The YouTube app on older Apple TV models has been officially discontinued as of today. If you have a third-generation device (the 2012 era that preceded the modern tvOS-based set-top boxes), you can only stream YouTube via an iOS device from today, as noted by 9to5Mac.
Although the news has been known for a while, the change highlights an important issue with the Apple TV ecosystem. This is because it’s been almost three and a half years since Apple last updated its streaming box hardware.
If you own the old model with the YouTube app now obsolete, your only Apple-made option is the Apple TV 4K, which was released in September 2017. This is particularly problematic, as the Apple TV 4K still starts at $ 179 (with a more expensive 64GB model (it offers double the storage space for $ 199), despite being released years ago.
This is in stark contrast to competitors like Amazon, Google and Roku, who have released newer streaming products that offer the same (if not better) features than Apple’s outdated box at much lower prices. Roku’s flagship streambox, the Roku Ultra, costs $ 99 – almost half the price of the entry-level Apple TV 4K – while supporting 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision and Apple’s own AirPlay 2 streaming. The $ 50 Streaming Stick Plus offers 4K and HDR (without Dolby Vision) for those who want to save even more money.
Amazon’s Fire TV Cube costs $ 119.99 and offers similar high-streaming streaming specs, while also serving as a full-fledged Echo speaker. Like Roku, Amazon also has its cheaper $ 50 Fire TV Stick 4K, which offers full streaming support (Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR10 + and HDR10) without the additional Alexa speaker.
And of course, there’s the latest Chromecast from Google, which costs just $ 50, offers excellent content setup, supports 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and it stays that way The edge‘s best choice for a streaming stick in 2021.
As more and more apps begin to end support for Apple’s older streaming boxes (CBS All Access has already announced that it will introduce a similar change when Paramount Plus launches), the problem of Apple’s outdated hardware and pricing TV just keeps growing.