Apple TV · Standard
2010
Apple TV (2nd generation)
Pioneered Apple's modern streaming puck format: powered by the Apple A4 chip and iOS software stack, shrinking volume by 80%, drawing only 6W without a fan, and establishing the landmark $99 price point.
- Announced
- 2010-09-01
- Family
- Apple TV
- Branch
- Standard
- Historical weight
- Paradigm shift
Key specifications
Apple verification ↗- Display
- HDMI out, 720p
- Chip / CPU
- Apple A4 · 800 MHz
- Memory
- 256 MB
- Base storage
- 8 GB
- Ports & charging
- HDMI, Ethernet, optical
- Weight
- 270 g
- Dimensions
- Tiny black square
- Original OS
- Apple TV Software (iOS-based)
- Launch price
- $99
- Released
- September 1, 2010
- Discontinued
- March 2012
- Graphics
- PowerVR SGX535
- CPU cores
- 1
Generation delta
What changed?
Introduced
7- Design
Ultra-compact black palm-sized polycarbonate hockey-puck enclosure (99 x 99 x 23 mm), r…
Ultra-compact black palm-sized polycarbonate hockey-puck enclosure (99 x 99 x 23 mm), roughly one-fourth the size of the 1st generation.
- Silicon
Apple A4 system-on-a-chip (ARM architecture) replacing Intel x86 silicon
Apple A4 system-on-a-chip (ARM architecture) replacing Intel x86 silicon.
- Software
iOS-based software foundation replacing desktop Mac OS X Tiger
iOS-based software foundation replacing desktop Mac OS X Tiger.
- Storage
Pure cloud streaming model
internal 8 GB NAND flash cache replaced local mechanical hard drive syncing.
- Connectivity
AirPlay streaming protocol support, enabling instant wireless streaming of video, photo…
AirPlay streaming protocol support, enabling instant wireless streaming of video, photos, and music from iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
- Design
Bead-blasted aluminum Apple Remote with dedicated Play/Pause and Menu controls
Bead-blasted aluminum Apple Remote with dedicated Play/Pause and Menu controls.
- Ports
Micro-USB service port on the rear
Micro-USB service port on the rear.
Changed
5- Design
Enclosure footprint reduced from 200 x 200 mm to 99 x 99 mm
Enclosure footprint reduced from 200 x 200 mm to 99 x 99 mm; weight decreased from 1,090 g to 270 g.
- Power
Power consumption dropped dramatically from 48W to 6W, enabling silent, fanless passive…
Power consumption dropped dramatically from 48W to 6W, enabling silent, fanless passive cooling.
- Product
Introduction price lowered by 67% from $299 to $99
Introduction price lowered by 67% from $299 to $99.
- Ports
Video output streamlined exclusively to digital HDMI (up to 720p at 50/60Hz)
Video output streamlined exclusively to digital HDMI (up to 720p at 50/60Hz).
- Connectivity
Wi-Fi upgraded to dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
Wi-Fi upgraded to dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).
Retired
4- Silicon
Intel Pentium M x86 processor and Nvidia graphics hardware
Intel Pentium M x86 processor and Nvidia graphics hardware.
- Storage
Mechanical hard drives and the model of permanently synchronizing desktop media files l…
Mechanical hard drives and the model of permanently synchronizing desktop media files locally.
- Audio
Analog video and audio connections (Component Video RCA and analog stereo RCA jacks)
Analog video and audio connections (Component Video RCA and analog stereo RCA jacks).
- Product
Active cooling fan
Active cooling fan.
Retained
1- Connectivity
Optical digital audio (TOSLINK) port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, infrared receiver, and int…
Optical digital audio (TOSLINK) port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, infrared receiver, and integrated internal power supply (requiring only a slender figure-8 AC cord without an external power brick).
Canonical predecessor
Apple TV (1st generation) Apple TV (2nd generation)