My new Apple TV 4K 4th generation arrived today, and the first thing I checked was the Bluetooth sensor limit. Apple moved the box to Bluetooth 6, but I could still connect only two sensors, the same as on every earlier Apple TV 4K. In the past, that was a big deal for those who used Apple TV 4K for indoor sports training, but the Zwift Companion app and Wi-Fi trainers have since eased that.
This article is my first impression of the new Apple TV 4K 4th Gen around overall usability and performance differences, specifically addressing some of the concerns and hopes those who use them for indoor sports have.
Two Bluetooth sensors, as before
In MyWhoosh I paired a treadmill and a cadence sensor, but my Polar Verity Sense optical heart rate sensor wouldn’t connect as a third device. It paired as soon as I removed the cadence sensor.
Zwift’s controllers count as one connection. I could link mine through my KICKR Bike Pro, which left that slot free.
A rider with a smart trainer, a heart rate strap and a power meter still needs the Zwift Companion app to bridge the third sensor through their phone. That bridge works on the new box, just as it did on the old one. The other option is a trainer with a network connection, which doesn’t use a Bluetooth slot at all. My KICKR Bike Pro paired over Wi-Fi, so it didn’t take either of the two Bluetooth slots. Over Ethernet, the bike paired to MyWhoosh but wouldn’t pair to Zwift. The same happens on my Mac mini, so the fault lies with Zwift, not the box or the cable.
In October I listed more BLE sensor connections as a likely software change. Apple could still add them by software updates, but they aren’t there at launch.
MyWhoosh and Zwift
MyWhoosh accepted its maximum graphics settings straight away. My monitor runs at 60Hz, which is all the box can output anyway, because Apple’s spec sheet limits HDMI to 4K at 60 frames per second.
Zwift starts in 11 seconds on the new box, compared with 18 seconds on my 2022 model. It wouldn’t fill my monitor in full-screen mode, and a second, older screen showed only part of the image. It displays properly on my new 4K TV.
The faster start is the only gain I can see, because Zwift looks the same as it does on my 2022 box. Every Apple TV to date has run Zwift at its lowest graphics profile: 1080p at about 30 frames per second, with no settings to change. MyWhoosh is the better showcase for the A19 for now. The best indoor cycling apps guide covers the other apps worth running on it.
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The new Siri Remote is the change I noticed most. The clickpad at the top is better to use than the old one, which I’ve called rubbish for years. Now it’s OK. Siri works through the remote, but its answers are a bit rubbish. The remote also magically appeared as a Find My item on my iPhone, as expected.
tvOS menus are quicker on the A19, but only slightly. The box itself looks almost exactly like the 2022 model.
No home for an ANT+ dongle
I’ve been training on a Mac mini with an ANT+ dongle plugged into it, and I had hoped to retire it. Apple TV has no USB port for the dongle, and tvOS doesn’t support ANT+. The 2022 box had the same limits, so nothing has been lost. Even so, ANT+-only sensors still need the Mac mini, a Bluetooth replacement, or another signal-conversion mechanism.
An M-series Mac mini also runs Zwift at a higher graphics profile and resolution than any Apple TV. The “Best way to run Zwift” article compares Apple TV with a phone, iPad, Mac mini, and a gaming PC. Yet a used 2022 Apple TV 4K will remain the heart of my indoor cycling starter setup, as the new Apple TV 4K takes pride of place in the lounge.
Is it worth buying?
I wouldn’t buy the new Apple TV 4K over the 2022 model. Nothing I saw on day one justified the extra cost, and the specs said as much at launch. The case for buying could emerge later if Apple or the app developers release features that need the A19. My launch post lists the ones I think are likely.
Apple TV 4K (4th generation)
Apple's fastest streaming box answers Siri hands-free from across the room, plays surround sound through four HomePods and helps you find a lost remote.
Quick answers
Can the new Apple TV 4K connect more than two Bluetooth sensors?
No. I could connect only two, the same as on earlier models. Zwift riders can add more through the Zwift Companion app, or by connecting a trainer over Wi-Fi.
Can I plug an ANT+ dongle into Apple TV?
No. Apple TV has no USB port for accessories, and tvOS doesn’t support ANT+ sensors.
Does the new Apple TV 4K run MyWhoosh at maximum graphics?
Yes. MyWhoosh accepted its highest graphics settings on mine.
Does the new Apple TV 4K output 120Hz for indoor training apps?
No. HDMI output is limited to 4K at 60 frames per second.
Last Updated on 13 November 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin with any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafing stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable arches, perfect position. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Health, recovery and sleep
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet. Occasional use.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors. I use it.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used. Occasional use.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions. I use both.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home via Starling. I use it.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
