Streaming Devices / Google TV Streamer (4K) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
Google TV Streamer (4K) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Ethernet and Thread for $99 — the best-value smart-home streaming hub.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
Too close to call on score alone: 0.3 points separate them. Ethernet and Thread for $99 — the best-value smart-home streaming hub. The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) answers with a different set of strengths, so let the categories below decide it.
The Google TV Streamer (4K) and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Google TV Streamer (4K) is $99 cheaper than the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) ($99.99 vs $199). On Value, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (8.0 vs 4.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. On Smart Home, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (9.0 vs 7.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. Overall, the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 8.1/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.8/10 for the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Google TV Streamer (4K) | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $199.00 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2022 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (2160p) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8696 — quad-core Cortex-A55 up to 2.0GHz | Apple A15 Bionic, 5-core CPU at 2.9GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 4 | 4 |
| Storage (GB) | 32 | 64✓ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit (built in) | None on this variant |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Operating System | Google TV on Android 14 for TV | tvOS 26 |
| Remote | Voice remote with Gemini, AAA batteries, customizable shortcut button, Find My Remote chime | Siri Remote (3rd Gen), USB-C rechargeable, Siri voice; no backlight; no Find My tracking |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Porcelain, Hazel | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Google TV Streamer (4K) and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) are level here, at 7.5/10 each. voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Home
The Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 4.5 — a 3.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Google TV Streamer (4K) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 8.0/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 9.0/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 7.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • You want to spend less — it's $99 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is smart-home.
Choose the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) if…
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores 9.5/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores 9.0/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
- • Your main use case is gaming.
Pros & Cons
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Pros
- +Gigabit ethernet and Thread border router built in, at a quarter of the price Apple charges for the same
- +4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage is generous at this price
- +Google Home panel makes it a genuine smart-home hub, not just a streamer
- +Find My Remote solves a problem every other remote here ignores
- +Full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 5 only — no Wi-Fi 6, which is hard to defend on a device launched in 2024
- −The Cortex-A55 chip is modest next to Apple's A15
- −Remote takes disposable AAA batteries rather than charging over USB-C
- −Google TV's home screen is advertising-led, like Fire TV's
- −Capped at 4K60
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
Pros
- +Comfortably the fastest streaming box you can buy
- +tvOS has no ads on the home screen, unlike Fire TV and Google TV
- +Excellent Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos handling
- +Rechargeable USB-C Siri Remote
- +Longest software support record in the category
Cons
- −No ethernet port on this variant — you need the 128GB model for that
- −No Thread radio, so it cannot act as a Thread border router
- −Price rose from $129 to $199 in June 2026, a 54% increase
- −2022 hardware with a successor widely reported as imminent
- −Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6, both behind newer rivals
- −No USB-C cable included in the box
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Google TV Streamer (4K) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Google TV Streamer (4K) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Value, the Google TV Streamer (4K) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Value (8.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Google TV Streamer (4K) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Google TV Streamer (4K) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Smart Home (9.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Google TV Streamer (4K) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Connectivity (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Is the Google TV Streamer (4K) worth the price difference over the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $199. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the better fit if you mainly care about smart-home. The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) is the better fit for gaming.
What's the warranty on the Google TV Streamer (4K) vs the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Roku Ultra (2024) — $149.99
Premium Option
Roku Ultra (2024) — $149.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.