Apple is banking on the appeal of generative artificial intelligence with its new streaming gadget, the Apple TV 4K 4th Generation, which is set to replace the four-year old 3rd Generation model when it launches next month.
The new device is set to provide “the most immersive home theatre experience yet,” Apple claimed when it announced it at a special event in Cupertino, California, yesterday. There’s a new remote control for the otherwise almost identical new streaming gadget, but the real highlight is its new Siri AI intelligent features.
We say “almost identical” because the black plastic box that bears the iconic Apple logo on top comes with an innocuous-looking LED indicator at the front, which is there to show when the integrated far-field microphones are switched on and listening for the user’s voice commands.
You’ll be able to use those mics to activate the all-new Siri AI capability, which Apple promises will be a “profoundly more capable and conversational assistant” than the rather limited version of Siri found on the previous-generation Apple TV 4K. Simply say something like “Hey Siri,” and then you’ll be able to ask questions such as: “What Apple TV shows won at the Emmy Awards this year?” and it will respond by showing various award-winning movies and shows, along with options to expand that search.
Users will also be able to ask Siri to display content based on its genre, and asking questions mid-show too. For instance, someone could ask “Where was Pluribus filmed?” or “Is this appropriate for a 15-year-old?” and receive the answer through a subtle text overlay that doesn’t distract them from what’s happening on the screen.
Interestingly, although Apple claims that Siri AI is primarily enabled through the new A19 processor that’s included in the 4th Gen model (and also found in the iPhone 17), the new generative AI assistant is also set to come to its older Apple TV 4K 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen devices through an upcoming firmware upgrade. The only problem is users of those older devices will need to activate it specifically using the remote control, as they don’t have the far-field mics found on the newer device.
Speaking of the A19 system-on-chip, this will give the Apple TV 4K 4th Gen 50% faster CPU performance and 200% faster GPU performance than the earlier generation gadgets, Apple said. However, the most important benefit of the new chipset is that it ships with a dedicated AV1 decoder that will deliver “more efficient, high-quality streaming while using less bandwidth.”
Users will also experience superior HDR performance and sharper visual aesthetics on the screen thanks to the new codec – all the more so if they happen to have a newer premium 2026 TV, such as the Samsung S99H, LG G6 OLED or Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV, which all have much superior displays than older television models. That’s due to AV1’s superior decompression capabilities, Apple said.
The company promised the Apple TV 4K 4th Gen device will support the same Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG formats found on the older Apple TV streamers, as well as Dolby Atmos when watching movies and shows. In addition, it supports Apple Lossless sound when listening to Apple Music specifically, the company added.
By the way, the enhanced audio features will make the Apple TV 4K 4th Gen device even better for anyone who opts to spend money on up to four Apple HomePod 2 or newer HomePod Mini 2 speakers, which were also unveiled at the event. Users will be able to mix-and-match HomePod speakers, so long as the ones at the front and those used at the rear are the same model, Apple said. Do this and they’ll “intelligently recognise their position in the room” and automatically calibrate the sound for the user's living room.
The new Apple TV 4K 4th Gen also gets a more capable remote control. While it looks identical to the remote found with older Apple TV 4Ks, it now supports Find My with Precision Finding, meaning you can use your iPhone to play chimes and track its location directly if it slips out of sight.
Apple said there will only be one configuration available when the Apple TV 4K 4th Gen ships on November 13. Unlike with the previous model, where users could choose less storage and no Ethernet port, the newer version has 128 gigabytes of storage and an Ethernet port.
But be warned that you’ll have to pay for it. The Apple TV 4K 4th Gen is going to be quite a bit more expensive than its predecessor at £299 – that’s quite a jump from the £169 launch price of the 3rd Gen box.
