For years, no Apple product has been awaiting a successor as eagerly as the Apple TV 4K – and the finished hardware was only sitting in storage because a single component was missing. That blockage has been cleared, and autumn is the target timeframe. However, the device has become significantly more expensive in the meantime.
The current Apple TV 4K dates back to October 2022 and still uses the A15 Bionic chip – an unusually long product cycle for Apple. Multiple sources have been reporting for months that a successor is practically ready and waiting in warehouses. The launch wasn't delayed by the hardware, but by the software: the new, AI-powered Siri experience was meant to be the key selling point – and that's precisely what was delayed. Now, the device, along with the HomePod mini and the new smart home hub, is considered ready for launch, with reports indicating a fall release for the first two. The Apple TV is just one component of a larger smart home initiative, the timeline of which extends to 2028.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Chip | A17 Pro (3 nm), newer generation conceivable |
| RAM | 8 GB (double the capacity of the current model) |
| Connectivity | N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread |
| Siri | Siri AI based on Apple Intelligence |
| Remote control | Revised Siri Remote possible |
| Price of the predecessor | €229 (Wi-Fi) or €299 (Ethernet), since June 25, 2026 |
| Market launch | Autumn 2026, more likely October than September |
Why the start took so long
The AI-powered Siri experience is based on Apple Intelligence and differs fundamentally from previous voice control. Originally slated for spring 2026, it was repeatedly delayed and ultimately tied to iOS 27 and its associated system updates. Since Apple explicitly intends to position Apple TV as a showcase for this feature, a market launch without it made no strategic sense. The same dependency applies to the also-waiting HomePod mini and the new smart home hub. With the official unveiling of Siri AI, the blockage has been lifted: The feature has been available for testing in developer betas since WWDC and will be released in September with the new operating systems.
What the new Apple TV 4K is supposed to contain
The exterior design is unlikely to change, but there will be a noticeable leap under the hood.
More performance thanks to the A17 Pro and double the RAM
The aging A15 Bionic is set to be replaced by the A17 Pro – a chip manufactured using a 3-nanometer process, which brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved game graphics and lays the foundation for Apple's intelligence features. At least as important is the RAM: reports indicate that Apple is doubling it to 8 GB, thus creating the technical basis for AI calculations to run directly on the device for the first time. Because the launch has been delayed for so long, it's also considered possible that an even newer chip like the A18 or A19 will ultimately be used.
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via the N1 chip
Apple's own N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7 including the 6 GHz band, will handle the wireless connection. This is particularly relevant for a streaming device because the 6 GHz band allows for faster and less congested connections. Bluetooth 6 is also included for more stable connections with controllers and headphones, as well as Thread for direct communication with smart home devices.
Siri AI as a key innovation
The real innovation lies not in the hardware, but in the user experience. With tvOS 27, Siri AI arrives on Apple TV – an LLM-based assistant that answers more complex queries, provides context-aware recommendations, and integrates more closely with the smart home ecosystem. The catch: The current model, with its 4 GB of RAM, doesn't meet the requirements for Apple Intelligence – only the new hardware with double the memory will unlock the full range of features. The extent of this leap in functionality is also demonstrated by the broader tvOS 27 update that Apple is releasing simultaneously.
That Apple is indeed preparing the platform for this is now evident directly in the code: In the second developer beta of tvOS 27, explicit references to the new, Apple Intelligence-based Siri generation appeared around the HomePod setup process. This is noteworthy because Siri AI doesn't yet run on any Apple TV or HomePod model – a reference deep within the setup code is therefore considered a strong indication that the feature is being prepared for this device class. At WWDC itself, Apple hadn't mentioned Apple TV and HomePod when introducing Siri AI; this code discovery fills that gap.
A possibly new Siri Remote
The remote control could also receive an update. Several reports now consistently mention a redesigned Siri Remote, without describing the changes in detail – whether these are visible design adjustments or purely internal updates remains unclear.
The price round in June changes the initial situation
On June 25, 2026, Apple raised prices across its entire product range, with the Apple TV 4K being hit particularly hard. The Wi-Fi model with 64GB of storage now costs €229 in the German Apple Store, up from €169, while the Ethernet, Threaded, and 128GB version costs €299 instead of €189 – an increase of €60 and €110, respectively, for unchanged hardware from 2022. In the US, the starting price rose from $129 to $199. Apple cited the ongoing storage shortage as the reason and hinted at further price adjustments.
This shifts the entire expectation for the successor. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously suggested a cheaper entry-level version for around $100 – a scenario that hardly aligns with a 54 percent increase in the list price. It's more likely that Apple deliberately set the new price point before the generational change so that the successor wouldn't have to launch with a noticeable price increase. For the German market, this means: €229 is the new benchmark, not €169.
What's remarkable is the price gap between the Apple Store and retailers. While the Apple Store lists the price at €229, remaining stock at retailers was recently listed at around €150 – meaning anyone wanting to buy now will only find the old price level outside of Apple's own store.
When is the market launch realistic now?
With the introduction of Siri AI, the main uncertainty has been eliminated, and the timeline has since become more concrete. The latest report lists the Apple TV and HomePod mini as ready for launch, stipulating a fall release for both; the smart home hub is expected to follow between October and early next year.
Instead of the already packed September keynote showcasing the new iPhones, an October event primarily focused on the Mac remains the more likely venue. Devices of this magnitude - including the smart home hub as a completely new product category with a square seven-inch display and facial recognition - hardly fit into a simple press release and will likely require their own dedicated presentation. According to the report, two further devices are also in the works: a robotic nine-inch version of the hub and an indoor surveillance camera, both without a specified timeframe.
Siri AI launches in the EU with restrictions
One caveat remains for the German-speaking market. Siri AI will initially launch in English, with other languages to follow gradually. The feature will not be activated on iPhones and iPads in the EU for the time being; however, Apple has announced it for macOS 27 and visionOS 27. The specific reasons for the rollout on iPhones and iPads are documented in detail.
The exclusion is not based on device category. The Digital Markets Act does not name products, but rather core platform services: For Apple, these have been the App Store, iOS, and Safari since September 2023, and iPadOS since April 2024. tvOS is not on this list, and the interoperability obligation under Article 6(7), on which the introduction of Siri AI depends, explicitly refers to functions controlled by iOS and iPadOS. Another operating system would only be added through a separate Commission procedure.
Apple is therefore not completely outside the rules: The Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed at the beginning of July that the app stores for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and Apple TV together form a single central platform service – this covers the store, not the operating system of the devices.
As things stand today, there is little to suggest that the new Apple TV will be subject to the same restrictions in Germany and Austria as the iPhone and iPad. Switzerland is neither in the EU nor the EEA and is not covered by the DMA. Talks between Apple and the EU Commission are ongoing, but a date for a resolution has not yet been set. The more significant obstacle in these countries is likely to be language: as long as Siri AI only works in English, its usefulness in German-speaking living rooms will remain limited.
Apple TV 4K: buy now or wait?
Those who already own a working Apple TV 4K are clearly better off waiting: The new chip, the larger RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and especially Siri AI combine several compelling reasons to justify the delay. From our perspective, the matter is clear – now is not a good time to buy a new one from the Apple Store.
If, however, you urgently need a streaming device and the new AI features aren't important to you, the current model remains a solid choice: it will continue to receive updates and still delivers strong 4K HDR picture quality. In that case, though, it's worth checking with retailers rather than Apple – their remaining stock is sometimes still significantly below the new list price, and this difference is currently the strongest selling point for the older generation. (Image: Shutterstock / Karlis Dambrans)
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