Katarzyna Petru
Apple is preparing to refresh its media player, and according to sources close to the company, the new Apple TV 4K will debut later this year, likely in September. It will be the successor to the 2022 model, which, despite its solid construction, has already started to feel outdated. The current version uses the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13, supports HDR10+, but still lacks Dolby Vision, broader compatibility with surround sound formats (e.g., DTS), or features useful for gamers, such as variable refresh rate (VRR). Given that Apple updates this product on average every three years, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's forecast seems very plausible.
More powerful processor and new connectivity
Although Kuo did not reveal the full specifications, it is already known that the new Apple TV 4K will have a more powerful processor – it's possible that it will be the A18 Bionic from iPhone 16 or even the A19 from the upcoming iPhone 17. Among the new features, there will also be support for Wi-Fi 7 and the first proprietary Apple chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi communication. This is expected to improve synchronization between the player and other company devices, such as the iPhone or Apple Watch, providing even smoother operation. Interestingly, the leaks do not mention anything about gesture control, which Apple was reportedly working on last year.
Lower Price and Competition Fight
The biggest surprise might be the price. According to Kuo, Apple wants to lower the entry barrier to its television ecosystem and plans to sell the basic version of Apple TV 4K 2025 for as low as $100 (about £75). This represents a significant drop compared to current models— the 64 GB version currently costs $129, while the 128 GB version costs $149. It is unclear whether the new generation will also come in two memory variants, but if so, the lower price would likely apply to the model with less memory. This is a clear signal that Apple wants to compete more aggressively with the Google TV Streamer and Roku devices.
Update for new, not current users
While a faster processor and newer connectivity standards sound tempting, it's hard to talk about a revolution. Current owners of Apple TV 4K are unlikely to complain about the performance of their device, and potential support for uncompressed audio – one of the possible incentives – may also come to the current model. Everything suggests that this year's release is primarily aimed at attracting new users to the ChooseTV ecosystem, offering them a lower price and better integration with other company products, rather than forcing existing customers to upgrade their devices.
