Apple TV · The Aluminum Age · 2012
Apple TV (3rd generation)
The third Apple TV looked almost identical to the second, but the jump to 1080p made it the quiet workhorse of the streaming era before tvOS and the App Store arrived.
First Apple TV to output 1080p video.
Apple TV (4th generation, HD) (2015)
Apple TV (3rd generation): key facts
When was the Apple TV (3rd generation) released?
The Apple TV (3rd generation) arrived on March 7, 2012. Apple discontinued it in October 2016.
How much did the Apple TV (3rd generation) cost?
The Apple TV (3rd generation) launched at $99 in 2012 — about $139 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A5 at 1 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB storage, HDMI out, 1080p display.
Why does the Apple TV (3rd generation) matter?
First Apple TV to output 1080p video.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A5 · 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 512 MB |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Display | HDMI out, 1080p |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 |
| Ports | HDMI, Ethernet, optical, Micro-USB |
| Weight | 272 g |
| Dimensions | Tiny black square |
| Operating system | Apple TV Software 5.0 |
| Released | March 7, 2012 |
| Discontinued | October 2016 |
| Launch price | $99 |
How the Apple TV (3rd generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 32× 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 2,050 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $99 in 2012 — about $139 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Did you know?
Its small black puck design stayed in living rooms long after Apple called the line a hobby.
Related Apple TV models
Open the Apple TV (3rd generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-29