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After four years, the Apple TV 4K is getting a successor: with an A19 chip, microphones for hands-free calling, and surround sound from four speakers. The far-field microphones also work in German. However, it will be significantly more expensive – and it's arriving later than previously expected.
Apple has unveiled the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. It is available for pre-order starting today and will be released on Friday, November 13th. In Germany, it will cost €349. Further details can be found in the German announcement on the Apple Newsroom.
The device is part of the package surrounding the "Welcome home" event, together with the HomePod mini 2 and the smart home hub HomeView. That a new model was on the way had already become apparent from a model identifier in the code that pointed to the A19.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The new Apple TV 4K features the A19 chip with up to 50 percent more CPU and twice the GPU performance compared to the previous generation.
- Three far-field microphones allow Siri to be used without a remote control; German is among the supported languages.
- For the first time, surround sound is created from four speakers using four HomePod mini 2 or second-generation HomePod speakers.
- The new Siri Remote can be located via "Find My" and plays a sound.
- The device costs 349 euros and will be released on November 13th, later than previously reported.
Siri without a remote control
The Apple TV 4K features three far-field microphones for the first time. This allows you to activate Siri with "Hey Siri" without using the remote. Echo cancellation separates your voice from background noise, even while audio is playing.
The feature depends on the system language. According to Apple, it is supported when tvOS is set to Chinese (Mandarin), German, English, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Dutch, Norwegian, or Swedish. Smart home devices and scenes can also be controlled hands-free via the microphones.
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. A new feature is its own AV1 decoder, which enables high-quality video playback at lower bandwidth.
The A19 processes microphone data in isolated areas that Apple calls Secure Exclaves. Neither tvOS nor apps have access to them.
Surround sound with four speakers
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. The second beta of tvOS 27.2 already showed that the Apple TV 4K can play content through four HomePods.
The HomePod mini 2 and the second-generation HomePod are suitable options. Two speakers of the same model must be placed at the front and two at the back.
Siri Remote with Find My
The new Siri Remote retains its design. It can now be located in "Find My" and play a sound. Precise search only works with the new remote and an iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, or iPhone 17 and 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.
Later than reported, more expensive than its predecessor
Bloomberg recently reported that the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini would be released on October 30th. This is true for the HomePod mini 2, while the Apple TV 4K will follow two weeks later on November 13th.
The price difference is significant. Since the price increase on June 25th, the previous model cost €229 in Germany with Wi-Fi and €299 with Ethernet and Thread. The new Apple TV 4K is listed at a single price in the German announcement.
| Apple TV 4K (so far) | Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price in Germany | 229 euros (Wi-Fi), 299 euros (Ethernet and Thread) | 349 euros |
| Chip | previous generation | A19 |
| Far-field microphones | – | three |
| Surround sound with four speakers | – | Yes |
| Available | since October 2022 | from November 13th |
A device for the living room with HomePods
I think the new Apple TV 4K is particularly interesting for those who already own HomePods or are planning to buy them anyway. 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 this country.
For pure streaming, the upgrade is harder to justify. There's a €120 price difference between the previous entry-level model (€229) and the new one (€349), and the previous device plays the same services. Anyone who doesn't want to set up a home theater and only uses the Apple TV 4K for streaming doesn't need to upgrade from the current model.
Are you upgrading for surround sound, or is your current Apple TV sufficient for streaming? Let us know your budget in the comments.
