Apple TV · The Digital Hub · 2007
Apple TV (1st generation)
A little silver box with a hard drive that synced movies and music from iTunes to your TV. It barely sold, but it staked Apple’s claim on the living room.
Apple’s first living-room device; Jobs called it a "hobby."
Apple TV (2nd generation) (2010)
Apple TV (1st generation): key facts
When was the Apple TV (1st generation) released?
The Apple TV (1st generation) arrived on March 21, 2007. Apple discontinued it in September 2010.
How much did the Apple TV (1st generation) cost?
The Apple TV (1st generation) launched at $299 in 2007, about $460 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Pentium M at 1 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 39.1 GB storage, HDMI / component out display.
Why does the Apple TV (1st generation) matter?
Apple’s first living-room device; Jobs called it a "hobby."
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Pentium M · 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 MB |
| Storage | 39.1 GB |
| Display | HDMI / component out |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 |
| Ports | HDMI, component, USB, Ethernet |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | Flat square |
| Operating system | Apple TV "Take 1" |
| Released | March 21, 2007 |
| Discontinued | September 2010 |
| Launch price | $299 |
How the Apple TV (1st generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 64× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1 GHz, the clock is roughly 3.2× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 10,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $299 in 2007, about $460 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
It ran a stripped-down version of Mac OS X under the hood.
Related Apple TV models
Open the Apple TV (1st generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11