{
  "id": 14373063,
  "title": "Apple fans left furious: New Apple TV 4K is here, but it costs twice as much",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/apple-fans-left-furious-new-apple-tv-4k-is-here-but-it-costs-twice-as",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-14T05:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/technology/gadgets/2026-10-14-apple-fans-left-furious-new-apple-tv-4k-is-here-but-it-costs-twice-as-much/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple TV 4K unveiled earlier this week by the tech giant bears a striking resemblance to expectations, save for one glaring issue - its price. This unexpected shift sees Apple doubling the cost of the device, a move that echoes a broader price hike across its product range in June. The last update for the Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) occurred in 2022.\n\nInitially priced at R2,999 for the 64GB model and R3,599 for the 128GB version in 2022, these prices have since risen to R4,199 and R5,249 respectively, reflecting the recent local price hikes. The newly announced Apple TV 4K now starts at $299 in the US, translating to approximately R4,900. After considering import costs, duties, and local taxes, South African consumers can anticipate a starting price around R6,000.\n\nIn this context, Apple finds itself competing with mid-tier and premium hardware, which offer more functionality. The primary reasons to choose an Apple TV 4K remain brand loyalty and staying within the Apple ecosystem. Personally, opting for a dedicated gaming console like the Xbox Series S at R5,999 in 2023 seems more appealing. Given the current Rand's reduced purchasing power, the new Apple TV 4K at R6,000 or even higher (considering inflation) appears a tough sell.\n\nUltimately, the decision to invest in the new Apple TV 4K becomes increasingly difficult when considering all these factors.",
  "summary": "The newly announced Apple TV 4K delivers expected upgrades, but massive price increases make the streaming device nearly impossible to justify over alternatives like gaming consoles.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}