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Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K
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But for what purpose?
What will it allow the Apple TV to actually do that it can’t now?
May 21, 2021 2nd Gen
November 4, 2022 3rd Gen
If they release the new model with the A17 I would expect a release schedule like the 2nd and 3rd Gen. I agree the A18 should be the minimum for a device that usually gets updated every 3-4 years.
ZiBart
macrumors 6502
The last part... "COVID aftermath". People have moved on from COVID but it sure spiked huge demand, overspending and hiring for several years in gaming that was extreme and unsustainable. It's taking years to realign things back. Then you add all the price hikes of the past year or two, which hinders any kind of growth. Plus these studios have also been producing a lot of mediocre to bad product that never caught on. I think AAA titles have a much higher standard these days to sell, standout and adopt a user base, but also cost a lot more money to produce so it's higher risk. Retro and mobile gaming have taken a huge piece of the pie as well as it's more affordable and accessible. This is why I think Apple and AppleTV are already sitting on a gold mine if they can just connect the dots. Lastly, social media scrolling has also taken a lot of people/youths entertainment attention that didn't exist before, when a portion of that time was spent on gaming.
Give it the usb C back and proper full HDMI.
Brink back bootcamp for apple's own OS's.
Ship it with either macOS (Mac nano/neo?) or tvOS(appleTV), depending on what it ships with.
Now they'll ship plenty, so they can update more regularly.
No more ****** and getting regular updates.
Brink back bootcamp for apple's own OS's.
Ship it with either macOS (Mac nano/neo?) or tvOS(appleTV), depending on what it ships with.
Now they'll ship plenty, so they can update more regularly.
No more ****** and getting regular updates.
foqus
macrumors member
They held it back too long and I've moved on. There is NO reason they couldn't have released this months ago and simply updated it when the new AI models are ready. I used Apple TV mostly for streaming my OWN movies and TV shows, but now I have moved on to Plex because it does that so much better. I was able to stream my home library onto an American Airlines flight. Apple TV can't do that.
The Apple TV 4K hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due for a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple is likely going to wait to launch it after Siri AI launches in iOS 27.
Design
Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing. The next Apple TV is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black plastic material.
We're expecting the 2026 Apple TV to be indistinguishable from the existing Apple TV on the exterior, with no changes to size or design.
New Chip
The Apple TV 4K is going to get a new A-series chip, and that'll be the biggest upgrade. Rumors suggest Apple is planning to use the A17 Pro that was first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Compared to the A15 Bionic in the current Apple TV, the A17 Pro is a solid update, and it's a good reason to hold off on buying the current model. The A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometer process for faster speeds and better efficiency. It has hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games and it supports hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding, which is useful for streaming content.
The A17 Pro is the oldest chip Apple makes that supports Apple Intelligence, and it's also used in the iPad mini 7.
Since Apple has held the Apple TV update for so long, it's possible it'll get an even newer chip like the A18 or A19. A RAM update is possible too, especially if the Apple TV has any kind of Apple Intelligence support.
Apple Intelligence and Siri
The next Apple TV is ready to launch, but new Siri features are the holdup. Apple wants to release the Apple TV with the smarter version of Siri that Apple is testing in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the Apple TV is linked to "new artificial intelligence features" that Apple has postponed until iOS 27, which is launching in September 2026. Apple intended to debut the Apple Intelligence Siri features in spring 2026, but the company was still experiencing issues with Siri. At this point, we're not going to see new Siri capabilities until iOS 27, which also means a delay for all the devices that Apple is holding.
Along with the Apple TV, the rumored home hub and a new version of the HomePod are waiting on Siri AI's launch.
Updated Siri features may require more RAM and a faster chip, so if you want the smarter Siri on the Apple TV, that's another reason to wait before making a purchase.
Wi-Fi
The Apple TV could get Apple's N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Wi-Fi 7 works with the 6GHz band offered by newer routers.
6GHz connectivity is faster and less congested, which you want for a streaming device.
Bluetooth and Thread
The Apple TV 4K could get Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and earbuds.
Apple's N1 chip also supports Thread, so the Apple TV will be able to continue to serve as a Thread border router and a Matter hub for smart home devices.
Siri Remote
It's possible Apple will introduce a new Siri Remote alongside the Apple TV, though it's unclear what Apple might change.
Pricing
There were rumors of a price drop, but with the June 2026 price increase for the 2022 Apple TV and all Macs and iPads, a lower price is unlikely.
Launch Date
With Siri AI set to launch in September in iOS 27, we could see the Apple TV refreshed right around when new iPhone models come out.
Article Link: Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4
We had been waiting for this updated hardware to keep an older Samsung TV which no longer supports some of our streaming subscriptions alive, but the constant delays for the perpetually deferred Apple Intelligence were wearing on us. Then came the 54% price increase on an outgoing model this month. We’re now on a Roku for our needs and $150 better off. Apple really put the screws to it’s customers with these delays and extortionate price increase.
The Apple TV 4K hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due for a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple is likely going to wait to launch it after Siri AI launches in iOS 27.
Design
Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing. The next Apple TV is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black plastic material.
We're expecting the 2026 Apple TV to be indistinguishable from the existing Apple TV on the exterior, with no changes to size or design.
New Chip
The Apple TV 4K is going to get a new A-series chip, and that'll be the biggest upgrade. Rumors suggest Apple is planning to use the A17 Pro that was first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Compared to the A15 Bionic in the current Apple TV, the A17 Pro is a solid update, and it's a good reason to hold off on buying the current model. The A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometer process for faster speeds and better efficiency. It has hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games and it supports hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding, which is useful for streaming content.
The A17 Pro is the oldest chip Apple makes that supports Apple Intelligence, and it's also used in the iPad mini 7.
Since Apple has held the Apple TV update for so long, it's possible it'll get an even newer chip like the A18 or A19. A RAM update is possible too, especially if the Apple TV has any kind of Apple Intelligence support.
Apple Intelligence and Siri
The next Apple TV is ready to launch, but new Siri features are the holdup. Apple wants to release the Apple TV with the smarter version of Siri that Apple is testing in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the Apple TV is linked to "new artificial intelligence features" that Apple has postponed until iOS 27, which is launching in September 2026. Apple intended to debut the Apple Intelligence Siri features in spring 2026, but the company was still experiencing issues with Siri. At this point, we're not going to see new Siri capabilities until iOS 27, which also means a delay for all the devices that Apple is holding.
Along with the Apple TV, the rumored home hub and a new version of the HomePod are waiting on Siri AI's launch.
Updated Siri features may require more RAM and a faster chip, so if you want the smarter Siri on the Apple TV, that's another reason to wait before making a purchase.
Wi-Fi
The Apple TV could get Apple's N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Wi-Fi 7 works with the 6GHz band offered by newer routers.
6GHz connectivity is faster and less congested, which you want for a streaming device.
Bluetooth and Thread
The Apple TV 4K could get Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and earbuds.
Apple's N1 chip also supports Thread, so the Apple TV will be able to continue to serve as a Thread border router and a Matter hub for smart home devices.
Siri Remote
It's possible Apple will introduce a new Siri Remote alongside the Apple TV, though it's unclear what Apple might change.
Pricing
There were rumors of a price drop, but with the June 2026 price increase for the 2022 Apple TV and all Macs and iPads, a lower price is unlikely.
Launch Date
With Siri AI set to launch in September in iOS 27, we could see the Apple TV refreshed right around when new iPhone models come out.
Article Link: Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K
This seems like a product that has reached end-state maturity. There is nothing Apple can imagine a video streaming platform could do that the existing hardware doesn't do already.
I am not remotely excited for Siri AI. But if it does something other than say 1) Here's what I found on Wikipedia 2) I can search again if you ask from your iPhone -- well that might be something. But it is going to have to be a true paradigm shift of base expectations if I am expected to be impressed. Mere "generational" or "revolutionary" changes will still leave it severely wanting.
As others said it sounds like they want it to be a Smart TV that transforms your existing smart TV into a dumb monitor. I HATE Smart TVs. Mine has never been connected to the internet.
So that leaves it as a 4th tier gaming console. All I can say there is "good luck with that". Apple doesn't have the IP and almost no independent developer support. Plus anything other than casual games will need the M5 not the A18!
I am not remotely excited for Siri AI. But if it does something other than say 1) Here's what I found on Wikipedia 2) I can search again if you ask from your iPhone -- well that might be something. But it is going to have to be a true paradigm shift of base expectations if I am expected to be impressed. Mere "generational" or "revolutionary" changes will still leave it severely wanting.
As others said it sounds like they want it to be a Smart TV that transforms your existing smart TV into a dumb monitor. I HATE Smart TVs. Mine has never been connected to the internet.
So that leaves it as a 4th tier gaming console. All I can say there is "good luck with that". Apple doesn't have the IP and almost no independent developer support. Plus anything other than casual games will need the M5 not the A18!
Not that Apple will be hiring but there's a lot of seasoned games developers available at the moment. This is the time for Apple to be bolstering a gaming division if they wanted but we wouldn't see the fruits of their labour for a few years. I doubt they can compete on sheer horsepower right now but A19 Pro would have potential access to 12Gb of RAM and a single core scores comparable to M5.
For me, anyone wanting a more powerful AppleTV should be lobbying Apple to allow installation of tvOS on Mac minis. Macs released since September 2023 contain Thread radios so I think it's entirely possible that Apple have laid the foundations for announcing something interesting in the future.
thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
Meanwhile, both Microsoft and Sony are all like "Hold my beer". I don't think I've ever seen so much consistently negative press for either company - let alone both - in a single news cycle. And it's a new level of disdain too, that goes far beyond the worst I've ever seen for Nintendo - And Nintendo can do some pretty bone-headed moves at times!
quagski
macrumors member
My ATV that I bought 1.5 years ago just started boot looping in recovery mode. No way to get it out of the loop, tried multiple fixes I found online. I brought it to the Apple Store and they said it'd be $180 to send it out and try to fix it, no guarantee. Based off principle alone I don't want to get another one, but it's the best streaming box out there. Not great.
MBAir2010
macrumors G3
that is a shame since that cost you $99. My TV did that in 2025 jan and i just restored to factory settings,
found out my phone's home app re-named the tv to another place in my house that did not exisit.
artifex
macrumors 6502a
How often do you replace your TV, though? We've had multiple Samsung TVs that got old enough the apps were unable to be updated to the latest versions, so we missed out on things like account profiles in Hulu, etc. That was after only a couple years, while the actual hardware might be good for a decade or more.
quagski
macrumors member
The TV doesn't load any menus for me to factory reset. It just boot loops the Apple logo 5 or 6 times and then shows a Bluetooth logo to get me to try and restore from my phone, which fails every time.
djc6
macrumors 6502a
I wanted an Apple TV, so I was waiting for the new one and using my TV's built-in apps until then.
The morning of the price increase announcement, I immediate went and bought an Ethernet model at the old price 🙂 $144 shipped, no tax - from the Navy Exchange. A 66.67% increase is crazy for a four year old device! Also why does it need 128GB of storage? I installed a couple streaming apps.
The morning of the price increase announcement, I immediate went and bought an Ethernet model at the old price 🙂 $144 shipped, no tax - from the Navy Exchange. A 66.67% increase is crazy for a four year old device! Also why does it need 128GB of storage? I installed a couple streaming apps.
N0ughtsAndCr0sses
macrumors 6502a
k1121j
macrumors 68020
That would be nice but I’m not holding my breath it’s always behind the standard for some reason.
I’m kind of a tech geek and usually buy every new product but this? A three year old chip in a “new” product? A few very minor connectivity tweeks? I doubt I’d be interested in it even at the old price, much less double that. A replacement for that insanely bad remote might motivate me.
The Apple TV 4K hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due for a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple is likely going to wait to launch it after Siri AI launches in iOS 27.
Design
Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing. The next Apple TV is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black plastic material.
We're expecting the 2026 Apple TV to be indistinguishable from the existing Apple TV on the exterior, with no changes to size or design.
New Chip
The Apple TV 4K is going to get a new A-series chip, and that'll be the biggest upgrade. Rumors suggest Apple is planning to use the A17 Pro that was first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Compared to the A15 Bionic in the current Apple TV, the A17 Pro is a solid update, and it's a good reason to hold off on buying the current model. The A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometer process for faster speeds and better efficiency. It has hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games and it supports hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding, which is useful for streaming content.
The A17 Pro is the oldest chip Apple makes that supports Apple Intelligence, and it's also used in the iPad mini 7.
Since Apple has held the Apple TV update for so long, it's possible it'll get an even newer chip like the A18 or A19. A RAM update is possible too, especially if the Apple TV has any kind of Apple Intelligence support.
Apple Intelligence and Siri
The next Apple TV is ready to launch, but new Siri features are the holdup. Apple wants to release the Apple TV with the smarter version of Siri that Apple is testing in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the Apple TV is linked to "new artificial intelligence features" that Apple has postponed until iOS 27, which is launching in September 2026. Apple intended to debut the Apple Intelligence Siri features in spring 2026, but the company was still experiencing issues with Siri. At this point, we're not going to see new Siri capabilities until iOS 27, which also means a delay for all the devices that Apple is holding.
Along with the Apple TV, the rumored home hub and a new version of the HomePod are waiting on Siri AI's launch.
Updated Siri features may require more RAM and a faster chip, so if you want the smarter Siri on the Apple TV, that's another reason to wait before making a purchase.
Wi-Fi
The Apple TV could get Apple's N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Wi-Fi 7 works with the 6GHz band offered by newer routers.
6GHz connectivity is faster and less congested, which you want for a streaming device.
Bluetooth and Thread
The Apple TV 4K could get Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and earbuds.
Apple's N1 chip also supports Thread, so the Apple TV will be able to continue to serve as a Thread border router and a Matter hub for smart home devices.
Siri Remote
It's possible Apple will introduce a new Siri Remote alongside the Apple TV, though it's unclear what Apple might change.
Pricing
There were rumors of a price drop, but with the June 2026 price increase for the 2022 Apple TV and all Macs and iPads, a lower price is unlikely.
Launch Date
With Siri AI set to launch in September in iOS 27, we could see the Apple TV refreshed right around when new iPhone models come out.
Article Link: Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K
AppleTO
macrumors 68000
I've had the same experience with multiple older Samsungs. Apparently they now update the OS on newer models, but I haven't experienced that. I also have a couple of lower end Roku TV's. Ironically, they have always been up to date as they receive the same updates the traditional Rokus do. I'm can't say for sure about the Fire TVs and Google TVs, but I would imagine they are similar. But yes, the built-in smart systems are basically useless once everything drops support for them.
ThatGuyInLa
macrumors 6502a
The Apple TV for a small few of us is a wonderful closet console gaming box. Yes there are those of us that pair a controller to it and actually play the "simple" games that are available. Any upgrade that can make this an even more fun experience is welcome. It's not the primary use of the product in my house, but it is a fun secondary use. Apple seems to be afraid of actually openly embracing game console at home with it but I like the stealth way they've been handling it for now. Or, I at least appreciate it.
TokyoKiller
macrumors 6502
