It has been a long time in coming, but Apple is preparing at least two big changes to the Apple TV 4K. Here’s what we know about the streaming set-top box update set to finally arrive in the fall of 2026.
Previous updates to the Apple TV haven’t been that major over the years, as there’s only so much you can improve with a streaming box. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case for the next iteration of Apple TV 4K.
Thanks to a pair of leaks that stem from Apple itself, there are two big confirmed changes on the horizon.
With any luck, there may be even more.
Siri AI
The first big one is fairly obvious when you consider iOS 27 and other operating systems that Apple is currently beta-testing. Siri AI is a big feature in all of them, and will also appear on Apple TV.
Apple has a new Device Hub, which is used to test apps on different devices. It was used to discover that there’s a Siri app listed in the tvOS 27 interface.
This is not just an app, but also the improved Siri. A reference to “campos,” Apple’s internal code name for Siri AI has appeared, implying it will be functional in tvOS 27.
This seems like a good sign for owners of earlier Apple TV 4K models which could also get Siri AI, but don’t hold your breath.
The current Apple TV 4K, introduced in 2022, uses the A15 Bionic chip. However, Apple Intelligence requires the A17 Pro or later to function, making Siri AI’s appearance on older Apple TV models doubtful.
We don’t know how Siri AI will work on the new Apple TV 4K, as attempts to use the app from Device Hub brings up an error. It doesn’t stop us from speculating.
A good guess would be for it to be more accurate when giving answers to your questions. It should also handle mumbles and stumbling over words in commands, as well as conversational queries with follow-up questions.
If iOS 27 is anything to go buy, we may even see personal context on the Apple TV. At the very least, we should see a lot more consistency between the Apple TV and other Siri-enabled devices.
Siri Remote
The other Apple-derived leak is a brand new Siri Remote. This time, a macOS build had identifiers for a number of products, including a Siri Remote marked as “ATVRemote1,5.”
That tells us nothing new about the remote, other than it will be a new model in some way.
Hopefully Apple adds ultra-wideband to the Siri Remote this time.
Our best guess is that the new Siri Remote will look closely like the current version, as there haven’t been that many complaints about it.
What could change is Find My support, as the current Bluetooth-based tracking that works with the Remote app is terrible. We hope that Apple adds an ultra wideband chip and a speaker in the remote to help find it.
Not just from an iPhone. Imagine asking a HomePod to tell the remote to beep.
Rumor round robin
While these are the main changes that Apple has slipped up and leaked for itself, you can expect others to be coming in with the new Apple TV.
The obvious is a new chip, which happens each generational change. This time, it could be at least an A17 Pro, to enable Apple Intelligence.
The new Apple TV will probably look like the old one. But it’s what is inside that counts.
Apple may also decide to incorporate its N1 networking chip in the Apple TV, too. That would include support for Bluetooth 6, Thread, and Wi-Fi 7, if beta code from June is accurate.
While not rumored, it would be nice to see more storage capacity in the Apple TV 4K, and also native AV1 support.
A bigger home play
The Apple TV 4K would be only one smart home-related update Apple plans to make. Another long-rumored choice that is just as likely to appear is a new HomePod mini.
There’s also the rumored Home Hub, which acts as a central control for your home devices. The Apple TV 4K is a home hub in its own right, but the physical version would give more direct control to home users.
That device should also benefit from other things, like a camera and alarm detection, and on the wilder side, some form of tabletop robot.
We don’t know exactly how much Apple will be showing off this fall in this category. But at the very least, the Apple TV 4K is one of the more likely to surface.
