Apple

Product Update

9to5Mac

Apple TV 4K Is Coming This Fall and It Is Waiting on New Siri

Summary

The next Apple TV 4K is expected this fall, most likely arriving alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra in September or in October. The holdup has been Siri AI: Apple built the new box around the smarter Siri launching in iOS 27, and it is waiting for that software to be ready before shipping the hardware. Upgrades include a move from the A15 Bionic to the A17 Pro chip, which adds hardware-accelerated ray tracing and opens up Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to ship with Apple’s N1 networking chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. Thread matters for smart home users: Apple TV will continue to function as a Thread border router and Matter hub, now with faster wireless speeds. Design stays the same. Pricing has not been confirmed, but Apple raised the existing model to $199 and $249 in June, so those price points are likely where the new one starts.

Why it matters

The current Apple TV 4K is three years old and predates Apple Intelligence entirely. For anyone with an Apple smart home setup or a household that streams through an Apple TV, this is the upgrade that actually makes Siri useful on the living room TV. The Thread and Matter improvements also make it a better hub for HomeKit accessories.

HTD Says

The new Apple TV 4K has basically been sitting on a shelf waiting for the new Siri to be ready, so now that iOS 27 is coming in September, the pieces are finally in place for Apple to actually ship it. The chip updates are noteworthy, as the Apple TV will be using the A17 Pro chip, which will help with Apple Intelligence, among other things.

Yes, you guessed it. I have a few Apple TVs throughout my household, and they are my recommended streaming devices, particularly if you have an Apple ecosystem. Being able to hook up music, photos, or AirPlay videos to whatever TV setup you have is extremely convenient (even if I always have to repeat the instructions to family and friends). It’s pretty intuitive.

Is it worth upgrading to this new version if you already have an Apple TV 4K? Probably not unless you are (or will be) an active Siri and Apple Intelligence user. If you are looking for a new streaming device, it might be worth it, but that depends on your budget, since a 4K Amazon Stick is much less expensive. Thread and Matter support is also a really nice thing to have. Let’s see how Apple spins it!

Source:

9to5Mac

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