Best Refurbished Apple TV in 2026: Which Model to Buy

The best refurbished Apple TV for most people is the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022) with 128GB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. It has the A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ and Thread, and it runs tvOS 27. The 64GB Wi-Fi version of the same box is enough if your Apple TV sits on Wi-Fi and you don't need it as a hub for Thread devices. The 2021 Apple TV 4K is the budget pick when you can find one, because it also runs tvOS 27. Skip the 2017 Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD unless they are very cheap: Apple's tvOS 27 dropped both. Never buy the 2012 Apple TV (3rd generation) or anything older, at any price.

Refurbished Apple TV stock is thin and rotates fast, so this guide picks models, not listings. Compare refurbished Apple TV prices across sellers for what is in stock today. RefurbMe's own tracking shows a new Apple TV model takes a median of 171 days after release to appear refurbished (Apple TV refurbished stats, as of October 2026). Time-to-Refurb is the median number of days between Apple's release and the first refurbished unit RefurbMe records in stock. For you, that means a new Apple TV model will be hard to find refurbished for about six months after launch.

Table of contents

• Apple TV models compared
• Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022): the one to buy
• Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021): the budget pick
• Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017): only if it is very cheap
• Apple TV HD (2015): skip it
• Apple TV (3rd generation, 2012) and older: don't buy
• Apple TV 4K 2021 vs 2017: what changed
• Which Apple TV models still get tvOS updates
• Refurbished vs used Apple TV
• Where to buy a refurbished Apple TV
• FAQ

Apple TV models compared

Apple has sold four Apple TV models with the App Store since 2015, and the 2022 one comes in two versions. The table lists what separates them, from Apple's own tech specs pages.

Two things in that table decide most purchases. HDR10+ is only on the 2022 model; Apple's support page says "HDR10+ is a supported format only on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)." And only the 2021 and 2022 models run tvOS 27, Apple's current version.

Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022): the one to buy

This is the model Apple still sells new, and the one to buy refurbished if the price is right. It runs on the A15 Bionic, the newest chip in any Apple TV, so it should get tvOS updates for the longest. It is also the only Apple TV with HDR10+, which matters if your TV supports HDR10+ and not Dolby Vision.

It comes in two versions, and they differ by more than storage:

• 64GB, Wi-Fi. No Ethernet port and no Thread radio. Fine for streaming on a good Wi-Fi network.
• 128GB, Wi-Fi + Ethernet. Adds Gigabit Ethernet and Thread networking. Apple lists Thread under the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model only.

Thread is the low-power network that Matter and HomeKit accessories use. If you plan to use the Apple TV as your Home hub for Thread sensors, locks or plugs, buy the 128GB version. If you only stream, the 64GB version is enough.

Its Siri Remote (3rd generation) charges over USB-C, the same cable as a recent iPhone or iPad.

Price is the catch. Apple sells the 2022 model new at $199 for 64GB. The 128GB version is $249 new. On 5 October 2026, the 64GB version listed at $224 at eBay Refurbished in the US, and the 128GB version at $335 at eBay Refurbished, both above Apple's new prices. On the same day, Apple's own refurbished store had the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model in stock. So in the US, check Apple's refurbished store first, and buy new from Apple when a refurbished unit costs more than new.

Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021): the budget pick

The 2021 model is the cheapest Apple TV that still runs tvOS 27, which makes it the best value when a listing shows up. It has the A12 Bionic, Gigabit Ethernet, Thread and Wi-Fi 6 on every unit, and plays Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG up to 4K at 60 fps. It lacks HDR10+, and its Siri Remote (2nd generation) charges over Lightning.

Stock is the problem. RefurbMe had no 2021 Apple TV 4K listed in the US or Canada on 5 October 2026. In the UK, one unit listed at £74 at eBay Refurbished. If you find a 2021 model well below the price of a 2022 64GB, buy it: you get Ethernet and Thread that the cheaper 2022 version lacks.

Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017): only if it is very cheap

The 2017 Apple TV 4K still streams 4K Dolby Vision well, and the A10X Fusion handles Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+ without trouble. But Apple left it out of tvOS 27, so it will not get new tvOS features. Streaming apps tend to keep working on older tvOS versions for a while, then drop them one by one.

It shipped with the first Siri Remote, which has a glass Touch surface that many owners found too sensitive. The newer Siri Remotes work with it: Apple lists the 3rd generation Siri Remote as compatible with "Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD with tvOS 15.4 or later". If you buy a 2017 unit, check which remote comes in the box.

On 5 October 2026 the 2017 model listed at $109 at eBay Refurbished in the US, CA$156 at eBay Refurbished in Canada and £59 at eBay Refurbished in the UK. At $109, the gap to a new 2022 model is too small for a box that gets no more major updates. At £59 it makes sense for a second TV, and only there.

Apple TV HD (2015): skip it

The Apple TV HD, originally sold as the Apple TV (4th generation), tops out at 1080p and has no HDR. It runs the A8 chip and has a 10/100 Ethernet port. tvOS 27 dropped it along with the 2017 Apple TV 4K.

It also costs too much where it is listed at all. On 5 October 2026, RefurbMe's only US listing for it was $207 at Back Market, more than a new Apple TV 4K 64GB from Apple at $199. Even with a 1080p TV, buy a 2021 or 2022 Apple TV 4K: you get HDR when you upgrade the TV, and years more of updates.

Apple TV (3rd generation, 2012) and older: don't buy

The 2012 Apple TV looks like a bargain in listings and is a dead end. It has no App Store: Apple says that "if you have an Apple TV (3rd generation), you can only update the built-in apps." Even a cheap one is money wasted.

The same goes for the 2010 Apple TV (2nd generation). If a listing shows the small black box with the thin aluminum Apple Remote and no Siri Remote, it is one of these two.

Apple TV 4K 2021 vs 2017: what changed

Both boxes look the same from the outside, so listings sometimes mix them up. The differences are inside and in the remote:

The 2021 model's HDMI 2.1 port supports eARC, for a compatible soundbar or AV receiver; Apple lists no eARC for the 2017 model. Apple's spec sheet lists HDR video "up to 2160p, 60 fps" for the 2021 model, against "up to 2160p" with no frame rate for the 2017 model, which matters for sports.

For a refurbished buyer in 2026, the software gap decides it. The 2021 model runs tvOS 27 and the 2017 model stays on tvOS 26. The 2021 model is worth a modest premium over the 2017 one.

If you already own a 2017 unit and the remote is your only complaint, buy a newer Siri Remote instead of a new box.

Which Apple TV models still get tvOS updates

Apple released tvOS 27 on September 14, 2026, for Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later. Apple's release notes list it as "Available for: Apple TV 4K 2nd generation and later". Here is where each model stands:

• Apple TV 4K (2022) and Apple TV 4K (2021): run tvOS 27.
• Apple TV 4K (2017) and Apple TV HD (2015): stay on tvOS 26. Apple's tvOS 26.6 update still covered them, listed as "Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K (all models)".
• Apple TV (3rd generation, 2012) and older: no tvOS and no App Store.

To check a box before you buy, ask the seller for a photo of Settings, General, About. It shows the model and the tvOS version.

Refurbished vs used Apple TV

"Used Apple TV" gets more searches than "refurbished Apple TV", and the price gap can tempt you. The difference is what happens when the box or the remote fails.

A refurbished Apple TV has been tested by a seller who backs it with a warranty and a return window:

• Apple Certified Refurbished: Apple says its refurbished products "include a one-year warranty, full functional testing, and savings up to 15%."
• eBay Refurbished: eBay's vetted refurbished program, not the open eBay marketplace. eBay says "Certified condition items come with a two-year warranty" and that "Excellent, Very Good and Good condition items come with a one-year warranty." You also get 30 days to return an item for free.
• Amazon Renewed: in the US, you can return most Renewed items "within 90 days of receipt of your original purchase" for a full refund or a replacement.

A used Apple TV from the open marketplace, a classified ad or a garage sale has none of that, which is the core of the refurbished vs pre-owned difference. The common problems are a missing or worn-out Siri Remote, a box still signed in to someone's Apple Account, and a seller who lists a 2017 or HD unit as "Apple TV 4K" or calls it the latest model. If you buy used anyway, test it on your TV before you pay and check the model in Settings.

Refurbished grades describe cosmetic condition. On a box that sits under a TV, a lower grade costs you almost nothing, so learn what refurbished grades mean and pick the cheapest one with a full warranty. The remote matters more than scuffs on the box: check that the listing includes a Siri Remote, and which one.

Where to buy a refurbished Apple TV

The seller list depends on your country, and only a few sellers stocked an Apple TV on 5 October 2026. Prices below were checked on that day and move every week; the live Apple TV price comparison shows today's offers.

United States. Sellers RefurbMe compares are Apple, Amazon Renewed, eBay Refurbished, Back Market, Gazelle and Mac of All Trades. On 5 October 2026, eBay Refurbished listed the 2022 64GB model at $224, the 2022 128GB at $335 and the 2017 4K at $109; Back Market listed the HD at $207 (is Back Market legit?). Apple's refurbished store had the 2022 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model in stock. Apple sells the 128GB model new at $249.

Canada. Sellers RefurbMe compares are Apple, Amazon Renewed, eBay Refurbished and Orchard. On 5 October 2026, eBay Refurbished listed the 2022 64GB model at CA$213, the 2022 128GB at CA$285 and the 2017 4K at CA$156.

United Kingdom. Sellers RefurbMe compares are Apple, Amazon Renewed, eBay Refurbished, Back Market and MusicMagpie. On 5 October 2026, eBay Refurbished listed the 2021 Apple TV 4K at £74 and the 2017 4K at £59.

To see when each model came out and how its refurbished price moved, read RefurbMe's Apple TV price index. RefurbMe's median Refurb Discount for Apple TV is 54% (as of October 2026). That family median includes old models like the HD and the 2012 box, so expect far less off a 2022 Apple TV 4K.

If you are building out a home setup, buying Apple refurbished vs from third-party sellers and how the Apple ecosystem fits together cover the rest. For headphones to go with it, see the best refurbished AirPods.

FAQ