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A single model identifier in Apple's system code suggests that the next streaming box will have a significantly more powerful chip than previously expected. The wait for the device is already the longest in the product's history.
A previously unknown device identifier has surfaced in Apple's code: AppleTV18,1. It represents a model that is not yet on the market, and the number allows for a fairly reliable deduction of the chip used. Previous reports assumed an A17 Pro – the generation considered the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence. This identifier suggests two generations higher. How this fits into the overall picture is explained in our overview of the upcoming Apple TV 4K.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The device identifier AppleTV18,1 was found in the system code, which does not belong to any sold model.
- The numbering indicates a chip from the A19 series – either A19 or A19 Pro.
- Previous reports had expected an A17 Pro, Apple's entry-level chip for Intelligence.
- The current 2022 model uses an A15 Bionic chip.
- The discovery itself is confirmed; the code does not specify which stage of development it will undergo.
Why a chip follows from the identifier
Apple assigns each device an internal identifier, independent of its sales name. Over several generations of the Apple TV series, a stable relationship has developed between this number and the chip used.
| Device identifier | Chip | Market launch |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 6.2 | A10X Fusion | September 2017 |
| Apple TV 11.1 | A12 Bionic | May 2021 |
| Apple TV 14.1 | A15 Bionic | November 2022 |
| Apple TV 18.1 | A19 or A19 Pro (expected) | – |
In the three most recent models, the identifier is located exactly one digit below the chip number: 11 corresponds to A12, 14 to A15. Following the same pattern, 18 indicates a chip in the A19 series. Whether it will be the A19 or the A19 Pro is not specified by the identifier – in last year's iPhones, both variants used the same eighteen-digit numbering.
The string was discovered by developer Aaron Perris, who documented it on X. His discovery is an entry in the delivered software, not information from the supply chain.
The jump is bigger than expected
There are four chip generations between the A15 Bionic from 2022 and the A19 series. Even the previously expected variant with the A17 Pro would have been a significant upgrade; the now-hinted step goes beyond that.
The reason likely lies less in the processing power required for image and sound than in what Apple intends to run on the device. Siri AI is considered one of the key innovations of the upcoming model, and its requirements are higher than those of previous Apple intelligence functions. We already found code references to Siri AI for the streaming box in the tvOS code back in August.
The longest waiting time in the product's history
The current model was released on November 4, 2022. To date, 1,404 days have passed, or three years and ten months.
This already makes the gap the largest ever between two Apple TV generations. The previous record was 1,337 days between the September 2017 model and its May 2021 successor. The current pause surpasses that by a good two months, and the device hasn't even been unveiled yet.
For buyers in this country, there are several reasons to choose this option
One point can be clearly stated for the German-speaking region. The interoperability requirements of the Digital Markets Act are linked to the central platform services designated by the EU Commission – namely the App Store, iOS, Safari, and iPadOS. tvOS is not included.
The key distinction here is between the operating system and the store: In July, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that all App Store variants, including the one for Apple TV, constitute a single central platform service. This applies to the store itself, not the underlying system.
Our expectation is that an Apple TV 4K with Siri AI will likely offer the same functionality in Germany at launch as in the US. Therefore, what you see on your TV will probably depend on the hardware and not where you live.
What the code doesn't answer
The upgrade level remains undecided, and it's no small matter: there are noticeable differences between the A19 and A19 Pro in the most demanding voice functions. For a device that's being released after almost four years and is intended to remain in the living room for several years, this choice will determine its longevity.
The price is also unclear. A chip from the current iPhone series is more expensive than one from two generations ago, and Apple has deliberately kept the streaming box inexpensive so far.
Would you pay more for an Apple TV 4K with the more powerful chip – or is the box a device where price is the most important factor for you? Feel free to disagree in the comments.
