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New Apple TV model
- Thread starter gadget123
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kiranmk2
macrumors 68020
I don't think so. If a streaming stick does appear for $99 then, as has been pointed out many times in this forum, the A15 in the third gen is already overpowered. For a stick that is focused on video/audio streaming then a binned/underclocked A16 makes perfect sense - it's on an older node (so will be cheaper), uses less RAM (so will be cheaper), is produced in the US and Apple likely already has a massive stockpile of them. As you mentioned, Apple doesn't ship junk. As the MacBook Neo is showing an older chip can still be very capable if it is carefully chosen for the right purpose.
For an updated box in the style we have now (likely with additional Home Hub and AI functions), then I agree that even an A17Pro in a box that launches alongside the A20 chips in September is a slap in the face.
Remember, 15-20 years ago MacOS shipped with Front Row, which was basically the 1st gen Apple TV interface as a Mac application and had the same 10 foot interface. If Apple combined the Mac App Store with the tvOS interface and allowed Macs to either run this as an application or boot directly into it, they would massively simplify the task of using a Mac Mini (or Mac Studio, if you've got too much money) to be used as a turbo-charged Apple TV. It would also allow them to let iMac owners use them as an Apple TV device. The idea of using a Mac as a gaming machine (never mind a TV-attached gaming machine) is so niche that this software addition would mean they could address this market without having to develop new hardware.
Mind you, I think gaming on the Mac is pretty much dead. There is still the odd studio giving it a go (such as for Crimson Desert and Assasins Creed Shadows), but the other AAA releases have tended to be games that are already several years old (CyberPunk & Control launched on Mac in 2025, but launched in 2020 & 2019, respectively). I think Game Porting Toolkit was a bold push to help devs port games to Mac, but it hasn't worked beyond the few studios that Apple seems to have leant on (i.e. paid $$$ to) to bring games across. The best thing Apple could do now would be to make MacOS more like SteamOS so Windows games can be run directly, possibly by buying out Crossover, as the performance is surprisingly good with only a 10-15% hit to performance despite the x86->ARM, Direct3D->Metal and Windows->MacOS translations going on. Sadly, I don't see this happening as it wouldn't give a polished Apple experience (some games need Crossover or GPT updates to fix bugs or improve performance) and, more importantly for Apple, they wouldn't be able to get their 30% cut by selling the Windows games through the Mac App Store as they're likely have to rely on people running Steam, GOG etc.
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The stick, should it exist, which i hope so, would need to fit into the AI strategy, and not immediately be superfluous, which means A17 Pro, minimum, especially as the Box has been delayed for this exact reason, by all accounts.
if any release of a stick cannot run iOS 26 & iOS 27 & most probably iOS 28 then its worthless, in terms of features from day 1.
it need to be a 3 year product at least.
if any release of a stick cannot run iOS 26 & iOS 27 & most probably iOS 28 then its worthless, in terms of features from day 1.
it need to be a 3 year product at least.
kiranmk2
macrumors 68020
If the HomePod Minis are going to be running a non-Apple Intelligence compatible S-chip and offloading Siri requests to a Home Hub or Apple TV 4K, then it could be that the stick does the same. If Apple is trying to get an Apple TV product under the $/£100 barrier then using an older chip with less memory and storage is likely required. I'm guessing that most people interested in a steaming stick don't really care about AI anyway.
it doesn't make sense for apple to be pushing apple intelligence and putting it onto EVERY new device possible for them to then bring about a non AI device so i think that is a non starter.
This is what makes me think, and fear, that a Special Edition Apple TV HDMI Stick wont happen.
If Apple cant safely get the A17 Pro, or better into it, it isn't happening
and frankly makes me think less of them from an engineering standpoint.
This is what makes me think, and fear, that a Special Edition Apple TV HDMI Stick wont happen.
If Apple cant safely get the A17 Pro, or better into it, it isn't happening
and frankly makes me think less of them from an engineering standpoint.
I’d be happy if it could play video files on plex without struggling. Same file struggles on newest appletv but perfect on ps5.
firewire9000
macrumors 6502a
It’s not the Apple TV’s fault, it’s the Plex player’s. This app is really bad, I never had any issue playing whatever file I throw at it using Infuse.
yeah Plex is definitely going thru some stuff right now. like they scrapped everything that worked and started over.
Cheruman
macrumors regular
The new Apple TV will be released next week.
How do I know this? Because I’ve just ordered the current model from the Apple Store.
How do I know this? Because I’ve just ordered the current model from the Apple Store.
Like they did for the AirPods Max 2, they could update the chipset to support newer WiFi and Bluetooth specs...
They could, and they should eventually do a general spec bump just so new buyers can have a product with a longer life span.
But I think the question you replied to was really asking in regards to current ATV owners who want to upgrade. In other words, what actual insufficiency does the ATV have that new hardware could remedy--not just for the sake of having better specs on paper? Are people finding the current specs holding back the ATV UX at all? Would people notice any appreciable difference if updated to the newest specs? Would those updates enable any new desired features that otherwise would not be possible?
For me a spec bump wouldn't change anything. As I posted earlier, there's not much more I want--mostly just some minor changes to the remote, and probably a usbc port on the box for a camera connection.
I think many tech enthusiasts view their devices in terms of specs, so they are never satisfied for long, always wanting an update to the newest internals. But regular users only look at their devices in terms of UX and features, and spec bumps often mean little to nothing, so they can be satisfied for much longer or even indefinitely until something gets worse or stops working.
Specs are ultimately just a means to an end. So what I find much more interesting to hear in this thread is what end (features, UX improvements) people want from their ATV. Perhaps some do want faster speed, but I haven't seen that desire mentioned.
Do the current games run poorly? If you mean bringing more demanding AAA type games to the ATV, then that's a very different direction for the ATV, and a very different market. It would require higher performance hardware which would be more expensive and drive away the non-gaming ATV customer base. Apple would have to create a separate product line for gamers, but Apple is probably not interested in entering the established console market.
kiranmk2
macrumors 68020
The UI experience always degrades over time. My 4th gen HD unit is now starting to feel incredibly sluggish just opening apps - still Netflix, iPlayer, Prime video as it did back in 2016 when it was new. I've no doubt that my 2nd gen 4K unit will start to feel slow too. It's no doubt the increased compute requirements from tvOS and the backend of the apps becoming more complex.
Having said that, I believe there are a load of feature Apple could bring to a new Apple TV unit that go beyond just "spec bump," if they can be bothered to put in the resource to build them
- Full 4K120 (or 4K165) output support with VRR to enable a much smoother UI and enable 40 fps games
- Dolby Vision 2 support (should be possible to add this to existing models, but I'm sure Apple would rather you bought a new model)
- Homekit lighting support to enable Ambilight-like effects from connected HomeKit lights (and perhaps a TV light strip to work with this)
- A real ML-based upscaling solution, similar to MetalFX, but for video that would allow a 720p stream to look almost as good as a 4k stream and a 480p stream to look HD
- Apple Intelligence hand-off which allows any Homekit enabled device to benefit from Apple Intelligence - most likely to be useful for HomePods/HomePod Minis, but could it also be useful for things like smart thermostats and the like to let you program them by voice?
- System-wide AI agent to help you find content from a description (although, Netflix would likely opt out of supporting this, as they have done with the Apple TV app)
- Ability to stream games from am iPad or Mac (or PC!) on your TV with low latency (similar to Steam link or PS Portal)
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trick question, aside from emulation we all know there are no games.
i was just replying in bit of tongue in cheek way.
id like to see uncompressed audio sent to my AVR. I have an AVR that can do the audio conversion itself. I think this is what causes all my issues on the AppleTV
BMox81
macrumors 65816
Would be nice if they also thought forward and put an HDMI 2.2 output (edited)
which can handle 4K and 8K at higher refresh rates also Full 4K HDR in each eye
HDMI 2.2 doubles bandwidth from 48Gbps to 96Gbps compared to HDMI 2.1.
Officially released in 2025,
it supports up to 8K@240Hz or 4K@480Hz for ultra-high-refresh gaming.
It introduces the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) for improved audio/video sync
and uses new Ultra96 certified cables
Key Capabilities of HDMI 2.2
which can handle 4K and 8K at higher refresh rates also Full 4K HDR in each eye
HDMI 2.2 doubles bandwidth from 48Gbps to 96Gbps compared to HDMI 2.1.
Officially released in 2025,
it supports up to 8K@240Hz or 4K@480Hz for ultra-high-refresh gaming.
It introduces the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) for improved audio/video sync
and uses new Ultra96 certified cables
Key Capabilities of HDMI 2.2
- Massive Bandwidth: 96 Gbps max bandwidth, enabling higher resolutions and higher frame rates with less compression.
- Extreme Resolutions/Refresh Rates: Supports up to 16K (via compression), 12K@120Hz, 8K@240Hz, 6K@120Hz/240Hz and 4K@480Hz.
- Latency Indication Protocol (LIP): Optimizes audio and video synchronization, crucial for complex systems featuring AV receivers or soundbars.
- Next-Gen Gaming: Provides ultra-high refresh rates for extremely smooth motion and gaming applications.
- Full 2.1 Support: Includes all HDMI 2.1 features: Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM).
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input? not happening
output... maybe but there is no content for and very few people have or can buy >4k displays.
I read TV manufactures were working on higher refresh rates to get closer to that of CRTs. Some say CRTs are superior to OLEDs and LCDs an LEDs as it didn’t have limitations on content that newer tech does. While newer tech is more visually appealing when not in use.
It’s a chicken and the egg situation. If the content isn’t natively high frame rate, it only matters for video games, since computers can render graphics at different frame rates natively.
For movies and tv and streaming media, the scaler in the TV is doing a bunch of voodoo magic with the source input.
As for resolution, similar story. If you were an early adopter you’re still looking for 8k content to playback. So big whoop if the AppleTV can output 8K.
When this device is actually released with it get the accurate representation that Apple are shipping a 2 (nearly 3) year old chip in a device delayed because of AI and that may not be what its customers actually want as streamers who just stream can get that product from several other companies.
The biggest advantage Apple have is the lack of Ads and the speed of its service
The biggest advantage Apple have is the lack of Ads and the speed of its service
Icehawk
macrumors regular
The biggest problem apple has is the last 3 models are all still killer machines that show no signs of being outdated. Unless Super Siri really takes off, it's gonna just look like an updated box that does the same stuff. No one not super into tech will care whats inside it.
if the current model was good enough and still a killer machine why would it need or require updating?
The AI features should be a bit of a game changer for Apple to feel they can't release the product and say more will follow in iOS 27.
it even suggest they don't have a working version of their os to show us what is coming and probably don't want to repeat their failures when debuting AI.
Also feel the chances of a Apple TV HDMI Stick are now extremely slim to no chance at all.
The AI features should be a bit of a game changer for Apple to feel they can't release the product and say more will follow in iOS 27.
it even suggest they don't have a working version of their os to show us what is coming and probably don't want to repeat their failures when debuting AI.
Also feel the chances of a Apple TV HDMI Stick are now extremely slim to no chance at all.
Because Apple is not going to keep manufacturing the chipset just for the Apple TV. It does not sell at a big enough volume to make that worthwhile. The reason for the last 2 Apple TV 4K hardware updates was just to switch the chipset still being produced for iPads. This time is no different.
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