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It's the weekend, which means the time has come for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes a bundle at Apple's online store that doles out a $50 Apple Gift Card with the purchase of a new Apple TV media streamer. Apple says it will email the gift card within 24 hours of your purchase being shipped. This isn't a straightforward price cut, but if you know you'll use the gift card on a future Apple purchase—be it another device, an Apple subscription service, or something on the App Store—the bundle effectively matches the largest discount we've tracked for the Apple TV 4K. The promotion as a whole will run through July 14.
While we still recommend the more affordable Google Chromecast—which is also discounted today—for most people in need of a 4K media player, the Apple TV 4K might be worth it for those willing to pay for faster (and more futureproof) hardware and a simpler user interface that's less stuffed with ads than other streaming platforms. The device supports all the major apps and works with both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, though its lack of 120 Hz support is disappointing for the price. While some Roku devices now support AirPlay, Apple's box plays especially nice with other Apple devices, as well as platforms like HomeKit or Apple Arcade. The device is just overpriced, but this deal should lessen the blow.
It's worth noting that, according to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is developing a refreshed Apple TV 4K with an updated chip and an extra gigabyte of RAM, so this bundle may be Apple's way of clearing out inventory before launching the new model. Exactly how much that new Apple TV 4K might cost is unclear. For now, though, the current Apple TV 4K is still plenty powerful for most streaming needs, so if you're already ensconced in the Apple ecosystem and have wanted to hop aboard, this might be a good opportunity.
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