So basically it’s a spec bump release with zero new features. Besides useless AI.
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Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K
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I myself always prefered to not bundle such things. When I buy a TV I look for some very specific features for the display. If I find a subset of TVs with Apple TV OS then I limit the selection of the screen I like.
AppleTO
macrumors 68000
spec bumping for what? The ATV does everything it needs to do so no need to update it for a long time.
AppleTO
macrumors 68000
That’s fair. I’m kind of over spending lots of money on TVs. Not too long ago I bought a cheaper QLED TCL on kind of a whim. I wasn’t expecting much, but the quality surprised me.
My latest TVs are Samsung QLED. Not the the cheapest but far from the more expensive ones. I bought them very specifically because QLED works great in bright rooms and for my patio TV. That's an example of my own buying more for the screen than the builtin OS.
With Apple being all about lifestyle they should sell a branded TV.
I can see apple's angle working for a TV.
The "iTV"
- Focused ecosystem, apple TV as soon as u turn it on
- Apple calibration / color profile
- Advanced screen-sharing, pick up where I left off between other Apple devices
- Conferencing features, built in MIC maybe camera too
- Advanced bluetooth connectivity for accessories
- Could be a way to expand their audio gear, built in soundbar
- IPS, Mini-LED, and OLED price tiers
If Apple did a TV I would def get one.
I can see apple's angle working for a TV.
The "iTV"
- Focused ecosystem, apple TV as soon as u turn it on
- Apple calibration / color profile
- Advanced screen-sharing, pick up where I left off between other Apple devices
- Conferencing features, built in MIC maybe camera too
- Advanced bluetooth connectivity for accessories
- Could be a way to expand their audio gear, built in soundbar
- IPS, Mini-LED, and OLED price tiers
If Apple did a TV I would def get one.
I get pretty much all of that including Apple TV as soon as I turn it on by having an Apple TV device connected to the TV that gives me the best price/features for my needs. I do love the easy bluetooth. I can use my AirPods or some external speakers (great when watching my patio TV from further away) with instant connect.
I mean I say this every time. No bitstream no buy. My receiver needs to handle atmos and pass it to the speakers, not Apple.
The A17 Pro would be a sign that Apple doesn't take the Apple TV device seriously.
In 2026, it should be the A19 series, or at the very least A18.
In 2026, it should be the A19 series, or at the very least A18.
So glad I bought 2 of the $100 Costco ATV 4K deal last year. A faster spec bump and some useless Ai is no excuse to charge $200 per Apple TV.
1ppl3
macrumors member
I used to think like you, but 8k is going nowhere for the foreseeable future. Let's be frank: most people can't even tell the difference between 1080p and 4k from their sofa, let alone 4k vs 8k. No TV channel is 8k yet, no 8k BD has been announced, some manufacturers have discontinued their 8k TV sets, and when Apple finally refreshed its monitors recently, it reverted from 6k to 5k because the human eye pretty much stops seeing any improvement above that resolution, at least from a typical sitting distance. I know this involution is frustrating to us geeks, but that's the way it is.
Companies prefer investing their R&D money in improving non-OLED screen contrast, refresh rates, and so on. Things that the average buyer can actually see and justify the purchase.
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I’m on the 2021 model and it’s really laggy at the minute on menus and seems to have to re download apps even though I have loads of space. And the remote broke! So the Apple TV is one thing I’m really looking forward to
kerr
macrumors 65816
Oldest Apple TV models:
2022 ATV 4K (3rd Gen) - 1343* days
2017 ATV 4K (1st Gen) - 1337 days
2007 ATV (1st Gen) - 1331 days
Would be rather disappointing to release a new ATV in 2026 with a three year old chip (A17), really should be A18 at least.
2022 ATV 4K (3rd Gen) - 1343* days
2017 ATV 4K (1st Gen) - 1337 days
2007 ATV (1st Gen) - 1331 days
Would be rather disappointing to release a new ATV in 2026 with a three year old chip (A17), really should be A18 at least.
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It’s turning out to be the longest and biggest nothing burger since the series Lost.
I was waiting so long for a refresh that when they raised the price I bought 2 more of the most recent 128GB before it went wild!
Alpha Centauri
macrumors 68000
I think it was perhaps seven years ago that I bought a 4K Apple TV but ended up returning it.
The reason was that there was no pass through and it was processing the audio on my 5.1 AVR. So I haven't been following the progress on models since and wondering if pass through is finally available?
The reason was that there was no pass through and it was processing the audio on my 5.1 AVR. So I haven't been following the progress on models since and wondering if pass through is finally available?
I love the Apple TV, it bypasses the smart tv rubbish and gets me to my content. They're great and is a core apple anchor product in the ecosystem.
Apple really need to capture the gaming market, their cpus are so good, the A series chips not so much. I really do hope this is just a simple refresh. Apple need a proper steam and App Store open gaming device and to heavily pay developers to get onboard with hardly any fees, apple could clean up with a SOC designed for it, Mac mini proves prices are doable if the streamline it. Apple isn't the make a box kind of company but everyone else has messed up consoles right now with no way to be lean and change course. The steam machine is a failure as it's just a bad PC but apple has access to the right chips at the right price, it just needs to forego a walled garden approach to get it happening first. if the Apple TV gets people into the ecosystem a games console could do so much more.
Apple really need to capture the gaming market, their cpus are so good, the A series chips not so much. I really do hope this is just a simple refresh. Apple need a proper steam and App Store open gaming device and to heavily pay developers to get onboard with hardly any fees, apple could clean up with a SOC designed for it, Mac mini proves prices are doable if the streamline it. Apple isn't the make a box kind of company but everyone else has messed up consoles right now with no way to be lean and change course. The steam machine is a failure as it's just a bad PC but apple has access to the right chips at the right price, it just needs to forego a walled garden approach to get it happening first. if the Apple TV gets people into the ecosystem a games console could do so much more.
Ken Linger
macrumors regular
With the recent renaming of AppleTV+ into AppleTV, do we even know that the next generation will be called an Apple TV? It may be more likely that it will be an HomePod Max with an HDMI port. The AppleTV becomes JUST a streaming app/service available on all platforms and the HomePad Max gets a video display (that you provide) and the familiar ATV interface with nextgen Siri.
"The Apple TV 4K is going to get a new A-series chip". All these Mac sites need to stop with this incorrect statement. The 'new' AppleTV is going to get an OLD A-series chip. Probably the A17 Pro from a phone released in 2023, so it will be a four-year old chip by the time the device gets released, with a huge price tag too. That is the reality of it.
But even the first-gen AppleTV 4K with the A10X Fusion can stream 4K just fine with Dolby Vision. So all these people claiming they need a new AppleTV and demand that Apple release it now, are pretty much full of it. A new AppleTV isn't going to stream 4K video any better than the original AppleTV 4K. All you get is a big price hike and identical hardware.
But even the first-gen AppleTV 4K with the A10X Fusion can stream 4K just fine with Dolby Vision. So all these people claiming they need a new AppleTV and demand that Apple release it now, are pretty much full of it. A new AppleTV isn't going to stream 4K video any better than the original AppleTV 4K. All you get is a big price hike and identical hardware.