The launch of a new Apple TV 4K is getting closer and closer.
All year, there have been rumors and reports that Apple is working on a new Apple TV 4K set to launch before the end of the year, and it looks like that day may finally be just around the corner.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple is gearing up to launch a trio of new home products on October 13, with the company expected to pull back the curtain on its new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini, and, at long last, its fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.
Apple last released an Apple TV 4K in 2022, when it launched the third-generation model powered by its A15 Bionic chip. That means it’s been nearly four years since its set-top streaming box has received a meaningful hardware refresh.
The key upgrades expected with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K include a much faster chipset, plus support for Siri AI and Apple Intelligence.
Here’s everything we know so far about the new Apple TV 4K and what Apple could reveal on October 13.
The new Apple TV 4K could arrive with serious upgrades
Faster speeds, better Wi-Fi, and Siri AI
The biggest upgrade expected in the new Apple TV 4K is a much faster chipset, which makes sense given that it’s been nearly four years since the last update. Early leaks pointed to Apple’s A17 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023. At the time, that made sense, since the A17 Pro was the oldest Apple chip capable of supporting Apple Intelligence, and one of the major new features of the new Apple TV 4K is expected to be Siri AI support.
But MacRumors recently reported that the new Apple TV 4K could instead be powered by the A19 or A19 Pro, which would be a much bigger upgrade compared to the A15 Bionic than the A17 Pro. The A19 debuted in the iPhone 17 last year, while the A19 Pro arrived in the iPhone 17 Pro, so either chip would give the new Apple TV 4K a serious boost in processing power and plenty of headroom for Apple Intelligence and whatever else Apple has planned for the device.
Another under-the-hood upgrade the new Apple TV 4K is rumored to have is Apple’s N1 networking chip, which would bring support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
As for the design, don’t expect much to change. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is expected to retain the same square, rounded black plastic design as the current third-generation model. However, there have been reports that Apple could include a revised Siri remote.
On the software side, the new Apple TV 4K is expected to launch with tvOS 27 and support for Siri AI right out of the box. We still don’t know exactly what Apple’s Siri AI integration will look like on the Apple TV, but I could see it working similarly to what Google has done with Gemini on Google TV. You could potentially ask Siri for recommendations on what to watch, or ask it to help you find which streaming service has a specific movie or show you want to watch.
Quiz
Apple TV
Trivia Challenge
Think you know your Apple TV history inside out — put your knowledge to the ultimate test!
HistoryHardwareSoftwareFeaturesStreaming
In what year did Apple first introduce the original Apple TV?
Correct! The original Apple TV was unveiled by Steve Jobs in January 2007 and began shipping in March of that year. It was initially codenamed ‘iTV’ before Apple settled on its final name.
Not quite. The first Apple TV was announced in January 2007 and started shipping in March 2007. Steve Jobs introduced it at Macworld, describing it as a way to bring your iTunes library to your television.
What was the storage capacity of the original first-generation Apple TV at launch?
Correct! The original Apple TV launched with either a 40GB or 160GB hard drive, as it was designed to store synced media locally from your iTunes library. This was before streaming became the dominant model.
Not quite. The first Apple TV came with either a 40GB or 160GB internal hard drive. Because it was designed to sync content from iTunes rather than purely stream it, local storage was a key part of the original design.
What major redesign did Apple TV receive in 2010 that dramatically changed its form factor?
Correct! The second-generation Apple TV launched in 2010 was a dramatic departure — it shrunk to a tiny black puck and completely removed the internal hard drive, shifting fully to streaming. It also dropped the price to just $99.
Not quite. The 2010 Apple TV (2nd generation) was reimagined as a tiny black puck-shaped device that removed local storage entirely, relying on streaming instead. Steve Jobs famously called the original a ‘hobby’ before this pivotal redesign.
What is the name of the operating system that runs on Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K?
Correct! tvOS is Apple’s dedicated operating system for the Apple TV platform, first introduced alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015. It’s based on iOS but optimised for the living room experience.
Not quite. Apple TV runs tvOS, a purpose-built operating system Apple introduced with the fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015. While it shares a foundation with iOS, tvOS is specifically tailored for big-screen, remote-controlled navigation.
Which fourth-generation Apple TV feature allowed users to install third-party apps for the first time?
Correct! The fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015 introduced the App Store to the platform, finally allowing developers to build and distribute apps directly to the TV. This was a landmark moment that transformed Apple TV from a streaming box into a proper platform.
Not quite. The App Store was the defining new feature of the fourth-generation Apple TV launched in 2015. For the first time, users could download games, streaming apps, and utilities directly onto their Apple TV, opening it up as a true app platform.
Which chip powers the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) released in 2022?
Correct! The third-generation Apple TV 4K, released in November 2022, is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 13 series. This gave it a significant performance boost and enabled smooth 4K HDR playback.
Not quite. The 2022 Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) uses the A15 Bionic chip. Apple often reuses chips from its iPhone lineup in Apple TV, and the A15 offered a meaningful performance improvement over the A12 found in the previous model.
Apple TV+ launched as a streaming service in November 2019. What was notable about its launch pricing in many markets?
Correct! Apple TV+ launched on 1 November 2019 at just $4.99 per month, making it one of the most affordable streaming services at launch. Crucially, Apple also offered a free one-year subscription to anyone who purchased a new Apple device.
Not quite. Apple TV+ launched at $4.99 per month and sweetened the deal by offering a free year of the service to anyone buying a new Apple device. The aggressive pricing was seen as Apple’s strategy to rapidly build a subscriber base for its fledgling original content library.
What is the name of Apple’s feature that allows iPhone users to use their phone as a camera source through Apple TV?
Correct! Continuity Camera, introduced with tvOS 17, allows users to use their iPhone as a webcam for FaceTime calls on their Apple TV. It takes advantage of the iPhone’s superior camera hardware for a much better video calling experience on the big screen.
Not quite. The feature is called Continuity Camera, and it was introduced with tvOS 17. By wirelessly connecting an iPhone to Apple TV, users can enjoy high-quality FaceTime video calls on their television using their iPhone’s powerful camera system.
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The price remains a mystery
Apple recently raised the price of the third-gen Apple TV 4K to $200
Undoubtedly, the biggest unknown about the new Apple TV 4K is its price. Apple raised the price of the current model in June, with the 64GB Wi-Fi version jumping from $130 to $200 and the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet version going from $150 to $250, amid soaring memory costs.
That makes the new model’s pricing especially interesting. Given that it’s expected to pack significantly more powerful hardware and enough RAM to support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, it’s unclear whether Apple will stick with those prices or push them even higher. It’s also unclear whether Apple will continue offering two configurations.
Fortunately, it looks like we won’t have to wait much longer to find out. Apple is reportedly planning to unveil the new Apple TV 4K on October 13 alongside a new HomePod mini and its new smart home hub. So, if you’ve been waiting as long as I have for a new Apple TV 4K, you’ll definitely want to circle that date on your calendar.
