A source with plenty of inside knowledge about the inner workings of Apple has said that the company is planning to launch a new Apple TV 4K device later this year, most likely in September, replacing the existing model.
The current Apple TV 4K device was released in 2022, so it’s pretty long in the tooth already, with a now-outdated chipset and what are now only bog-standard features among TV streaming boxes.
For instance, it supports HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision, and it’s powered by the A15 Bionic chip that launched in the iPhone 13 back in 2021. It also lacks broader surround sound format compatibility, such as the DTS audio formats, and it does not offer high-end gaming capabilities such as Variable Refresh Rates.
It’s fair to say that the Apple TV 4K is due an update. Typically, Apple tends to launch an updated version every three years, so if the company sticks to that schedule, then the tip from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, first reported by MacRumors, is likely to be spot on.
However, it remains to be seen if the new 2025 Apple TV 4K will get all of the above features that are currently missing. Kuo hasn’t seen the full specifications yet, but said the new device will come with a more advanced processor - perhaps the A18 Bionic chip that’s found in the iPhone 16, or even the A19 chipset in the upcoming iPhone 17 that’s also expected to launch in September.
Other new features are likely to include Wi-Fi 7 and, for the first time, an Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip that will enhance connectivity between the TV box and other Apple devices. The idea is to improve synchronisation between the Apple TV 4K and gadgets such as the iPhone or Apple Smart Watch, enabling a smoother experience.
Perhaps the biggest thing to emerge from Kuo’s report is that the new machine could also be cheaper than earlier products. The analyst said Apple wants to lower its prices to make the Apple TV 4K more competitive versus similar products in the category, such as the Google TV Streamer or any number of higher-end Roku sticks and set-top boxes.
Unfortunately, Kuo did not mention anything about the hand gesture controls that were reportedly being developed for the Apple TV 4K last year, so it's not clear if they will feature.
Kuo said Apple might look to sell the 2025 Apple TV 4K for as little as just $100 (around £75 at current exchange rates). It’s not clear if there will be two variants, like the current Apple TV 4K, which comes with either 64GB or storage or 128GB and costs $129 and $149, respectively. But if, as expected, there are two variants, we imagine the $100 price applies to the smaller of the two.
In all honesty, it doesn’t sound like an enormously thrilling update. While the prospect of a faster processor may interest some and provide a smoother overall experience, it must be said that existing Apple TV 4K users have very few complaints about the device’s performance. If Apple adds support for uncompressed audio, that may also be a reason to upgrade, but recent reports say this capability may also come to the existing device.
As such, it appears that the new Apple TV 4K, with its cheaper price tag, is more aimed at getting new users to join the Apple TV ecosystem, rather than bringing anything new to existing users.
