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Apple TV 4K main unit and remote control 'Siri Remote'

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As staying at home due to COVID-19 has become the norm, the domestic and international online video streaming service (OTT) market is rapidly growing. Apple also officially launched the ‘Apple TV 4K,’ a type of OTT set-top box, in Korea on the 4th.

The Apple TV 4K consists of the main unit, remote control, power cable, and Apple stickers. Unlike typical telecom set-top boxes, the main unit is a 9.8cm by 9.8cm square with softly rounded corners. It comes in two storage capacities: 32GB and 64GB. You can choose based on whether you plan to use various applications (apps). If you only intend to enjoy video streaming services, 32GB is sufficient.

More eye-catching than the main unit is the remote control, called the ‘Siri Remote.’ It features a black wheel in the center, reminiscent of early 2000s iPods, evoking nostalgia. You can quickly scroll forward and backward by turning the wheel, making navigation faster than pressing buttons on traditional IPTV remotes. You can summon Apple’s AI assistant ‘Siri’ to search for titles or use commands like “What did they just say?” to rewind the video by 10 seconds.

A scene from the Apple TV Plus original series 'The Morning Show' displayed on the Apple TV 4K screen

However, the process of connecting the Apple TV 4K to the living room TV for product testing was not smooth from the start. An HDMI cable is required, but it was not included in the basic package. The issue was resolved only after unplugging the HDMI cable from the existing IPTV and connecting it to the Apple TV. According to Apple, the minimum HDMI cable standard for 4K quality is 2.0, and to enable Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, version 2.1 or higher is required. An Apple ID is also mandatory as the device requires user login.

After completing the basic setup and turning on the TV screen, the default Apple TV apps appeared sequentially. These included Apple TV+, which offers online video streaming services including Apple Originals, as well as Photos and iTunes. You can also use an iPhone or iPad as a remote control with simple pairing.

Pairing an Apple TV 4K with an iPad

Apple has compensated for its relatively limited content compared to early competitors like Disney+ and Netflix by integrating other OTT services such as Wavve and Watcha. Media group NEW also provides movies and video content through the Apple TV app’s ‘Watch Now’ section. The Korean original series ‘Doctor Brain’ is among the popular videos, positioned at the top. As suggested by the ‘4K’ in the product name, the video quality is also excellent.

Despite its various strengths, the price is somewhat high. The Apple TV 4K set-top box costs 239,000 KRW, and Apple TV+ subscription is 6,500 KRW per month. Customers who purchased an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV after September 17th receive a 3-month free trial. SK Broadband Btv users, who have partnered with Apple, can enjoy Apple TV+ free for 6 months. Additionally, SK Broadband customers can watch live TV such as dramas and entertainment shows through an app exclusive to Btv users, making it a worthwhile option for them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.