Apple is said to be thinking about introducing a new, low-cost Apple TV that would take the form of a dongle, rather than a set-top-box, according to a new report.

Apple is said to have held discussions about the product, a device that would plug straight into a TV’s HDMI port in a similar way to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.

With Apple working to launch its own content streaming service, and with shows currently in the works, it is thought that Apple is planning to offer a new, lower cost alternative to the Apple TV that would allow users to get access to the new content without having to buy a whole Apple TV. The theory is that a cheaper alternative would lower the barrier of entry, making Apple’s new streaming service more accessible, opening it up to more people in the process.

While people will be able to watch the new streaming content on any Apple device, getting that content onto a TV screen is currently easiest using an Apple TV. Starting at $149 for a non-4K version and $179 for the Apple TV 4K, Apple’s box is decidedly more costly than the standard $25 to $35 range that streaming dongles normally fall into.

It is currently unclear whether this streaming device will ever see the light of day, but it makes perfect sense. We’d expect it to debut alongside the new streaming service, and with that rumored to be ready as soon as March 2019, we would expect the dongle to be ready too.

Apple is already spending big on its streaming service, with content from some of the biggest names around already lined up. Apple will want to make it as easy – and as cheap – as possible for users to get the hardware needed to watch it.

(Source: The Information)

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