after almost four years apple has
finally updated the apple tv 4k
this new version features an updated
processor the ability to calibrate your
tv using your iphone
and a redesigned siri remote it still
looks the same on the outside but we're
dying to know if they've updated
anything else in the shiny black box
so let's tear it down while the apple
tv's black outer shell looks solid our
ir cameras reveal it to be transparent
to ir light from almost
every angle which means you won't have
to worry about having perfect aim with
that new remote
speaking of the remote it takes more
than a little ir to see through its
metal case
but thanks to our friends at creative
electron we have an x-ray sneak peek of
what's inside
underneath the aluminum there's a swiss
cheese logic board taking up the top
half of the remote
and in the lower half we can see the
battery here's hoping that the battery
won't be too hard to remove and replace
see-through vision can only tell us so
much so it's time to dig in
there are some clips holding down the
bottom panel of the tv box
and once that panel pops off we're
immediately greeted by a large fan
the previous version of the apple tv 4k
was the first time we found a fan in any
version of the apple tv
expecting a cable connecting the fan to
the logic board we lift it up carefully
only to find the fan is powered by metal
contact pins on the heatsink
right below the fan a few antenna cables
and some torx screws hold the logic
board down
this updated apple tv 4k has an a12
bionic processor
which is the same one found in the
iphone 10s and 10s max
after the logic board's been removed all
that's left is a large heat sink
and the power supply overall a super
easy disassembly experience
with the black box out of the way let's
talk about that new siri remote
it's definitely larger than the previous
version but that's a good
thing it's completely redesigned with a
new touch friendly directional pad that
works like a track pad
or an ipod style scroll wheel getting
into the remote seems like it'll be easy
enough
two pentalobe screws surround the
lightning port on the bottom of the
remote just like an iphone
but getting inside turns out to be a
little more challenging than you might
think
after almost stripping the tiny
pentalobe screws which definitely
feel larger than the p2 pentalobes found
in iphones
we find that we can remove the small
plate covering the lightning connector
but there's nothing else to do on this
end since we seem to be out of options
we start popping off the buttons on the
front of the remote
super tight tolerances make this a pain
but we're finally able to lift up the
touch wheel
which is connected by a small cable to
the logic board underneath
the rest of the buttons come off with
some brute force and finally we have our
next clue
some torx screws we wish those buttons
would pop off easier but once they're
gone you can remove three screws
one for the logic board and two securing
the voice activation button which lifts
right out
a little more prying loosens the black
cap at the top of the remote
and then we can slide the guts up and
out of the remote from there
on one side of the frame the logic board
is held in place by several screws on
the other we finally get to the battery
which is glued in place but comes out
without much of a fight
the tiny 1.52 watt hour battery comes
out with the lightning port
their cables are soldered together which
will complicate battery repairs
honestly though part of us expected this
whole remote to be full of glue
so it could be worse and with that we've
come to the end of our teardown
this apple tv 4k box shares most of its
design with the previous version
which we gave an 8 out of 10 on a
repairability scale
it's a super simple device held together
by clips and standard screws
and most of its components are modular
so you won't be surprised to hear
that this new apple tv also scores an 8
out of 10 on a repairability scale
the new remote on the other hand is a
different story to replace the battery
something everyone will have to do at
some point
you'll need to completely disassemble
the remote a process that is overly
complicated and will scar the beautiful
aluminum housing if you're not careful
hopefully for the next remote redesign
apple will include a user swappable coin
cell battery like the one we found in
the air tag we just drilled through
you