The AppleTV home entertainment device could see the arrival on the market of a cheaper variant later this year.
Integration with Apple Fitness services through a cheaper AppleTV would help increase the market of subscribers to this service
Currently this mini entertainment console that connects to the TV and allows you to enjoy streaming platforms, video games or content stored on Apple ecosystem devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac computers), has two variants for sale:
-AppleTV HD: 1080p resolution and 32 Gb capacity (159 €)
-AppleTV 4K: 4K HDR resolution and 32 Gb (199 €) or 64 capacity (219 €)
With differences relating to the internal storage capacity, the microchip installed, the type of remote control and the resolution at which they are able to work, both devices find it very difficult to compete with similar solutions such as Google’s Chromecast, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick and the different variants of other brands belonging to the Android ecosystem.
They are usually much simpler devices (some almost a pendrive connectable to the HDMI port of the TV) with prices well below 100 €, in many cases even less than 50 €and which essentially offer a very similar user experience in terms of allowing access to streaming platform apps, management of digital assistants (both Google’s and Amazon’s Alexa), not to mention sharing content from the smartphone on the screen. Even if this is an iPhone.
It is true that in return an AppleTV offers other features related to the Apple ecosystemsuch as the use of the intelligent assistant Siri and integration with other Apple devices that the user already has, such as the HomePod smart speakers (and other audio systems from other brands), with which it can even be synchronized so that with a pair of them and the AppleTV a surround effect for music playback or home theater is achieved.
But the Apple alternative is still expensive compared to the competition, and this would be the reason why in Cupertino are considering the release of a more affordable variant … and probably lightened in some features. Although it would enhance, in exchange, other aspects.
And it is that for some years Apple is putting the accent on strengthening its portfolio of servicesand this is where it would make sense to make the Apple TV device cheaper if that makes sense expand the Apple Fitness subscriber marketits fitness and sports platform that only works with Apple devices and Apple TV+ subscription.
The arrival of this device would most certainly mean the withdrawal from the catalog of the HD version of the current AppleTV and even, as has been rumored at times, it could be an integration in a single device of AppleTV and HomePodor a kind of “Apple TV Stick”. In both cases, with hypothetical prices around €100 and €50, respectively, they could already be more competitive with Chromecast and similar devices, although Apple is not usually motivated to present products that are precisely competitive in terms of price.
