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Why is the old 720P AppleTV in more demand than the new 1080P version?

Seth Weintraub | May 3 2012 - 2:54 pm PT

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Amazon prices

I have a 720P projector, which I was hoping to buy a cheaper 720P Apple TV for as an Airplay device. I figured when the 1080P Apple TV released, I’d be able to pick up an older one at a significant discount. But no.

Something strange is occurring among most United States-based retailers: The older 720P Apple TV is selling at a significantly more expensive price than its A5-rockin’ 1080P-having sibling. At Amazon, for instance, a new 720P Apple TV will cost $178, but a new 1080P Apple TV is a mere $99. Buy.com has the 720P version for $168 on its marketplace.

It is the same drill on eBay…and just about anywhere else that you can find the 720P version. The 720P is demanding a higher price than the 1080P version. Buy why?

First, there are not a lot of new ones floating around. Stock for the 720P Apple TV began disappearing long before the new ones announced. So, supply is low.

It is not 100 percent clear why there is a higher demand for the older Apple TV. However, logic dictates that people are paying more because they want to jailbreak them/add services to them. The Apple TV 1080P is not fully jailbroken; although, players like Firecore are promising full jailbreaks in the future.

The rocketing price for jailbreakable Apple TVs should serve as a notice to Apple that customers are after services like Hulu, NitoTV, Plex, XBMC, Amazon, etc.

For those interested in upgrading their Apple TV to a 1080P version, you might be able to find a jailbreaker who is willing to subsidize your upgrade—and then some!