, then buying an Apple TV makes a lot of sense because Apple devices tend to work best together. You can also use the Apple TV to mirror the screen on your iOS device so that it appears in high definition on your TV screen. This is a useful method for showing content on your iOS device, like photos, or for playing games, some of which take advantage of this feature. Apparently, with the release of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion later in the year, you'll be able to mirror your Mac screen as well. Another useful feature is Photo Stream because any photos taken on your iOS device automatically get streamed to your Apple TV as soon as you get home, which is very cool. If you already use iTunes for watching video and renting movies, then the purchase of an Apple TV will genuinely add value. Using iTunes to rent and buy movies and TV shows through the Apple TV works brilliantly and the image quality at 1080p is surprisingly good; although download speeds will, of course, be dependent on your broadband connection. Some of the apps on the Apple TV might also prove useful, such as YouTube, Vimeo and Netflix, especially now that the latter has finally launched in the UK (although there still isn't much on it at the moment). We were also impressed by AirPlay which seemed both reliable and robust, with no issues when streaming content.

Great if you like Apple-shaped content, some now in Full HD, but the latest Apple TV is frustrating in other regards

Apple TV is still a strange beast to understand. On the one hand you get access to a wealth of movies and shows here in the UK from iTunes, and from Netflix, but falls short of supporting Video on Demand services such as the BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV player, or LoveFilm. which makes it pretty disappointing if you aren't going to spend money with Apple. If you travel to the States a lot then you can buy an iTunes US gift card and enjoy US movies and TV shows ahead of the UK release. There are better systems out there, like Roku, the Xbox 360, or more than likely your DVD player to make your TV smart if you are looking for much more choice.

Works brilliantly and smoothly with online movies and TV programmes, while AirPlay makes it at home on an Apple network. The limited file support and lack of UPnP support is still a little disappointing, though

If you've already got some Apple devices in your home then Apple TV is a natural fit and at this price you should really consider getting one because it integrates wonderfully with your current setup. But for everyone else, even with the addition of 1080p HD, there's no compelling reason to buy an Apple TV over other media streamers right now. If only Apple could sort out integrating iPlayer, 4OD and ITV Player into the menu system and make AirPlay a little less restrictive, because then Apple TV would be a must-have product for everybody.

Full HD video and greater AirPlay support make the revamped Apple TV an attractive proposition

At £99, the third-generation Apple TV continues to be as excellent a value as the previous model—and now it supports higher-quality video too. That’s a good thing. For those with the previous generation, however, the decision to upgrade comes down to whether the difference in quality between two high-definition formats is important (and noticeable) enough to you.

We have to be blunt when it comes to the third-gen Apple TV: if you already have the second-generation model, you probably don’t need this new one. Apple releasing the new UI and other software tweaks as a free upgrade means the only real difference is the support for 1080p HD content. If, though, you don’t already have an Apple TV, then there’s a bigger motivation to buy this new model. The combination of an easier interface and Full HD support means it’s easier than ever to access your content on the network, on your mobile iOS devices, and streaming from iTunes in the Cloud, and if you have a new iPad then the 1080p support makes them ideal companions. Apple TV may still be the company’s hobby, but at $99 it’s a great accessory to the third-gen tablet and a solid home entertainment platform in its own right.

While it offers fewer native channels than the competition, the Apple TV is an indispensable living-room companion for anyone who's already invested in the iTunes and Apple hardware ecosystems.

At $99, the third-generation Apple TV continues to be as excellent a value as the previous model—and now it supports higher-quality video too. That’s a good thing. For those with the previous generation, however, the decision to upgrade comes down to whether the difference in quality between two high-definition formats is important (and noticeable) enough to you.