DevicesHubs
Same-category comparison
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, Wi-Fi + Ethernet)vs Nabu Casa Home Assistant Green
Both are hubs. Rows that do not match are marked Differs. The feature paragraphs under each name are AI-generated.
Apple
TV 4K (3rd generation, Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Confirm the current Apple price. Buy the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model, not the cheaper Wi-Fi-only model, if you need Thread.
Pros
- • Thread and Gigabit Ethernet are in the model that should be the Apple home hub.
- • It is a TV box you would own anyway, so the hub is not an extra gadget on a shelf.
- • Apple’s spec page draws a hard line: Thread is on the Ethernet model only.
Cons
- • The cheaper Wi-Fi-only SKU looks similar and does not do the smart-home job.
- • No Zigbee. A Hue bridge or an Aqara hub is still a separate purchase.
- • The Home app is the controller. It is a poor fit if nobody in the house uses Apple devices.
Nabu Casa
Home Assistant Green
See the current price on home-assistant.io. A Thread/Zigbee radio is a second purchase.
Pros
- • Local control without a phone-brand account in the middle of every automation.
- • Low published power draw and a Gigabit port.
- • Matter over Wi-Fi does not require the extra radio. Thread does.
Cons
- • No built-in Thread or Zigbee. Budget Connect ZBT-2 or an existing border router.
- • No built-in Wi-Fi. It wants an Ethernet drop.
- • You maintain updates, backups, and integrations yourself.
Hardware
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Green |
|---|---|---|
| StorageDiffers | 128GB on the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model. The Wi-Fi-only model is 64GB. | — |
| VideoDiffers | HDMI 2.1 | — |
| RadiosDiffers | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread. Thread is listed only on the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model. | — |
| EthernetDiffers | Gigabit Ethernet on the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model only | — |
| SizeDiffers | 1.2 × 3.66 × 3.66 in. Wi-Fi + Ethernet model weighs 7.5 oz (214 g). | — |
| ModelDiffers | — | NC-GREEN-9703 |
| ComputeDiffers | — | Rockchip RK3566, quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 at 1.8 GHz |
| MemoryDiffers | — | 4 GB LPDDR4X, 32 GB eMMC |
| NetworkDiffers | — | Gigabit Ethernet only. No built-in Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or Thread radio. |
| PortsDiffers | — | Two USB 2.0, diagnostic HDMI, microSD, 12V DC barrel (5.5 × 2.1 mm) |
| Power drawDiffers | — | About 1.7 W idle and 3 W under load at 12 V, per the datasheet |
| EnvironmentDiffers | — | Indoor, 0–40°C |
Software
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Green |
|---|---|---|
| RoleDiffers | Apple Home hub. Thread accessories need a Thread-enabled home hub such as this model, a HomePod, or another border router. | — |
| AppDiffers | Set up with an Apple device. tvOS and the Home app. | — |
| Not includedDiffers | No Zigbee radio. Hue, Aqara, and other Zigbee devices still need their own bridge or hub. | — |
| OSDiffers | — | Home Assistant OS, preinstalled. Local automations, dashboards, and add-ons. |
| MatterDiffers | — | Matter over Wi-Fi works once the Matter integration is set up. Thread devices need a border router somewhere on the network. |
| Radio add-onDiffers | — | Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 (or another USB radio) adds Zigbee or Thread. One radio does not run both at full duty without a second stick. |
What you buy with it
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Green |
|---|---|---|
| SKU trapDiffers | The 64GB Wi-Fi-only Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) does not include Thread or Ethernet. | — |
| What else you buyDiffers | A TV with HDMI, and a HomePod only if you also want a speaker in another room. | A Zigbee/Thread USB radio if you do not already have border routers. Home Assistant Cloud is optional for remote access and voice. |
| AccountDiffers | Apple Account | — |
| In the boxDiffers | — | Hub, Ethernet cable, 12V 1A supply, regional plug adapters, quick start. CR2032 clock battery is optional and not included. |
| SkillDiffers | — | You are running a small server. That is the product, not a sealed appliance app. |