Apple TV · Retina & Beyond · 2017
Apple TV 4K (1st generation)
The first Apple TV 4K turned Apple’s living-room box into a serious HDR streamer, with an A10X chip powerful enough to make tvOS feel wildly overbuilt.
Brought 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision to Apple TV.
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) (2022)
Apple TV 4K (1st generation): key facts
When was the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) released?
The Apple TV 4K (1st generation) arrived on September 22, 2017. Apple discontinued it in April 2021.
How much did the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) cost?
The Apple TV 4K (1st generation) launched at $179 in 2017 — about $229 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A10X Fusion at 2.38 GHz, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, HDMI out, 4K HDR display.
Why does the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) matter?
Brought 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision to Apple TV.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A10X Fusion · 2.38 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 6 |
| Memory (RAM) | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | HDMI out, 4K HDR |
| GPU | PowerVR 12-core GPU |
| Ports | HDMI 2.0a, Ethernet |
| Weight | 425 g |
| Dimensions | Black square |
| Operating system | tvOS 11 |
| Released | September 22, 2017 |
| Discontinued | April 2021 |
| Launch price | $179 |
How the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 5.3× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.38 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.3× 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 8,190 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $179 in 2017 — about $229 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Did you know?
Apple upgraded many prior HD iTunes purchases to 4K at no extra charge.
Related Apple TV models
Open the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-29