There’s been a lot of chatter as of late regarding Apple’s streaming set-top box, the Apple TV. This small-but-mighty piece of equipment hasn’t been refreshed in earnest since 2022, resulting in what is now a powerful rumor mill surrounding its potential next-generation successor.
For the most part, leaks point to an upgraded Apple TV entering the fray as early as this fall, with such a device expected to feature an upgraded chipset, as well as an array of new Apple Intelligence AI features and experiences.
Perhaps most notably, this potential 2026 Apple TV could also arrive with a built-in webcam for FaceTime video conferencing calls. This would be quite a hardware addition, especially if Apple were to go a step further and integrate a Microsoft Kinect-style motion gesture system of sorts into the mix.
…even with tvOS 26’s Liquid Glass visuals in tow, performance remains (mostly) adequate in my experience.
New AI-infused Siri features and a FaceTime camera are both exciting prospects, but they personally wouldn’t be enough to sell me on a new Apple TV unit. And, sure, my 2022 unit’s A15 Bionic chipset is getting long in the tooth, but even with tvOS 26’s Liquid Glass visuals in tow, performance remains (mostly) adequate in my experience.
Rather, there’s one hardware addition that would not only sell me on a next-generation Apple TV, but would also be reason enough for me to line up on day one to purchase a unit: the (admittedly unlikely) incorporation of a SuperDrive optical disc reader.
- Brand
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Apple
- Bluetooth codecs
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5.0
- Wi-Fi
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6
- Ethernet
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Gigabit (128GB model only)
- Storage and RAM
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64GB, 128GB
I’d buy a SuperDrive-clad Apple TV on day one
Apple could fuel an optical media revival in one fell swoop
For the younger readers out there, the SuperDrive was an external USB-A-powered DVD-RW drive sold by Apple up until its discontinuation in August 2024. The unit was far more premium than most other external disc drives on the market, with a sleek and compact footprint, a metal chassis, and a slot-loading mechanism for taking in discs as opposed to a clunkier tray loading solution.
While a part of me yearns for a next-generation standalone SuperDrive with USB-C and 4K UHD Blu-ray support, it’s tough to imagine Apple making such a product with how uncommon it is for Mac users to interface with optical media in the modern context.
The SuperDrive was conceived of as a means to bridge the gap between optical media and newer Mac models that lacked optical drives, a situation that no longer has bearing. On the other hand, the inclusion of a Blu-ray SuperDrive right within an Apple TV doesn’t sound nearly as farfetched conceptually, especially considering the physical media comeback that’s currently underway in the multimedia space.
…the drive could be tastefully integrated into the unit without being cumbersome.
Personally, I’d simply love to see the SuperDrive make a hybridized comeback by piggybacking on the Apple TV’s momentum. It could serve as a premium, compact Blu-ray player, all while maintaining access to Apple’s excellent tvOS operating system, the power of Apple Silicon, and the vast streaming library of the App Store.
Physically, it wouldn’t require sacrificing in the size department all that much, either, considering how compact the existing SuperDrive is. And, with a slot-loading mechanism on deck, the drive could be tastefully integrated into the unit without being cumbersome or taking away from the simplicity of the device.
Grounding myself back to reality, I’ll be the first to admit that a SuperDrive-clad Apple TV is exceedingly unlikely to even be on Apple’s radar. Nevertheless, it’s a theoretical product that I’d pay good money for, and I know I’m not the only one who’d appreciate a way to play back Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs all while remaining tightly engrained within Apple’s comfortable and familiar ecosystem.
