When Apple went on stage yesterday, the company did not announce new Apple TV, iPad or Mac products. Apple might wait until later this year or next year to release a new Apple TV but it has just begun phasing out the Apple TV3 without the app store.

Apple TV3 is no longer
When the Apple TV4 was launched last year the company positioned the previous Apple TV3 without the app store as a cheaper option. It has always felt like a strange decision. If Apple believes that the “future of TV is apps” why then keep selling the box without apps?

Some have suggested that once the company eventually launches Apple TV5, the current Apple TV4 will become the affordable option. Whether that is what the company is preparing for now is hard to say but Apple has nevertheless removed all references to Apple TV3 from its website. 9to5Mac reports that the retail stores have also begun pulling the devices from shelves.


Apple TV3 has not received many updates since the new box with the app store arrived, and it seems unlikely that it will get any significant software updates in the near future. Apple is instead focusing on tvOS; the TV operating system.

Hopefully, we will get an updated Apple TV later this year with support for 4K and HDR.