If you’ve been patiently waiting for Apple to finally release a new Apple TV 4K, there’s good news: the wait could be almost over.

Rumors of a refreshed Apple TV 4K have been circulating for years, but one thing they’ve consistently lacked is a clear launch timeline. Many expected Apple to unveil its new set-top streamer in late 2025 following the iPhone 17 launch, but that never happened. Now, with 2026 already almost halfway over and no new Apple TV in sight, the wait has stretched on longer than many anticipated.

However, thanks to the latest report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a trusted source for Apple insights, we now have a clearer sense of when the new Apple TV 4K could arrive — and all signs point to a launch later this year.

The new Apple TV 4K could launch this fall

You can thank Siri AI for the delayed release

According to Gurman, the new Apple TV 4K is currently in an “advanced testing” stage, and he says he’d be surprised if it didn’t come out before the end of the year.

Gurman has previously reported that the new Apple TV 4K is essentially “ready to go” from a hardware and design standpoint. The main reason Apple hasn’t released it sooner, he says, is that the company wants it to launch alongside its upgraded Siri experience, known as Siri AI, which is launching this fall in beta with iOS 27.

It’s long been rumored that the next Apple TV 4K will support Apple Intelligence, and Gurman reported earlier this year that Apple plans to use the new streaming box as a showcase for its new Siri and Apple Intelligence features.

With Siri AI arriving this fall, potentially as early as September, it would make sense for the new Apple TV 4K to follow shortly after.

That said, I wouldn’t expect Apple to launch it in September, since that month is typically reserved for new iPhones and Apple Watches. If I had to make an educated guess, October or November is far more likely for the new Apple TV 4K to launch, as either month would still give Apple plenty of time to get the device on shelves and shipping before the holidays. Of course, that’s just speculation on my part, based on the latest reports.

Whatever happens, I just hope Apple finally releases the new Apple TV 4K this fall. The current third-gen Apple TV 4K, launched in 2022, is on track to become the longest-selling Apple TV 4K without a successor. It would be wild if 2027 rolled around, and we were still waiting for a new model.

What to expect from a new Apple TV 4K

Same design, new hardware

As for what you can expect from the new Apple TV 4K, the biggest upgrade is likely to be its chipset. Rumors have long pointed to Apple equipping it with the A17 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Given that the new Apple TV 4K is expected to support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, that would make a lot of sense, as the A17 Pro was the first iPhone chip designed to support Apple’s AI features.

Beyond the processor, the device is also rumored to feature Apple’s N1 networking chip, which would add support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple may include a “tweaked” Apple TV remote. That seems entirely plausible, and with Siri AI expected to be one of the device’s headline features, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple replaced the microphone button with Siri. The design of the Apple TV itself is expected to remain the same as previous models.

The biggest question mark remains the price. With Apple CEO Tim Cook recently warning that price increases are “unavoidable” due to the ongoing global memory shortage, so there’s a chance the next Apple TV 4K could cost more than many people expect. For reference, the current third-gen Apple TV 4K starts at $130.

At this point, I’m just hoping Apple finally releases the new Apple TV 4K this fall. Based on the latest reports surrounding both the device and Siri AI, it certainly seems to be heading in that direction. So if you’ve been eagerly waiting to upgrade to it, just like I have, hopefully the wait is down to just a few more months.

Brand

Apple

Bluetooth codecs

5.0

Wi-Fi

6

Ethernet

Gigabit (128GB model only)