Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black)
2023
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)
A15 · HDR10+ · Thread border router
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) lands at 80 and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) at 92. That puts Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) ahead by 12 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) if…
- ✓Matter/Thread support (modern SKUs)
- ✓App-based setup
- ✓Works with major voice assistants
Pick Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) if…
- ✓A15 silicon — fastest streaming box
- ✓HomeKit hub + Thread border router
- ✓No ads on home screen
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testEase of use
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)Compared on the ease of use sub-score
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) leads on ease (96 vs 84).
Features
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)Compared on the features sub-score
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) leads on features (96 vs 78).
Ecosystem
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)Compared on the ecosystem sub-score
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) leads on ecosystem (92 vs 80).
Value for money
Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) more score per dollar ($100 vs $129).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 | — |
| Color | Black | — |
| Chipset | — | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Storage | — | 64 / 128 GB |
| Output | — | HDMI 2.1 4K @ 60 Hz |
| HDR | — | Dolby Vision + HDR10+ |
| Audio | — | Dolby Atmos |
| Connectivity | — | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet (128GB), Thread |
Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black)
- +Matter/Thread support (modern SKUs)
- +App-based setup
- +Works with major voice assistants
- −Subscription sometimes required
- −Cloud dependency on many
- −Ecosystem lock-in
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)
- +A15 silicon — fastest streaming box
- +HomeKit hub + Thread border router
- +No ads on home screen
- −Apple ecosystem-leaning
- −Pricier than Roku / Fire TV
- −Remote can hide behind couch
FAQ: Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)
Which is better, Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)? +
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 12. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) worth the price? +
At $100, Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) delivers a Specdex score of 80 — strongest in ease.
Is Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) worth the price? +
At $129, Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in ease.
Does Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for ease of use, Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)? +
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) — leads on ease (96 vs 84). Compared on the ease of use sub-score.
Which is better for features, Arlo Essential Indoor (2nd gen) (Black) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)? +
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) — leads on features (96 vs 78). Compared on the features sub-score.