The most effective Apple product is not an iPhone or Mac

In at the moment’s tech cycle, the place everybody’s chasing the subsequent large improve, it is simple to overlook that a few of the greatest merchandise are those that quietly stand the take a look at of time. The iPhone 17 series simply launched, Samsung’s on the point of roll out its trifolding phone, and each firm appears to need you to imagine that this 12 months’s mannequin is a must have.

However the actuality is, not everybody upgrades yearly. Most of us maintain on to our units longer now, hoping they will final by a number of cycles earlier than feeling outdated. Many put money into Apple merchandise believing they will stand the take a look at of time, however I’ve had the iPhone 16 Pro and the M3 MacBook Air for simply over a 12 months, and each have already began to point out some age with minor hiccups and lags right here and there.

Nevertheless, one Apple product that has impressed me probably the most over the previous few years is the Apple TV (2022). Here is why it continues to amaze me three years later and why I would not hesitate once more to put money into a premium streaming gadget.

My Apple TV nonetheless runs as easily because the day I purchased it

Even after years of use, it feels sooner than most new streaming bins

It has been almost three years since I invested within the Apple TV 4K, however what continues to amaze me is its sheer consistency. I exploit my Apple TV virtually every single day, whether or not streaming Netflix, watching reveals on Apple TV+, or catching the subsequent Chelsea soccer match, and it feels simply as easy because it did on day one. I even hold it in my backpack whereas touring.

Apps open immediately, transitions are fluid, and switching between content material is near-instant. There’s by no means been any noticeable lag, buffering, or slowdown. And certain, the A15 Bionic chip inside may not sound spectacular in 2025, particularly for gaming on Apple Arcade, however I do not try this, and for my use case, it has been near-perfect. I’ve by no means needed to reset it, troubleshoot points, or cope with buggy updates. It simply works, each single time I flip it on.

And sure, I get that it is a streaming gadget doing far lower than my iPhone or MacBook, which deal with numerous duties each second, besides, my Apple TV has held up remarkably effectively.

It is not like I have never given different streaming units an opportunity. I’ve used the Xiaomi Mi Field S Android TV and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, however each present occasional lag or stutter whereas switching apps or loading content material.

My Apple TV, then again, refuses to drop a body, which is commendable for a tool that is plugged in every day and at all times able to go.

tvOS updates hold it feeling new

Common updates make it really feel trendy while not having new {hardware}

One of many the reason why I really feel the Apple TV 4K has maintained its easy, lag-free efficiency, past its highly effective {hardware} in comparison with different TV bins, is that Apple continues to assist it identical to its different units.

Whereas Google appears to have moved Android TV to a two-year replace cycle, which means main upgrades each different 12 months as a substitute of yearly, Apple continues releasing updates for Apple TV alongside iOS and macOS.

For instance, just some weeks in the past, Apple rolled out the tvOS 26 replace for Apple TV, introducing the brand new Liquid Glass design language and giving the interface a refreshed look similtaneously the iPhone and iPad.

As well as, tvOS 26 brings much-needed features like the flexibility to set any AirPlay speaker as a everlasting output, improved user-switching and login choices, and new Aerial Display screen Savers that look breathtaking when your TV is idle.

Apple TV nonetheless amazes me in 2025

All issues thought of, the Apple TV (2022) stays my favourite Apple product of the previous few years. It is not as a result of it is flashy or groundbreaking, however as a result of it is reliable. It does precisely what it is imagined to do, completely, each time.

It is beginning to really feel like not solely different streaming gadget makers ought to be taught from Apple on the way to construct a reliable media participant, however Apple itself also needs to apply the identical degree of stability, efficiency, and have upgrades to its different merchandise, just like the MacBook and iPhone, particularly contemplating many customers complained about iPhone performance after the iOS 26 replace.

That mentioned, with a brand new Apple TV rumored to launch soon, I can not wait to see what Apple has in retailer. Regardless that I’ll not improve immediately, if I have been out there for a brand new streaming gadget, I would not hesitate to spend this a lot — the Apple TV delivers that a lot worth.