If you're thinking of cutting the cable cord, Apple TV is a serious option. But how does Apple TV actually work?

If you’re looking to say goodbye to cable TV, you might be looking at the Apple TV.

Apple’s streaming box brings a number of great features to your living room and big screen. We’re taking a closer look at how the Apple TV works to help you decide if it's right for your home.

Apple TV is a streaming device. This means, when you connect the box to your TV or monitor with an HDMI cable (not included), you can stream content through the internet to your display. To be clear, this is the hardware, not the Apple TV+ streaming service that launched in 2019.

You can watch free content from sites like YouTube and Facebook, but you’ll need subscriptions to watch the most popular movies and TV shows. While you can download and store apps on new Apple TV models, you can’t download and store content.

Companies like Netflix, Apple, and Disney store their content on company servers. When you access it, servers send the content to you a little bit at a time. If you have a reliable internet connection, you’ll receive that data and be able to watch or listen immediately. Sometimes, if your internet connection is a bit slow, your content may pause as you wait for the data to come through.

You can connect an Ethernet cable from the Apple TV box to your modem, or you can set the box up to work on your Wi-Fi for a wireless connection. Setting up the Apple TV is a straightforward process.

When it's time to set up your device, you’ll need to have an Apple ID. If you already use other Apple products, you’re good to go. If you’re not an Apple user already, you can set up an account right from the device.

Then you’ll be able to download your favorite apps to your Apple TV and start enjoying the content.

The current Siri Remote for the Apple TV is made with a one-piece aluminum design that is easy to hold in your hand.

Going down from the top, the power button is located on the top right side of the remote. Pressing that will turn off the Apple TV, the TV itself, and any sound equipment attached. That’s a huge advantage where you won’t need to juggle a number of remotes to turn everything on and off.

Below is the circular trackpad with five-way navigation. With the navigation buttons, you can move through apps and other parts of the Apple TV interface. The outer ring is touch sensitive and is perfect to scrub through video, a movie, or TV show.

Next is a back button and a TV button that will return you to the Apple TV main screen.

The play/pause button is next to the volume controls. In the bottom left corner is a mute button.

Finally, the Siri control button is on the side of the remote. Press that to interact with Apple’s virtual assistant. It’s an easy-to-reach spot similar to the iPhone. The microphone is located at the top of the remote. After pressing the button, you will also see the familiar Siri waveform on the TV screen.

Once you’ve set up your Apple TV, you can access streaming video from all over the internet. And you can do so much more than watch movies. Here’s how Apple TV works.

Currently, when you purchase an Apple TV, it comes with many pre-loaded apps. If that’s not enough, you can choose from thousands more in the App Store. That gives you loads of content to listen to, watch, and play.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll pick up tips for using your Apple TV more efficiently and personalize it to your needs.

Now that you know how Apple TV works, you need to decide if it’s worth the investment. There are several less expensive alternatives like Google's Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and a number of options from Roku that allow you to stream your favorite content.

When comparing Apple TV to other devices that do the same thing, the cost is the biggest factor. Apple TV definitely costs the most, but it’s got a sleek, minimalist design with very few buttons and controls. It’s easy to use, and die-hard Apple fans will likely want to stick with the brand.

If you have Apple devices and want easy compatibility, Apple TV might be the best choice. Otherwise, a less expensive option may work as well or better for you.

Shari is a Canadian freelance technology, education, and real estate writer, and a regular contributor to MakeUseOf.

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