Waiting for a New Apple TV? Here's What the Latest Rumors Say

[appleCakes]

I am not sure what is your issue with Atmos over HDMI. I am using it everyday and it is working fine. Maybe I miss some context?

It’s fine — I was just saying mapping Dolby Atmos to different speaker configurations (when the target system is not Dolby Atmos), e.g., DA content played over a 5.1 system) involves taking advantage of all available speakers through mixing of audio channels (there are more audio channels than speakers, realtime mixing algorithms are proprietary); this mapping function might possibly improve with faster hardware.

 

[nt5672]

Have not used our Apple TV in 6+ months. Bought it to see if Apple TV subscription was worth it and we went through everything during the free period. Nothing special about it. Not sure why it exists.

 

[MrENGLISH]

I've been waiting for an updated AppleTV ever since they announced RayTracing in the M3/A17 Pro. The AppleTV could be a killer game system if Apple wanted it to be.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I'm still getting updates for my ATV4 from (2015) which is insane, almost 10 years now. I want to buy a 4K version but i'm willing to wait for the next model.

 

[MistrSynistr]

Have not used our Apple TV in 6+ months. Bought it to see if Apple TV subscription was worth it and we went through everything during the free period. Nothing special about it. Not sure why it exists.

This is for the hardware, not AppleTV+. If you bought an AppleTV box I'm positive you'd still be using it.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

The only thing I wish Apple 4K had was support for the Roku Channel. It's on the Chromecast because I use it so I don't see why it's not supported on Apple TV box?

 

[gatorvet96]

Have not used our Apple TV in 6+ months. Bought it to see if Apple TV subscription was worth it and we went through everything during the free period. Nothing special about it. Not sure why it exists.

Not sure what you would use instead? It is by far the best streamer device. Unless not in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I've been waiting for an updated AppleTV ever since they announced RayTracing in the M3/A17 Pro. The AppleTV could be a killer game system if Apple wanted it to be.

IMO: very best hope for something like this would be a modern version of what was called "Front Row" which was the AppleTV interface at the time running on Mac hardware. Then one can buy Mac Mini Base or Pro or even Mac Studio MAX or Ultra to be their super-charged AppleTV... and front row would deliver the UI.

I just don't foresee a scenario where Apple makes a hardware-"loaded" AppleTV because they don't really seem to care about games. Yes, there is good lip service about every 8 years or so... but no putting their money where they mouth is like established players.

I also don't believe the killer games will ever come in volume because the other players offer much more lucrative opportunity for developers while Apple seems to lean on a "build it and they will come" philosophy WITH a front-of-the-line, first big bite of revenue right off the top. Much greener pastures to develop for the rest.

One option though: buy yourself a gaming PC with a Nvidia card. Install the incredible Moonlight app on AppleTV and you can stream all of the good games from that PC through AppleTV to your TV as if they are native on AppleTV. The PC and graphic card do the heavy lifting and the AppleTV just receives a streamed image of what is happening on screen at the time.

I didn't expect this to work as well as it does but it certainly does work very well. And you can have ALL of the AAA games today if you want it.

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

Not needed. Don’t say but Apple Arcade either, that is a joke of a service.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

I've been waiting to get one since there keeps being rumours of a new one but I think if they don't release one in October I'll just pull the trigger and get the latest model.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

They should probably just exit this market tbh. Get serious or get out.

 

[gk_brown]

Unfortunately they updated it for the first time in like 4 years, and then updated it again like 9 months later. I was so pissed lol

Most people here don't seem to have a problem dropping $1K+ every year on a new phone, but $129 is too much 😄

(FWIW, same thing happened to me)

 

[Twisthem488]

Is anyone else expecting an Apple TV gaming system in the near future? We're now seeing full AAA titles, like Resident Evil, Death Stranding, and Divinity: Original Sin II, running on iPhones, and they aren't watered-down mobile versions—they're the full, console-quality experiences. With the A17 and A18 chips even supporting ray tracing, Apple has already shown that their hardware can deliver high-end gaming performance.

Given that, I think Apple could easily disrupt the console market if they release an Apple TV with a more powerful CPU capable of handling current-gen gaming. It would make sense to expect a future iteration that targets 4K resolution, especially since that’s the standard for most TV devices these days. While the A18 might not quite get there yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple releases something in the near future that shakes up the gaming industry and gives traditional consoles some serious competition.

 

[Hildy]

I’ve had pretty much every model since V1 and find the @TV app so bad that I rarely use AppleTV anymore. I don’t want to browse content from Disney+ if I don’t subscribe to Disney+.

Simply looking for a movie to rent is painful.

Maybe gimping the @TV experience will make AI seem useful..?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I can't even begin to think what I could need or want different from my original Apple TV 4K. All the streaming apps load as fast today as the day I bought it and I never even downloaded a game on it. I don't care about home theater and surround sound; we just use a simple soundbar.

🤷🏻‍♂️

Given that, I think Apple could easily disrupt the console market if they release an Apple TV with a more powerful CPU capable of handling current-gen gaming.

No they won't distrust, or even touch gaming, because the hardware has never been the issue and won't be the issue in the future. It's apples ethos, and that isn't changing.

I'll say it again, hardware isn't the problem. There is no physical device apple can or would build that put them anywhere within visual distance of the three consoles.

 

[Oestreich Dieter]

The only way building in a camera works is if you position your AppleTV immediately center and just above or below your TV set. Anywhere else- which is where many put their AppleTVs- and the camera benefit starts suffering. For example, I store my AppleTV on a shelf maybe 8 feet to the right of the TV. If it had a FaceTime camera and I'm looking at who I'm talking to on the screen, they would be seeing me look far right of them.

And then there's the many who make their AppleTVs disappear BEHIND their TV or in a cabinet... for which a built-in camera could "see" nothing.

The best option along these lines would be to put a "normalized" USB port back on the box and let it have the capability to attach a USB camera that could be mounted on the TV. Then, people could have the box anywhere and place the camera in the ideal spot too.

Else, open up continuity camera so it can be a more permanent wireless solution instead of leaning on iDevices that tend to leave their household with their owners. Think of something like the ancient iSight camera perhaps powered by a USB jack on the TV or a USB block plugged in behind the TV somewhere.

I like the target of this idea myself... but there are much better implementations than building a camera into the box. That option would only work for a few who happen to place their AppleTV box visibly and ideally right above or right below the center of their TVs.

Yeah agreed. I read a comment elsewhere from someone who said Apple should make a high end soundbar with AppleTV OS capabilities baked in and a camera for FaceTime. That soundbar would be placed smack dab in the middle below the TV across from you where you will be sitting.

 

[FasterQuieter]

I think they will wait until all the other products in need of an N3E process chip (A18 and all the M4 variants) are out and selling first. There is a lot more profit to be made there. Then they will give us an upgrade with an A18 or M4 (possibly binned). At the same time I imagine they will annouce new AI features that won't be available on previous models.

 

[dabirdwell]

A18 chip to offload AI requests from HomePods / Homepod Minis. I would say to also offload requests from iPhone 15/14s that don't natively support AI, but come on...Apple would much rather you bought a $799+ new phone.

Yep. I’ve been speculating about this for quite some time. That their models would be small enough to run on a specially designed Apple TV and automate things like Shortcut creation (Awesome) and lots of other things. I have 12-14 HomePods on the network at all times, and if they all of a sudden had access to a Home-specific version of Apple Intelligence, it would be a major life upgrade.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

They could also update the Bluetooth version and add Wifi 6E/7 to it.

 

[Twisthem488]

I can't even begin to think what I could need or want different from my original Apple TV 4K. All the streaming apps load as fast today as the day I bought it and I never even downloaded a game on it. I don't care about home theater and surround sound; we just use a simple soundbar.

🤷🏻‍♂️



No they won't distrust, or even touch gaming, because the hardware has never been the issue and won't be the issue in the future. It's apples ethos, and that isn't changing.

I'll say it again, hardware isn't the problem.

If they continue to maintain a link between Apple TV and iPhone CPU's then hardware is the problem, although not for long. They are making moves and showing off AAA support and gaming capabilities, are leading in mobile games, and running Apple Arcade. The problem with gaming on the Mac has always been support and adoption. That hasn't been an issue with iOS because their market is huuuuge. If they are able to essentially copy that market and support to the Apple TV and compete with consoles at half the cost the adoption will follow.

 

[B-Mc-C]

The new Siri animation on an updated Apple TV would be nice. Even CarPlay has it!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yeah agreed. I read a comment elsewhere from someone who said Apple should make a high end soundbar with AppleTV OS capabilities baked in and a camera for FaceTime. That soundbar would be placed smack dab in the middle below the TV across from you where you will be sitting.

Yes, I call that version of the concept the “Frankenstein” because it is often dreamed as being so many parts. Add router too. Add mesh capabilities. Etc. I think I've joked about putting a popcorn maker on it.

Of course, then we’re building an iMac-type device in which when any one part conks or is deemed vintage or obsolete, it’s a “throw baby out with the bathwater” proposition. A good soundbar could be used for 10-15 years… unless it’s married to an AppleTV, which seems to age out in about 7 at best.

I’d still argue that the best way to bring on all such wants is put a USB port on it and give it the capability to work with anything one wants to connect to that port… or a hub hooked to it. Camera, big local storage, etc jump right to mind for me.

Leave the longer life speaker options as separates… and the routers too. Those with no such add-on interests aren’t having them forced upon them. For example, I have zero interest in the soundbar or router Frankenstein. Both bases are well covered with other options. But, for others who want some Frankenstein, maybe Apple will build one for such people. And I shudder to imagine the price.

 

[poematik13]

My 2021 model is still going strong. Only upgrades I'd want is for the screen to stop going black when framerate/resolution is changed, and 120hz/ProMotion for the entire tvOS would be essential

 

[rezwits]

120Hz/120fps, to match ALL the other devices, or for god's sake just enable it!

I have a game in the waiting room!!!

 

[PsykX]

I wonder what they'll do with this...

• tvOS has been stagnating since the day it's been renamed tvOS in tvOS 9 back in 2015.
• Apple TV is still faster than any Smart TV, even after so many TV generations.
• Apple TV supports games such as Apple Arcade perfectly since they're "small" games.
• More storage maybe ? Storage seems to be a problem since I put 720p videos in the VLC app and they get randomly deleted at times even though I have the 128 GB version and about 60 GB free.
• Apple Intelligence (Siri) maybe ?
• Better games maybe ? With Ray-Tracing support ?

If only they could fix the text fields using the iOS remote, not synchronizing correctly... I'd be happy... I've had this problem since the day they release this feature, maybe in 2018 ?