Buying a new Apple TV raises a fair question in an era of short-lived gadgets: how many years of use should you actually expect? Engadget's analysis of the product line's history suggests the answer is reassuring, with caveats.

Past Apple TV models have enjoyed excellent software support compared to some of Apple's other product lines — and certainly compared to budget streaming sticks, which often stop receiving meaningful updates within a few years. Older Apple TV hardware has continued to receive tvOS updates well past the point where competing devices are abandoned.

The caveat is that none of this is contractual. Apple doesn't publish formal support timelines for the set-top box, so longevity is an inference from track record rather than a guarantee. For buyers weighing a new unit, the practical takeaway is that the Apple TV's higher upfront price has historically been offset by a longer useful life — but 'historically' is doing the work in that sentence.