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Apple hasn't refreshed its TV set-top box in a long time, but it looks like that may finally change. The latest reports suggest the next-generation Apple TV 4K will get several significant additions that will clearly set it apart from the current 2022 model. The most frequently mentioned changes include Apple Intelligence, a new AI-based version of Siri, a faster SoC, and a possibly redesigned remote. Although the new Apple TV has been talked about for a while, this time the leaks are picking up again. The only question is whether Apple will actually unveil the device this year or if the release will be delayed once more.
Apple is reportedly preparing an Apple TV 4K with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence
The latest information about the upcoming Apple TV 4K comes from a Bloomberg report, specifically from Mark Gurman, who has followed Apple’s plans for years and regularly publishes details about the company’s upcoming devices. According to these reports, the new Apple set-top box will get support for Apple Intelligence and a refreshed Siri AI, solutions that the company is starting to roll out more broadly across its ecosystem. The readiness of the new Siri features is said to be one of the reasons Apple has delayed the launch of the next model for so long. Earlier it was expected to debut in 2024, then 2025, and now 2026 is increasingly being mentioned. Apple is reportedly already running very advanced tests not only on the new Apple TV but also on the next version of the HomePod mini. Support for Apple Intelligence on the Apple TV could mean entirely new ways to search for content, control the device, or use voice features. The new Siri is expected to work more contextually, understand commands more naturally, and integrate better with Apple services. For a TV set-top box, this could translate into faster searches for movies, smoother playback control, smart home management, or even more advanced personalization of recommendations. The problem remains availability in Europe. Apple has previously signaled that Siri AI might not be available immediately in European Union countries because of requirements tied to the Digital Markets Act. The company says some of the rules conflict with privacy principles for AI systems. If that issue is not resolved, the new Apple TV could launch with features that simply won’t be active in some regions. That would be fairly problematic, especially if Apple intends to base one of the device’s main new selling points on those features. Even so, everything indicates that Apple sees integrating its TV set-top box with its own AI suite as an important element of the next generation.
Stronger chip, possible new remote and end of support for older models
To run Apple Intelligence and a more advanced Siri, the new Apple TV 4K will need a significantly more powerful chip than the current model. Earlier reports pointed to the A17 Pro, a chip known from iPhones and associated with handling more demanding games and ray tracing. However, it’s not certain Apple will ultimately stick with that chip, since further delays may have affected the original plans. Regardless of the exact processor model, you can expect the new set-top box to get a noticeable performance boost. That matters not only for AI but also for the growth of gaming in Apple’s ecosystem. Newer chips also offer hardware AV1 decoding, which is important for streaming quality and more efficient handling of modern video formats. Bloomberg also says Apple may use its own chip for Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, which would improve interoperability with Apple’s other devices. At the same time, don’t expect 8K support, which suggests Apple will continue to treat this device as a classic Apple TV 4K rather than a completely new product category. Leaks also mention a possibly refreshed remote. It’s not yet clear whether that means only cosmetic tweaks or a larger redesign, but Apple is apparently considering changes to that piece of the package as well. An interesting backdrop to these reports is that tvOS 27 drops support for Apple TV HD and the first-generation Apple TV 4K. That’s a clear signal that Apple is starting to clear the way for newer hardware and no longer intends to maintain full compatibility with the oldest models. The current Apple TV 4K debuted in November 2022, so the gap between refreshes is already the longest in the history of this line. If the new model does arrive later this year, Apple may finally try again to give this device category a bit more prominence.
The new Apple TV 4K is popping up in leaks again, and it looks like Apple may be prepping the biggest refresh of this set-top box in years. In play are Apple Intelligence, Siri AI, a stronger chip, a new connectivity module, and possible tweaks to the remote. If all goes according to plan, the launch could happen sometime in 2026.
source: flatpanelshd
