According to rumors, the next-generation Apple TV 4K will have at least five new features, including an A17 Pro chip or newer, increased RAM, Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and an updated Siri Remote.
Below, we recap everything rumored for the next Apple TV, along with potential launch timing.
Rumored Features
A17 Pro Chip or Newer
The next Apple TV will be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, who digs through Apple's code to uncover references to future devices. However, given the lengthy four-year wait for a new Apple TV, it is possible the device will instead receive an even newer A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip.
The current Apple TV uses the A15 Bionic chip that debuted in the iPhone 13 series in 2021.
With an A17 Pro chip or newer, the next Apple TV would have faster performance, hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved graphics rendering in games, increased RAM, and likely support for some Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features.
Increased RAM
As mentioned above, the next Apple TV should have increased RAM. With an A17 Pro chip or newer, the device should be equipped with at least 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the current model. The extra memory would allow the Apple TV to support some Apple Intelligence features, and this will reportedly include Siri AI.
Siri AI
According to 9to5Mac, tvOS 27 will likely add Siri AI to the Apple TV 4K:
Siri AI will likely be limited to the new Apple TV with sufficient RAM and processing power.
N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7
In 2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is presumably the since-announced N1 chip that debuted in the iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air. That chip supports Wi-Fi 7, which would be an upgrade over the current Apple TV's Wi-Fi 6 support.
Wi-Fi 7 has increased bandwidth, in part because it allows for data transmission over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously with a supported device and router. Wi-Fi 7 is theoretically up to 4× faster than Wi-Fi 6, but real-world speeds are typically bottlenecked by internet service providers and other factors.
In the latest iPhones, the N1 chip also supports Bluetooth 6, which would offer lower latency and other benefits compared to the current Apple TV's Bluetooth 5.
Updated Siri Remote
The new Apple TV will likely ship with an upgraded Siri Remote, according to both Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and macOS 26.7 code findings. However, the code did not reveal any specific changes that may be planned for the remote.
Design
The next Apple TV will reportedly have a similar design as the current model.
In 2024, it was reported that Apple had "discussed" offering an Apple TV with a built-in camera for FaceTime and gesture-based controls, but there is no indication that Apple is moving forward with that plan for the next model in particular.
tvOS 17 added a FaceTime app to the Apple TV, allowing for video calls with the rear camera on a connected iPhone or iPad. If the Apple TV gained a built-in camera, users would no longer need to rely on an external device for video calls on the TV.
tvOS 26 enhanced FaceTime in ways that would be fitting for an Apple TV with a camera:
In the meantime, a Continuity Camera feature allows you to use an iPhone or iPad camera with the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
Launch Timing and Pricing
The new Apple TV will likely be unveiled in September or October this year, at either the annual iPhone event or a follow-up event. Apple reportedly plans to unveil a trio of new smart home products this year, including the new Apple TV, an all-new smart home hub with tabletop and wall-mounted versions, and an updated HomePod mini.
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Article Link: Next Apple TV Rumored to Have Five New Features, Including Siri AI
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