New Apple TV Waiting for Siri: Here's What's Coming When It Launches

[MacRumors]

We're long overdue for an Apple TV update, and there have been rumors about an imminent refresh since late last year. It's now sounding like we're not going to get a new version for several months because of Siri delays. If you're holding out for a new model, here's a recap on what to expect when it eventually comes out so you can decide whether to continue to wait, or buy now.

Design

Apple TV design updates are few and far between, 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.
New Chip

A new A-series chip will be the main Apple TV update, and rumors suggest that it will get the A17 Pro chip that Apple first used in the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Compared to the A15 Bionic in the current Apple TV, the A17 Pro is a big 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 speed and better efficiency, and it has hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games.

Given that Apple has held the Apple TV update for so long, it's entirely 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 supposedly ready to launch at any time, but new Siri features are the holdup. Apple wants to debut 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 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 next-generation version of the HomePod are waiting on Siri.

Updated Siri features will likely 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 generally want for a device designed for streaming content.

Bluetooth

The Apple TV 4K could get Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and earbuds.

Pricing

There might be a cheaper version of the Apple TV available because there have been rumors of a price drop.

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

If the new version of Siri has been pushed to iOS 27 and the Apple TV is tied to that update, we're not going to see the Apple TV refreshed until September 2026 or later.

Article Link: New Apple TV Waiting for Siri: Here's What's Coming When It Launches

 

[Corefile]

Apple TV should be renamed the Apple Mac mini Neo so that we can run macOS on it. If you want Apple TV functionality then you can press the menu button on the remote like the old days of SL and Leopard.

 

[XboxEvolved]

Well may get that and some HomePods to pair with it…

 

[jz0309]

it's entirely 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.


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 generally want for a device designed for streaming content.

Bluetooth

The Apple TV 4K could get Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and earbuds.


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.

seems to me we have no idea what will be in this new ATV. 😎

 

[kalsta]

Always waiting for Siri.

 

[star-affinity]

I don’t see why it can’t be released now if the hardware is ready and then update the marketing and software for it when the new Siri is ready.

What would they lose by going for that approach? 🤔

 

[Hillstones]

Must be a slow news day for the BS snake oil salesman, Gurman. Every other day he is making up 💩about AppleTV and we all know nothing is going to happen until Apple finishes Siri with Gemini, and even then, it probably won't work and provide useless searches like Siri does now on AppleTV. And an update it pretty pointless since the last 3 generations already do 4K video streaming, which is what the AppleTV was designed to do. I have a current AppleTV and a first generation AppleTV 4K and they both do the exact same thing. Releasing one just because it has been a few years is not the reason to release a new model.

 

[diblasio]

I don’t see why it can’t be released now if the hardware is ready and then update the marketing and software for it when the new Siri is ready.

What would they lose by going for that approach? 🤔

Sales?

 

[JohnC1959]

I don’t see why it can’t be released now if the hardware is ready and then update the marketing and software for it when the new Siri is ready.

What would they lose by going for that approach? 🤔

They got burned by doing just that with the iPhone 16. I fully agree with you, but given the flack they got for the iPhone 16 without AI I can understand their hesitation. This makes even more sense when you consider this new ATV may be pretty much just as good as the current four year old one except that it can handle new AI software. I needed to get some ATVs recently for my four TVs so I could kick Xfinity TV boxes to the curb. I wanted the newest but couldn't wait.

 

[Hillstones]

I don’t see why it can’t be released now if the hardware is ready and then update the marketing and software for it when the new Siri is ready.

What would they lose by going for that approach? 🤔

It is pointless to release new hardware just because it has been a few years, and a new AppleTV won't do anything different than the current model. Going from A15 to A17 won't make any difference. Why would Apple waste their time doing that? It won't benefit anyone. The hardware is always ready because they always use outdated A chips anyway.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Of all my Apple devices... the last one that needs Siri is my Apple TV.

🤣

 

[Icehawk]

They want a variety of products to point to and say the new siri worky in this and show it off. I don't know anyone who really uses Siri on their appletv, but I get why they're holding off. The more they can point to and say new Siri do this now. Wow. So wow.

But new apple tv coming soon has been the rumor for like 4 years. The current one is still a great machine. The original 4k is still a great machine. So, we shall see, kakarot. we shall see.

 

[jouster]

I like the colors on that mockup and wish Apple would occasionally move away from the monochromatic approach to hardware. Something iridescent would be cool every now and then.

 

[Blur Busters]

Most new 4K TVs (midrange and up) now have a toggleable 120 Hz feature, so it would be nice to support 120 Hz in the new Apple TV.

60 vs 120 is massively more visible on the OLED TVs than on the slower LCDs. Like the my MacBook Pro or the current XDR displays that prioritizes color (over pixel response), to the point where 60 vs 120 is almost invisible due to pixel response throttling Hz differences.

Especially given the large sizes of a TV. Most mainstream 2D content (e.g. scrolling, simpler games) would even benefit ergonomically.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

I don’t see why it can’t be released now if the hardware is ready and then update the marketing and software for it when the new Siri is ready.

What would they lose by going for that approach? 🤔

Lol what's the point? You need to market it as a new device with AI, it's not the same to market an existing device

 

[SouthernApple]

Why you always lying?

 

[JohnC1959]

Of all my Apple devices... the last one that needs Siri is my Apple TV.

🤣

It all depends on what it can do. It may allow more complex searches for shows to watch. Maybe while watching a movie you could ask where this part of the movie was filmed. Other uses could include home control though those can be addressed to your phone just as well.

 

[JohnC1959]

I like the colors on that mockup and wish Apple would occasionally move away from the monochromatic approach to hardware. Something iridescent would be cool every now and then.

Hmmm, for me it doesn't matter as no one ever sees my ATV device. And most home entertainment devices are black anyway and for good reason -- they nicely disappear in a dark viewing room

 

[Edwiser]

If we are to believe it is designed for AI should it not have 12 gig’s of ram
As someone who using the AppleTV for gaming. It would be great if the AppleTV didn’t have just 2 Bluetooth connections
The Bluetooth limit is a big issue with gaming.

 

[star-affinity]

It is pointless to release new hardware just because it has been a few years, and a new AppleTV won't do anything different than the current model. Going from A15 to A17 won't make any difference. Why would Apple waste their time doing that? It won't benefit anyone. The hardware is always ready because they always use outdated A chips anyway.

OK, fair enough. But what was the selling point for the last two hardware updates for the Apple TV since the Apple TV 4K was released?

Lol what's the point? You need to market it as a new device with AI, it's not the same to market an existing device

Worthy of a LOL, heh? 😀
Again, I don’t think the selling points for the last two Apple TV hardware updates was so dramatic compared to the 1st gen 4K.

But I can understand that this time they want to have something bigger – you are probably right. 🙂

 

[JohnC1959]

OK, fair enough. But what was the selling point for the last two hardware updates for the Apple TV since the Apple TV 4K was released?

Worthy of a LOL, heh? 😀
Again, I don’t think the selling points for the last two Apple TV hardware updates was so dramatic compared to the 1st gen 4K.

But I can understand that this time they want to have something bigger – you are probably right. 🙂

Yes, the something bigger is the point of the delay. Otherwise yes they could and would have released it as "just a minor upgrade" that's not really intended to get anyone to replace an existing ATV 4K. But by have a lot of publicity about the NEW NEW NEW ATV with AI!!!!!! (maybe more !!) then maybe they sell a lot more.

 

[ikramerica]

Apple TV should be renamed the Apple Mac mini Neo so that we can run macOS on it. If you want Apple TV functionality then you can press the menu button on the remote like the old days of SL and Leopard.

FrontRow for the win

 

[Zacarias5]

I took the internet's advice and didn't upgrade my 2021 ATV 4K ( 2nd Gen) to the ATV 4K 3rd Gen in 2022. So here I am in 2026 with my five year old 2021 ATV 4K. Turns out the 2021 ATV 4K remains the center of my streaming content and nightly viewing. Can someone remind me why Apple updated the 2021 4K ATV in 2022 again?

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Thank you MacRumors! I appreciate this article as I am one of those holding out to add an AppleTV to a studio I am creating in my house.

As for Apple, I am a longtime fully-committed user and a strong investor and Siri has been one of your greatest failures across the spectrum. It’s been a decade behind everything else, then you brought along the iPhone 16 Pro and we still don’t have what was promised with that, and at this rate, there’s no telling if you’ll even have it ready to go this fall. I have since switched to OpenAI and other non-Apple platforms for most of my personal assistant use. Your handling of Siri is and has been a disgrace.

 

[transpo1]

As someone with a 15 Pro Max, you know it’s time to upgrade your phone when they use the same chip in the new Apple TV 🤣

I don’t see why it can’t be released now if the hardware is ready and then update the marketing and software for it when the new Siri is ready.

What would they lose by going for that approach? 🤔

The central feature set and marketing probably focuses on what you can do with the new Siri and Apple Intelligence…and it might be tied in with the Home Hub, too. It’s likely an Apple Intelligence-first device.