EE TV Box Pro VS Apple 4K Box

[DStructUK]

HI

I am soon going to take up EE Broadband with EE TV

I am aware I can choose either the EE TV Box Pro OR the Apple 4K Box. I have watched some YouTube videos on them both to try and give me the best understanding, I am still undecided on which to choose though. Can anybody please help me distuingish the differences? 

I know the main difference is that you can record on the EE TV Box Pro but you cannot record on the Apple 4K Box, If I decide recording is not so important to me, what other factors are there? 

Which box is the most powerful hardware that will give me best performance switching through apps etc, best viewing / sound quality and least problems etc etc 

Please go all out on the differences, pros and cons of both 

Thank you 

[davidro77]

I’m surprised the lack of 4k BBC iPlayer on Apple TV 4K isn’t being called out as a big deal?

iPlayer 720p on a big screen looks rubbish quite frankly and it’s a disgrace the BBC haven’t released a new version for Apple TV to fix this.

Are all other free to air channels including the sky channels 4k on EE TV or just full HD?

Is this a plus over sky stream or do they cap it?

[Leanne_T]

Hi @davidro77 

Thanks for coming to the community 🙂

The EE TV Channel Guide has information on the channels. 

Leanne.

[davidro77]

So the channel guide link appears to show all the channels are only HD and not 4K. Which is a little strange considering both tv boxes tout their 4k credentials?

[Midnight_Voice]

@davidro77 

4K boxes, whether supplied by EETV  or anybody else, all without exception suffer from the crippling limitation that they can only show genuine 4K when fed 4K content.

Though most of them overcome this to a certain extent by upscaling whatever they are fed to 4K, with mixed results.

I share your puzzlement as the why the BBC iPlayer on Apple TV  doesn’t show its UHD programmes, but I am also puzzled why you think this is anything to do with EETV; unlike on the Box Pro where the iPlayer app has been filtered through YouView, the app on the Apple TV box is exclusively the BBC’s doing, and if you have a complaint, raise it with them; the more customers complain, the better.

As you have no doubt learned since, the BBC supply nothing in 720p; it’s either 576i SD, where upscaling requires 15 out of every 16 pixels to be synthesised, or 1080p HD, which only requires 3 out of every 4 to be synthesised.

For 720p, which requires 5 out of every 6 to be synthesised, try Now without Boost.

[JoRo1948]

I have a BT pro box.  If I subscribe to the Apple TV+ box is this treated as an additional subscription or can I return the BT pro box and just use the Apple box?  I've looked at the website and the community answers but I can't quite tease out this piece of information from what I've read.

I assume I could feed the aerial connection directly to the tv set and watch Freeview programmes and so be able to watch the programmes which are not available on the EE broadband feed.

All advice is appreciated.

[zulu17]

Hi @JoRo1948 Are you currently with EE or BT broadband ?  I ask as the Apple TV (EETV) box is only loaned to those taking an EETV subscription with EE broadband (ie not a current option with EETV on BT Broadband).

If you are already on EE Broadband with a current EETV subscription you should be able to discuss  with EE changing to the Apple Tv , there is likely to  be some form of charge and/or variation to your existing EETV package (perhaps a fresh minumum term), If you migrated across from BT to EE  broadband you should have had the option to  elect to hqve the Apple Tv box for your primary TV box at that time.

You can certainly use an aerial connection into your TV for Freeview viewing as well as any HDMI connection for an Apple TV .

[Richardr66]

I recently changed and it was straight forward. You need to call them and allow them to try and upsell you various services which you can say no to, but apart from that they sent out the Apple TV box in a couple of days. You then have to return the old EE TV box [I had to call a second time to get the packaging sent to me].

Make sure you don't require recording. As above the BBC iPlayer is somewhat worse, and it if is important I don't think S4C Clic is on there, whereas the likes of Prime and Netflix can be better especially if the likes of Atmos and Dolby Vision are important to you.  The HDR version of TNT Sport [channel 465] is missing - all EETV channels seem to have the same definition and sound quality - but that particular channel is far from full time only broadcasting certain live sport events and can usually be found on Discovery+. Dolby Atmos can be hit and miss there if that is important to you. Note too that the delay is more than on EE TV, so turn any score flashes on your phone off or to silent if you are watching sport.

[JoRo1948]

Thank you for your reply. 

I am an EE customer with EE broadband, EE tv (albeit with a BT Pro box), EE mini box and EE mobile SIM. 

I have no wish to increase my subscription but if I can change the current subscription for the Apple box then I may well go down that path. 

Thank you once again for taking the time to advise me. It is appreciated. 

[JoRo1948]

Thank you for your reply.  I was interested in learning the mechanics of the changeover.

I tend to record quite a lot, but  I watch very little of it!   I think I can watch most of what interests me either at the time or by accessing iPlayer.  Dolby Atmos isn't an issue.  

Thank you once again.  I found your post most informative.