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New Apple TV Still Launching This Year
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I have used every iteration of the ATV, starting with the white big one. You can say a lot of things about it, but unreliable they’re not. In fact, they are one of the most reliable devices out there. Something must be wrong with your unit.
Can’t wait!
Updated codec support (AV1) would be one, albeit a minimum requirement for some.
Nah they're too busy being distracted by the movie business to address one of the major shortcomings of Apple platforms. I'm not a gamer, but if people are they don't get a Mac for it.
It sounds like you bought a bootleg android box. Or maybe you mistake your apple tv by your roku? Last three Apple TV hardware revisions work flawlessly.
I’m probably getting one this time around. The A15 SoC is already quite capable but to manage a 4k TV I’d be more confident having a more recent SoC such as the A17 Pro or the A18. That’s why I preferred to wait (and because I still don’t have the TV, lol).
Now, having an A19 on the next Apple TV would be awesome, but honestly, I don’t think it’s happening. They will be mainly aimed at the new iPhone 17 lineup. Unless they have a sufficient amount of binned A19s…
Now, having an A19 on the next Apple TV would be awesome, but honestly, I don’t think it’s happening. They will be mainly aimed at the new iPhone 17 lineup. Unless they have a sufficient amount of binned A19s…
I’ve been planning to attach an AirTag to my PowerBeats Pro 2’s case seeing as how the FindMy support is so useless. They could’ve just built it in, but no.
While we might see some software improvements directly related to the hardware announced, I suspect any major changes will come with the new homeOS and home device that’s been delayed due to the Siri delays. They won’t be releasing any new AI or Siri features for tvOS until the new Siri is released, which isn’t planned til Spring 2026 now. If you’re expecting otherwise… I’d temper your expectations. Gurman on Home and TV
Apple only needs the Apple TV to exist so that there's a cheap (by Apple standards) Apple-branded solution for accessing Apple TV+/movie/music services on a living-room TV set. I think that's about it - and the whole "living room TV" is a shrinking segment of the market amongst younger people. Not to mention many smart TVs, consoles and set top boxes support some or all of ATV+/Apple Music/AirPlay anyway.
Main reason to update it is so that they don't have to keep manufacturing obsolete chips! They can release an Apple TV 8k when they start streaming Severance and Slow Horses in 8k...
I was tempted to upgrade to the 3rd gen 4K (from 2nd gen) for Apple Music Sing (the karaoke feature) and usbc remote (although I could also just buy the remote separately if I really wanted), but refrained. I’ll likely upgrade to this new ATV though if it has an even mildly compelling feature to add to the aforementioned reasons I was tempted.
Spec bump alone probably won’t do it unless it enables a significantly better software experience—ie. a new feature(s); the only complaint I have for existing features off the top of my head is no ability to stream 4K video and hi-res lossess audio via home share, but not sure if that’s an ATV hardware issue or other. The only other hardware change to the ATV box I can think of that would get me to upgrade is a usbc port for camera input (for Facetime and possibly other apps that may use the camera). I wouldn’t want a built-in camera since I want the camera on top of the TV, unless of course the ATV is completely redesigned to fit on top of the TV in a good-looking way. Also I want the ATV to retain an ethernet port as I prefer hardwiring all stationary devices.
I would also like the remote to feature a beeping speaker for locating it, and an upgraded mic for karaoke. One of the reasons I didn’t upgrade to the 3rd gen even though I was tempted by AM Sing was because there was no mic to use at the time. iOS 26 will enable the iPhone to be used as a mic, but I prefer to also have the remote be a mic so that no one has to pass their iPhone around to anyone who isn’t able to use their own phone for whatever reason (Android, no iOS 26, ?).
Spec bump alone probably won’t do it unless it enables a significantly better software experience—ie. a new feature(s); the only complaint I have for existing features off the top of my head is no ability to stream 4K video and hi-res lossess audio via home share, but not sure if that’s an ATV hardware issue or other. The only other hardware change to the ATV box I can think of that would get me to upgrade is a usbc port for camera input (for Facetime and possibly other apps that may use the camera). I wouldn’t want a built-in camera since I want the camera on top of the TV, unless of course the ATV is completely redesigned to fit on top of the TV in a good-looking way. Also I want the ATV to retain an ethernet port as I prefer hardwiring all stationary devices.
I would also like the remote to feature a beeping speaker for locating it, and an upgraded mic for karaoke. One of the reasons I didn’t upgrade to the 3rd gen even though I was tempted by AM Sing was because there was no mic to use at the time. iOS 26 will enable the iPhone to be used as a mic, but I prefer to also have the remote be a mic so that no one has to pass their iPhone around to anyone who isn’t able to use their own phone for whatever reason (Android, no iOS 26, ?).
I’m fine with just a spec bump. I don’t need the Apple TV to do more than it currently does. I’m in the market for another one so any updates would be great for me. My 2nd gen 4k model has been mostly flawless. Any issues are likely due to occasional problems with the receiver and/or TV.
Looking forward to another update! We have two of the 4k versions, one with black glass touchpad and newer one with the silver usb-c remote. The black remote has been sufffering slow responses and double clicks due to kids sucking on it and who knows what else its been through. Been contemplating buying a replacement remote or just waiting for whole new device/remote...
I wish Apple would remove the restriction of "500KB of persistent local storage" for apps in tvOS. Yes, an app's bundle can be 4Gb, but the local file storage is very limited. Apps can download things like game levels but they are placed in a non-persistent cache that can be blown away anytime the OS thinks it needs the space. The current app architecture in tvOS can not support games that are much bigger. 25Gb+ games are practically impossible.
With limits like this, it's no wonder that the Apple TV can't compete with game consoles. Even the lowly Nintendo Switch 1 does better than that.
With limits like this, it's no wonder that the Apple TV can't compete with game consoles. Even the lowly Nintendo Switch 1 does better than that.
These are all wonderful common sense ideas that I'm pretty sure the Apple TV department has no clue about. (track record)
No, I am not being sarcastic or snarky. (for real)
Apart from the 2022 4K 3rd gen version I'm not sure that's true
- 3rd gen - introduced 1080p support - huge development for the larger TVs that had become common & peer-to-peer AirPlay
- 4th Gen - Big processing boost (single core A5 to dual core A8), support for Dolby Digital Plus, new Siri Remote (maybe not a pluspoint, but a big change), Homekit hub feature and perhaps most importantly, the App store
- 4K 1st gen - support for 4K, HDR and (eventually) Dolby Atmos as well as improved processer (A10X allegedly had the GPU performance of an Xbox One)
- 4K 2nd gen - Added some HDMI 2.1 features (eARC, 4K60 HDR), wifi 6, Thread router, A12 chip with ML cores, HDR over AirPlay, support for continuity camera, an updated Siri remote
- 4K 3rd gen - passively cooled A15 chip (faster, but throttled heavily when gaming), HDR10+ support, QMS HDMI 2.1 feature, Support for karaoke mode, USB-C Siri remote
Can anyone explain why people want this? YouTube/Netflix etc will keep supporting AVC/HEVC for as long as there is demand. Also, I believe that recent A chips have the power to software decode AV1, if needed (does anyone need their Apple TV to encode AV1?)
Apple are probably gunshy about previewing features, but even demoing how this will work when onscreen intelligence arrives in 2026 would probably help shift some units.
Most TVs have supported AirPlay since 2020 (even budget brands such as TCL and HiSense) so i'd guess there is a high penetration rate already for AirPlay support. I'm guessing that access to the AppleTV+ app goes back even further via Smart TV app stores. If Apple wanted to reach those with older TVs surely they would have released a <$99 streaming stick by now?
Day 1 insta-buy for me (I'm still rocking an Apple TV HD but bought a 77" OLED TV a few months back, so I am eagerly waiting for this).
As a few others have said, I hope they put a beeper or something in the remote so I can find it when my kids misplace it.
As a few others have said, I hope they put a beeper or something in the remote so I can find it when my kids misplace it.
Probably because it is years after that released AND they have their own wifi chips to put inside. Makes sense to use their own chips on something smaller sales wise first before putting them in the iphone/ipad/mac.
If they're smart, they'll make this a wifi router, too, and bring back that product line.
See also: $300 plastic iPhone, $500 just-a-MacBook... Apple never bothers to compete at that end of the market.
That nice Mr Bezos will sell you a $40 (probably ad subsidised) HD FireStick that will play ATV+ on your old TV. $60-$70 for 4k.
A spec bump is perfectly fine, but they need to lower the price. Equivalent of $195 it costs here. That doesn't encourage people to want to purchase it nor upgrade it. If they do a more feature rich or advanced version down the line (not just a spec bumped version) they should keep this one around, and keep chipping away at that price.
But this goes under your TV and people's routers are often at the corner of their home, and many won't want an ethernet running across.