guzhogi
macrumors 68040
Does Apple make anything that plays 24/192, or do we need to still pay for 3rd party DACs? I could understand AirPods not being able to play it due to bluetooth bandwidth issues, but what about wired headphones?
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Here's What's Coming in the 2026 Apple TV
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u "wannabe" an audiophile but u screwed everything. audio passthrough (+ external decoder) its the way to the best audiophile audio...
Krakenmare
macrumors newbie
i think we all know the deep dissapointment Siri has been and continues to be so,
she plain dumb,
trillions obviously not enough to get that right
she plain dumb,
trillions obviously not enough to get that right
maybe the classic/standard/commercial/ridicously common HDMI?
Regurgitation of everything that was already known six months ago.
There are a lot of folks waiting for a new version of the Apple TV because the set-top box hasn't been updated since 2022. There is an update coming this year, but people will need to wait a bit longer because Apple is holding the next Apple TV until the new version of Siri comes out this fall.
Design
Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing in 2026. 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, and it has hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games.
The A17 Pro is the oldest chip Apple makes that supports Apple Intelligence, and it's also used in the iPad mini 7.
Given that 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's in the works, and it's not ready to go.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the Apple TV is linked to "new artificial intelligence features" that Apple has postponed until iOS 27, which is coming in September 2026. Apple intended to launch 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.
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 device designed for streaming content.
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.
Pricing
There have been rumors of a price drop, so it's possible Apple has plans for a cheaper Apple TV.
Apple could release two models, one that's higher-end and one that has lower specs and a lower price tag, or it could keep the existing Apple TV around as a low-cost option.
Launch Date
Since the new version of Siri has been pushed to iOS 27 and the Apple TV is tied to that update, we're likely not going to see the Apple TV refreshed until September 2026 at the earliest.
Article Link: Here's What's Coming in the 2026 Apple TV
This is one Apple product that I am really looking forward to simply because our current one is kinda old and we need one with a new remote that has buttons (not gestures) lol.
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iamgalt
macrumors 6502a
You can buy the newer model remote on it's own to use with your current apple TV. Don't do anything drastic like go to Google. 😜
Spokeyourname
macrumors member
Certainly not a wannabe audiophile. My set up is EMM labs, bryston, shunyata, KEF Reference 5's, REF subs. I've been in the audiophile game for decades. .. passthough is one thing and is needed. But most high end audio streaming boxes, or software either are automatically upsample or have the ability to. Roon, a music organization program and player, will upsample to DSD. However, my EMM Labs DAC convers to DSD once it receives the stream from Roon via ethernet. .. so there are 2 examples of upsampling tech. Apple can easily implement the software version to the new apple TV.
Looks like I didn't screw up a thing ..
Spokeyourname
macrumors member
One of the things I never got was why Apple doesn't focus very much on picture and audio quality.
The previous generation of the ATV had a very good underlying platform, but they compromised it with a crummy power supply that was noisy and some minor design glitches. Various DIYers have modded their ATV's for visually and audibly better performance that can be confirmed with measurements. (The current gen platform went backwards in terms of video and audio, which is what most people care about in their ATV usage. Have many gamers embraced the ATV? Dunno.)
In many ways Apple has focused on marketing coolness and just plain old change in their product offerings overall. Disappointing.
The previous generation of the ATV had a very good underlying platform, but they compromised it with a crummy power supply that was noisy and some minor design glitches. Various DIYers have modded their ATV's for visually and audibly better performance that can be confirmed with measurements. (The current gen platform went backwards in terms of video and audio, which is what most people care about in their ATV usage. Have many gamers embraced the ATV? Dunno.)
In many ways Apple has focused on marketing coolness and just plain old change in their product offerings overall. Disappointing.
sjsharksfan12
macrumors 68030
I thought this article would be what shows are coming to Apple TV because they've been releasing a lot of trailers lately. Kind of wish they had kept the Apple TV+ to differenciate it.
That Star City show looks interesting, and then of course Silo which I'm really looking forward to.
That Star City show looks interesting, and then of course Silo which I'm really looking forward to.
CouponPages
macrumors regular
ItsASpider
macrumors regular
It's starting to feel like the new Apple TV is going to be dated by the time it comes out. Yeah, the A17 Pro is a nice upgrade, but it's also already quiet old, especially for a device that only gets a refresh every 4 years.
rembert
macrumors regular
My ATV 4K 1st gen is still going strong, with a 4K television and 4K streams. However I do want to move parts of my domotica to Matter some day, no hurry though. Just hoping my 1st gen will keep going. I bought it in September 2017. Fingers crossed.
Second and third-gen 4K models can route audio from devices connected to your TV (via ARC-compatible port) to AirPlay speakers, but it sounds like you want to choose different preferred speakers(?)
I'd be concerned that a real deal refresh might only be a year away by the time the A17 Pro model releases. The 4K second and third gens were only a year apart. 2021 and 2022. A12 and A15-powered.
With the cost of gaming consoles reportedly going through the roof, Apple really should try and turn the Apple TV thing into a “midrange” gaming console. If Apple would take the dive into moderate level gaming this could be a terrific device for kids to play games on their TVs. But they need better games and controllers to make it all work. Imagine a gaming edition of the Apple TV.
Homme
macrumors 65816
Yes and no… the thing is that future refresh’s of the Apple TV will be via a pro branding chip after the A17 Pro, the A18 Pro because of the MacBook neo is drying up as expected ( presumably) and the A19 Pro is still too new for it
It will take a few years for a refresh but where this Apple TV stands is in a exact position as the current iPad Mini because of its A17 Pro as well
I realize that I’m the outlier… but this is exactly what I don’t want.