Rumor Suggests New Apple TV 4K With A12X Chip is 'Ready to Ship'

[Lounge vibes 05]

Eventually, WiFi 6 and newer Bluetooth formats will show up in Apple devices, but maybe next year.
One thing I'd like is the ability to add Settings shortcuts to the home screen. We use a lot of earbuds in our family, moving from room to room, so any way to improve detection and switching, without drilling into Settings, would be helpful. Not all portals allow you to swipe down to change audio devices while you are watching- some only do subtitles and language streams. Sometimes my soundbar doesn't deactivate properly when I switch to AirPods or Beats, so I have to drill down and back out after I've started a show.

All the current iPhones, SE, 11 and 11 Pro have Wi-Fi 6.
The 2020 iPad Pro has Wi-Fi 6.
So Wi-Fi 6 is on some new Apple products

 

[827538]

Hopefully HDMI 2.1 and VRR support.

If things keep improving at the current rate with their A-series chips the Apple TV could become a respectable gaming machine.

 

[davidhunter51]

Awesome, thanks everyone for responding!

I feel if I get an Apple TV, I should probably get a modern 4K TV to take advantage of the perks.

40"+ 4K HDR TV's have been cheap for like three years now. Do yourself a favor and start cheap, with a TCL, for like $400-500. Movies look great, even streaming, if you have a good internet and wifi service. If you are a Blu-ray guy, even better reason to upgrade.

 

[DNichter]

My current 4K AppleTV isn't very fast, but obviously does what is intended. I can't figure out if that is because of hardware or software though - my guess is software, but maybe the graphics? I'll give it a look when details are released.

 

[EugW]

40"+ 4K HDR TV's have been cheap for like three years now. Do yourself a favor and start cheap, with a TCL, for like $400-500. Movies look great, even streaming, if you have a good internet and wifi service. If you are a Blu-ray guy, even better reason to upgrade.

For 4K I instead went straight to OLED. Very, very glad I did. The blacks are totally awesome.

 

[GeoStructural]

Is there any reason to get an Apple TV if you have a Smart TV or a Roku stick?

Genuinely asking.

Aside from Airplay, I can't think of any exclusive features that are useful (in a general sense).

None unless you want a patience test with that remote.

There is no gains in privacy as others have suggested, you will still get targeted ads and have a user identifier that collects data about your searches, viewing history, likes, etc.

 

[cmChimera]

The 128GB storage option and A12X. Easily.

Wi-Fi 6 would be icing on the cake too.

I doubt any of those would convince people to upgrade, but good for new buyers.

 

[Brien]

Let’s hope tomorrow or next week. Skipper the 4K but ready for an update!

 

[Jus711]

Roku and others routinely share your viewing habits with advertisers. And most have a revenue sharing arrangement -- Roku threatened Fox Sports by removing their app during this year's Super Bowl (eventually restored).

In terms of value, there's no way Apple TV will be able to match these competitors, but it's the only major platform that respects user privacy. Furthermore, it has several features some might find valuable:

• HomeKit hub (manage HomeKit devices for remote access, analyzes video from supported security cameras)
• Apple Arcade
• Access to wider range of third party apps
• Many cross platform third party apps on tvOS are updated more frequently and often have more features
• Faster and smoother performance than many other streaming devices
• Better playback controls than many other streaming devices
• Apple TV+ and iTunes contents offer chapter access and other perks not found on TV app written for other platforms
• Tighter integration with Apple ecosystem -- Photos, Home Sharing, etc.

I’d add that the video and audio processing and customization and UI are far better than what you get on the other boxes and smart TV’s, it’s the streaming box of choice for most videophiles and audiophiles, whether that’s worth the premium in price is up to the user though of course. I have ATV4K, fire tv cube, a Xiaomi Box running Android TV, all hooked up to an LG OLED that has webOS and the Apple TV looks and functions considerably better than all of them. I wish that the  TV did 4K YouTube but I understand the fight between Apple and google over VP9 and h.265 makes that’s near impossibility.

 

[Dionte]

I lost mine traveling between West Africa, Europe and the U.S. So I can’t wait for this to come out so I can have a replacement.

 

[AppleTO]

I use my Apple TV 4th gen in my bedroom with a 32” 720p tv. Bought it the day it came out in late 2015. I was thinking about upgrading the tv (to actually be able to take advantage of a new Apple TV’s capabilities) but I just can’t get myself to do it... it’s only a bedroom...

 

[J.Dillinger]

The only reason I own an AppleTV is for HomeKit security, the screensavers, HBO, and MLB.tv. The remote is right up there with that terrible hockey puck mouse which came with the original iMac. tvOS is so laggy, and the TV+ app suggests platforms I'm not subscribed to and always shows episodes I've already watched as the next one up. Apologies for venting but is my least favorite in-home experience that I am forced to take part in.

I wish the SALT remote was available in the US. Maybe they'll offer that in the updated version.

 

[travis64]

My 4k apple tv still runs great no reason to upgrade

 

[macfan90]

iMac > Apple TV. but it would be good if they release all of these 3 items at the same time. Hope a release happens tomorrow or this time next week.

 

[Saipher]

There have been signs of a new Apple TV with an updated remote.

Yes please 🙏🏻

 

[TVreporter]

Would the A12X chip be powerful enough to taking gaming to a new level and compete with Xbox and Playstation?

With the SE getting A13, figured the TV might too.

 

[FuzzMunky]

The Apple remote is possibly the worst invention ever made.

It's like the Onion article about Apple making a single click wheel laptop..

I don’t understand this. The Apple TV remote is the single best remote of all my devices. The ability to scrub the timeline by touch is massively massively better than all button alternatives. The Siri button is actually useful. It's easy to feel which way is up. My only complaint is it's unnecessarily small, but a simple 5$ silicon jacket from Amazon gives it the needed heft.

 

[kohlson]

I'm wondering what could make this an appealing update to Apple TV 4k owners.

FTF Remote!

 

[axboi87]

streaming higher bit rates?

This! Even on a modest 65" TV, there's a big difference between Ultra HD Blu-ray and Compressed/Streamed 4K. If they could find a balance between the two (better compression combined with a modest bitrate increase) to the point where you really couldn't tell the difference, that would be the best compromise.
[automerge]1588882398[/automerge]

I don’t understand this. The Apple TV remote is the single best remote of all my devices. The ability to scrub the timeline by touch is massively massively better than all button alternatives. The Siri button is actually useful. It's easy to feel which way is up. My only complaint is it's unnecessarily small, but a simple 5$ silicon jacket from Amazon gives it the needed heft.

Agreed, I love my AppleTV remote. The AppleTV is the only thing I have attached (sold my UHD Blu-ray a long time ago), and it controls my TV power as well as the volume on my stereo so it's my ONLY remote. I'm super fast on it and have zero issues. If I can do it, anyone can (assuming no physical or intellectual disabilities, they really should allow third party remotes for that and they don't) so I don't understand all the complaints

 

[Black Belt]

Well sell it then! I'll buy it, I've been waiting impatiently. Cmon Tim

 

[smulji]

Apple hinted at this a year and a half ago.

"... It's unheard of in this form factor, this is really an Xbox One S class GPU. And again, it's in a completely fanless design. ..."

Apple walks Ars through the iPad Pro’s A12X system on a chip

Apple’s Anand Shimpi, Phil Schiller talk silicon—”This is really an Xbox One S class GPU.”…

arstechnica.com

It was more a matter of when they were going to drop it into the AppleTV ( when affordable enough and aready 'paid for' ) ; not if.

In the meantime, MS, this morning, claimed the next-gen Xbox Series One X will allow for 4K 120fps gaming.

 

[jsavvy]

Is there any reason to get an Apple TV if you have a Smart TV or a Roku stick?

Genuinely asking.

Aside from Airplay, I can't think of any exclusive features that are useful (in a general sense).

I think this depends on the individual. People have already alluded to the privacy concerns of having a smart tv directly connected to the internet and to Roku's data/info collection (which you cannot opt out of). This might be enough for someone to pay a premium price for an Apple TV.

It also depends on your view of the OS interface and lag. The Apple TV interface is decent and the apps load fairly quickly. Many smart tvs and Rokus are not as smooth or fast as an Apple TV. If you highly value these things, you might consider paying a premium for an Apple TV.

You already noted that an Apple TV has airplay (which is now being put out in some smart tvs but not Rokus as of yet) and that is a killer feature in my opinion. The Roku, however, does have the ability to do similar functions through the Roku mobile app. Many apps themselves have the ability to cast to Roku as well (ex. YouTube & Plex). Depending on your usage of this feature, it might be worth paying a premium for an Apple TV.

I think the major hurdle for many people is the premium price of the Apple TV. I've utilized my Apple TV 3 for a long time and it was to finally upgrade about a year and a half ago. I loved my Apple TV and went to get a new one until I saw the price. I ended up purchasing 4 excellent Roku devices for less than an Apple TV 4k.

I've done what I could to mitigate the privacy concerns of the Rokus. I do miss the smoothness and speed of the Apple TV, but I can spare a few seconds to open an app and the viewing content is the same no matter the platform. Airplay was my most missed feature in the beginning until I realized that most of what I was airplaying was something that could be done with another app. For me, I like having multiple Roku devices for less than one Apple device.

IMO, If you already have a Roku or smart tv and enjoy it, then there's not really any reason to snatch up an Apple TV unless you have bought into services like Arcade.

 

[smulji]

Would the A12X chip be powerful enough to taking gaming to a new level and compete with Xbox and Playstation?

With the SE getting A13, figured the TV might too.

It'll be enough to compete with the Xbox One S

 

[AppleTO]

Will they continue to sell the 4th gen, or maybe the new one will have the same price as the 4th gen? Either way, I don’t see any compelling reason to upgrade unless you game on it a lot. Hopefully this new AppleTV will introduce something new and worthwhile.

 

[nutmac]

I wish that the  TV did 4K YouTube but I understand the fight between Apple and google over VP9 and h.265 makes that’s near impossibility.

For what it's worth, Apple is behind AV1 codec, which succeeds VP9. Many 4K contents on YouTube are already encoded to AV1. AV1 demands more from CPU/GPU and RAM. So while Apple may not bring AV1 to older Apple TV models, I would be surprised if new Apple TV isn't at least hardware ready for AV1.