There are a few other tasks your Apple TV can handle.
If you've upgraded your Apple TV 4K to the latest generation, it's really best to repurpose the old device if you can. As streaming add-ons go, the product has always been overbuilt, no matter that you're now paying $300 for the privilege. Tossing out an old Apple TV because you've got a replacement is a bit like tossing a Swiss Army knife because the new one has a few extra tools.
The catch is that an Apple TV isn't a generic Android box. It's running tvOS on custom Apple silicon, so you can't just flash it and run whatever software you like. If you're going to reuse it, you have to get creative, working within Apple's walled garden.
This is where the device's excessive power comes in handy. There are a few things you can do with an older model, ranging from the obvious — moving it to a secondary TV — to using it to anchor your other smart home accessories.
If you've got any secondary TVs in your home, even a 2017 Apple TV might be an upgrade. I find tvOS to be a lot smoother to use than its rivals, partly because it has far fewer ads or forced recommendations.
