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Four years after the last model, Apple has revamped the Apple TV 4K: with an A19 chip, microphones for hands-free calling, Wi-Fi 7, and, for the first time, surround sound from four HomePods. The remote can now be located using "Find My." In Germany, the device costs €349 and will be released on November 13th, significantly more expensive than its predecessor.
Apple unveiled the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K on October 13 at the "Welcome home" event, together with the HomePod mini 2 and the smart home hub HomeView. The details are in the German announcement in the Apple Newsroom, and the technical specifications are in the German data sheet.
The previous model was released in October 2022 and used the A15 Bionic chip, representing an unusually long product cycle for Apple. The hardware of its successor had been considered ready for months; the launch was delayed by the wait for Siri AI.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The new Apple TV 4K features the A19 chip with up to 50 percent more CPU and double the GPU performance, plus a dedicated decoder for AV1.
- Three microphones allow Siri to be used without a remote control; German is among the supported languages.
- For the first time, four HomePod mini 2 or second-generation HomePods create surround sound that calibrates itself.
- There is only one version left with 128 GB, Gigabit Ethernet, WLAN 7 and Thread for 349 euros, available from November 13th.
- Siri AI is running as a beta version starting with tvOS 27.2, initially only in English in eight countries. Germany is not among them.
Technical specifications compared
The case remains almost the same size, but almost everything inside has changed. Instead of two versions, Apple now offers only one, which always includes Ethernet and Thread.
| Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen., Wi-Fi) | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen., Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Apple TV 4K (4th Gen.) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A15 Bionic | A15 Bionic | A19 |
| Memory | 64 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Ethernet | – | Gigabit | Gigabit |
| Wi-Fi | WLAN 6 | WLAN 6 | WLAN 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Thread | – | Yes | Yes |
| Microphones | – | – | three |
| Dolby Vision | Profile 5 | Profile 5 | Profiles 8.1 and 5 |
| AV1 decoder | – | – | Yes |
| Weight | 208 g | 214 g | 217 g |
| Price in Germany | 229 euros (last price) | 299 euros (last price) | 349 euros |
The new model measures 93.24 × 93.24 × 31 mm. In addition to Dolby Vision, it supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, and Dolby Atmos for audio. It connects via HDMI 2.1, and the power supply is built-in. The Apple TV can also control televisions and receivers via infrared or HDMI-CEC. Apple has not specified the amount of RAM.
A19 and AV1
According to Apple, the A19 delivers up to 50 percent more CPU performance and a GPU up to twice as fast as the previous generation chip. The new AV1 decoder plays videos in high quality with lower bandwidth.
The A19 processor handles microphone data in isolated areas that Apple calls Secure Exclaves. Neither tvOS nor apps have access to them. The fact that a model with the A19 was coming was hinted at in September by a model identifier in the code.
Siri without a remote control
For the first time, Apple TV features built-in microphones; according to the specifications, it's a ring of three microphones with voice isolation. This allows you to activate Siri with "Hey Siri" without having to use the remote. Echo cancellation separates your voice from the audio.
This feature depends on the system language. It is supported when tvOS is set to Chinese (Mandarin), German, English, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Dutch, Norwegian, or Swedish. The microphones can also be used to control smart home devices and scenes hands-free.
Surround sound with four HomePods
Together with four speakers, this creates surround sound for the first time, where Apple TV and speakers detect their position in the room and automatically adjust timing and volume. A stereo pair is placed at the front and rear; the HomePod mini 2 and the second-generation HomePod are the compatible models.
As before, a stereo pair consists of only two speakers of the same model, but the two pairs can be different: a pair of second-generation HomePods can be placed at the front, and a pair of HomePod mini 2 at the back. The HomePod mini and the first-generation HomePod are not included.
In the second beta of tvOS 27.2, surround sound was still demonstrated with two pairs of HomePods connected to the third-generation Apple TV 4K. Apple will require the new model for the final version.
The new Siri Remote
The fourth-generation Siri Remote retains its design and continues to charge via USB-C. New features include location tracking via "Find My" with audio. Precise location tracking only works with the new remote and an iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, or iPhone 17 or later (excluding the iPhone 17e).
The remote is also available separately and works with Apple TV HD and all Apple TV 4K models. Location tracking in "Find My" is available starting with the second-generation Siri Remote, but only the new model supports audio playback.
Siri AI: also for older models, but not in this country
Siri AI is running in beta on Apple TV starting with tvOS 27.2, and not just on the new model, but also on the second generation and later. According to the English press release, the assistant answers free-form questions about TV shows and movies, suggests relevant titles from the Apple TV app, and proposes follow-up questions. While a program is playing, it answers questions about what's being shown in a small overlay above the screen.
With a paired iPhone, Siri AI can also access personal content, such as a TV show recommended by a specific person. At launch, Siri AI will only be available in English in the US, Australia, the UK, India, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.
To manage your home using the Home app, you need an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI enabled. According to Apple, Siri AI is not yet available on iPhones and iPads in the EU, meaning it's not available in Germany. Siri AI isn't even mentioned in the German announcement. However, hands-free Siri control via the microphones works in German as well.
Price and Availability
In Germany, the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K costs €349, while in the US it costs $299. Pre-orders have been available since October 13th, and it will be in stores starting Friday, November 13th, in the US and 29 other countries and regions.
| Period | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi + Ethernet | Price USA (entry-level) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd generation until June 24, 2026 | 169 euros | 189 euros | $129 |
| 3rd generation from June 25, 2026 | 229 euros | 299 euros | $199 |
| 4th Generation | – | 349 euros | $299 |
During the price increase on June 25th, Apple had already significantly raised the price of the previous model without making any changes to the hardware. Compared to the starting price at the beginning of the year, the new Apple TV 4K is therefore €180 more expensive.
Accessibility and Environment
Apple lists VoiceOver, Zoom, Switch Control, Subtitles, and Audio Descriptions as accessibility features. The Siri Remote's casing is made from 100 percent recycled aluminum, and the Apple TV's thermal module from 80 percent. The magnets contain 100 percent recycled rare earth elements, and the packaging is made entirely of fiber material.
What was known beforehand and what wasn't true
Bloomberg had most recently cited October 30th as the release date for Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini. This was true for the HomePod mini 2, with the Apple TV 4K following two weeks later. In early October, the code of tvOS 27.2 revealed a toggle for Apple Intelligence, a feature previously only available on devices with Apple Intelligence built in.
| Feature | Status of the reports | According to Apple |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A17 Pro, later A19 | A19 |
| RAM | 8 GB | not mentioned |
| Radio | N1 chip with WLAN 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread | WLAN 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread |
| Siri Remote | revised remote control | new generation with „Where is?“ |
| Siri AI | only expected with new hardware | Beta also available from the second generation onwards |
| Design | unchanged | virtually unchanged, 217 g |
| Market launch | Autumn, last updated October 30th | November 13 |
| Price | Entry price of $100 is being discussed. | 349 euros, 299 dollars |
The first generation of the Apple TV 4K from 2017 will no longer receive tvOS 27 and has been on Apple's list of vintage products since October 9th.
Who is the new Apple TV 4K intended for?
The new Apple TV 4K is primarily aimed at those who already own HomePods or want to set up a home theater. Surround sound from four speakers that calibrate themselves is only available from Apple in this combination. The fact that the microphones understand German from the start makes hands-free control immediately usable in Germany.
I find the switch for pure streaming difficult to justify. If your third-generation Apple TV 4K only plays movies and TV shows, you don't need to upgrade, as it plays the same services and gets Siri AI via software anyway. Bloomberg recently cited around five months after the launch of iOS 27 as the best-case scenario for Siri AI to arrive on EU iPhones. I expect Apple to introduce Siri AI in the EU with German language support right from the start, so both old and new models will benefit equally.
Are you upgrading for surround sound, or will your current Apple TV stay under the television? Tell us in the comments how your living room is set up.
