I was waiting for new but I don't see myself paying $250 for one so I got another current one. But so far at least holding out opening it in case I really like whatever new thing they reveal.
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Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K
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monkey6
macrumors member
I think Apple is really missing the boat here.
There's a lot of people - me included - who are perfectly happy with Roku 4K but really, really hate the idea of it being owned by Fox. I know all the streamers, except supposedly Apple, sell my streaming data, but having Fox own it is just disgusting to me. And to a lot of other people.
But these new prices for Apple TV are just absurd. 99% of the people who stream have absolutely no use for a 64 or 128 or any larger hard drive on their machine. They simply use it to stream.
Why am I gonna pay hundreds of dollars if all I want to do is a stream video? Apple could sell millions of streaming sticks without the totally useless hard drives that they include in their current and supposedly future versions..
But then, the profit margin would be much smaller. Can't have that can we, greedy Apple?
There's a lot of people - me included - who are perfectly happy with Roku 4K but really, really hate the idea of it being owned by Fox. I know all the streamers, except supposedly Apple, sell my streaming data, but having Fox own it is just disgusting to me. And to a lot of other people.
But these new prices for Apple TV are just absurd. 99% of the people who stream have absolutely no use for a 64 or 128 or any larger hard drive on their machine. They simply use it to stream.
Why am I gonna pay hundreds of dollars if all I want to do is a stream video? Apple could sell millions of streaming sticks without the totally useless hard drives that they include in their current and supposedly future versions..
But then, the profit margin would be much smaller. Can't have that can we, greedy Apple?
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rezwits
macrumors 6502a
Supposedly, from other reports and findings, the AppleTV 4K 3rd Gen, is "capable" of 120Hz, but it is NOT enabled...
Which to me would mean it has been tested internally by Apple for the 4th Gen, using 3rd Gen models.
Whether it ever gets enabled for the 3rd Gen, via a developer beta, believe me I keep checking...
Whether it ever gets enabled for the 3rd Gen, via tvOS27 (non-beta),
I would be very pleased, that with a new AppleTV that does 4K@120Hz!
2¢
kiranmk2
macrumors 68020
It’s likely that Apple is using up the pile of binned/unused A17pro chips in the iPad Mini and new Apple TV 4K rather than continuing to make more chips.
kiranmk2
macrumors 68020
I’m not sure what it will do for the Apple TV itself (Apple can surprise us), but it’s more likely to be about what it can enable on other devices around the home. Perhaps all the HomePods you’ve obviously got will be able to use the new Siri, perhaps HomeKit routines will be smarter and more adaptive to what is happening in your home or you will be able to set up home automations with natural language. Let’s see.
Alpha Centauri
macrumors 68000
I think it's dependant on the TV's age. Ive got a Sony A1 OLED that I bought 8 years ago. So whilst the hardware is great, expected loss of brightness after all these years, but zero burn-in, Android has been a horrible experience. It's become very slow and some Apps have killed the experience and even Netflix requires a few stabs at the remote on occasion.
Ok but that's not Sony's fault (hopefully) on that last point.
It obviously has no Airplay.
Alpha Centauri
macrumors 68000
Yes! Exactly what I posted also. Well, more so asking if there's been any change in this regard since the last seven years. Back then I did buy an Apple TV but returned it as the processing was happening through this, rather than my AVR.
That’s a software choice that doesn’t require new hardware. Apple could implement that today if they wanted too
Alpha Centauri
macrumors 68000
Software or hardware, it matters not. They're just no doing it! And this was the sole reason I quickly returned the 4k Apple TV many a moons ago.
That’s totally fair. I’m thinking about it in response to answers about people want to see in new Apple TV hardware. In that context the distinction does matter
Alpha Centauri
macrumors 68000
Ok gotcha where you're coming from.
Likely pass through is not quite the mainstream wish, also looking at this thread. I did however hope that this option was available after a few incarnations of the Apple TV since seven years, when I briefly owned one.
Specifically Ive been looking at pass through when combining stereo amps with an AVR, and that's not always a given. Just didn't think with multichannel streaming that such a feature is still rather niche.
And in fact that app grid is key because a big point for Apple is to keep various devices UI very similar so that the learning curve for a new device is very low.
I always find comments like his a bit odd and your response is reasonable. The point of any device is to do all that you want as easily as possible. It's not to wow other than being wowed that it was so easy to do what all that I want. So when you suggest changes you first have to be able to articulate just what you want to do that it can't yet or what it does but with too much difficulty.
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oldmacs
macrumors 603
So that when people need to buy one, they aren't paying top dollar for old hardware that will have less support.
The current Apple TV could theoretically be supported indefinitely as a set top box
It plays 4k hdr without issue. Nothing new is coming anytime soon either from the content side or the display side
If anyone needed one they should have bought it before the price increase, unfortunately
It’s hard to imagine what any “AI” nonsense Apple want to add to the box can improve it
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oldmacs
macrumors 603
Theoretically yes, but Apple aren't going to support it indefinitely based on their history of ATV support.
I work in education, we use ATVs - I held off purchasing from November 2025 in the hope that the new model would come out as I didn't want to purchase 6x ATVs with already dated hardware, but wasn't able to hold off any longer by mid June. Budgets are tight and I try to be as economic as possible, and part of this is purchasing devices which will last as long as possible through software updates, but when there is a requirement for a piece of technology and Apple hasn't bothered updating hardware, the luxury of waiting for a new model isn't always there. Same goes for people who for example have their old ATV stop working.
If they made sure to at least spec bump the ATV every two years with a newer processor, it would mean less people getting older hardware.
That’s unfortunate. You got them before the price increase at least?
I do understand about the support window as well, from an institutional stand point, not a great place to be in
It’s too bad that Apple no longer seems to be inclined to recognize the value of goodwill towards public good sectors like education where their hardware is so useful
Though not surprising
Full on late stage global feudal capitalism is getting much grimmer much faster than i ever imagined. And i was always pessimistic
I can’t imagine more and more people relying on LLMs to make decisions is going to improve that
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Top dollar? the product gets cheaper each year due to inflation. (ignoring the latest price hike ofc)
I'd say that spec bumping every couple of years resets the clock for Apple hardware support - it's this that dictates the accompanying software support. If Apple don't have to provide spare parts then they are less likely - if at all - to continue software support.You'll likely expect a maximum of 5 years support from when a device is discontinued (but there are always exceptions in Apple's hardware history where a device has been on sale for so long that the hardware can't support what the software needs to do).
At least you got the devices at the pre-price increase point. Small victory.
A brief cursory look shows no more pre price increase Apple hardware in third party retailers now so the value of a full refresh is very high now.