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Siri AI isn't just coming to the new Apple TV 4K. Apple is also bringing the assistant to the 2021 and 2022 models, even though the 2022 model was previously considered unlikely. However, in Germany, it won't be usable on any of these devices because the real obstacle lies with the iPhone.
Along with the new Apple TV 4K with the A19 chip, Apple has also outlined the framework for Siri AI on television. According to the English announcement in the Apple Newsroom, the assistant will run as a beta on the second-generation Apple TV 4K, provided it is running tvOS 27.2. Siri AI is not mentioned in the German version of the announcement.
Apple had already mentioned the same condition with the HomePod mini 2: Siri AI is tied to the iPhone or iPad of the person who manages the home in the Home app.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Siri AI is running as a beta on the second, third and fourth generation Apple TV 4K, requiring tvOS 27.2.
- At launch, Siri AI on Apple TV only speaks English and is limited to eight countries, Germany is not among them.
- To manage your home using the Home app, you need an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI enabled.
- Siri AI is not yet available on iPhones and iPads in the EU, so the necessary foundation is lacking here.
Three generations, one key date
The only exception is the first generation from 2017. It will no longer receive tvOS 27 and has been on Apple's list of vintage products since October 9th.
| Model | Published | Chip | Siri AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K (1st generation) | 2017 | A10X Fusion | no |
| Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) | 2021 | A12 Bionic | Beta with tvOS 27.2 |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) | 2022 | A15 Bionic | Beta with tvOS 27.2 |
| Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | 2026 | A19 | Beta with tvOS 27.2 |
Siri AI also carries the beta label on the new model. What the older devices lack are the far-field microphones, which allow Siri to be addressed without a remote control.
What Siri AI can do on the TV
Apple describes Siri AI on the Apple TV 4K primarily as a tool for searching for TV shows and movies. Users can freely formulate questions, such as about the year's Emmy winners; the results appear as posters from the Apple TV app, along with suggestions for follow-up questions.
While a program is playing, Siri AI answers questions about what's being shown, such as filming locations or age rating, in a small overlay above the picture. With a paired iPhone, the assistant can also access personal content and, for example, play a series recommended by a specific person. Lighting and scenes in the home can also be controlled by voice.
The hurdle lies within the iPhone
The terms and conditions are outlined in the first footnote of the announcement. Users managing their home in the Home app need an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence and the latest software, on which Siri AI is enabled and set to a supported language. In the same paragraph, Apple states that Siri AI will initially not be available in the EU on iOS and iPadOS.
At launch, Siri AI on Apple TV will only run in English in the US, Australia, the UK, India, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa. This means that Germany will lack both the language and the necessary iPhone infrastructure. This isn't due to tvOS itself, but rather to the specific device Apple ties the feature to.
What has changed compared to the code version
In August, an entry in the tvOS 27 code hinted at Siri AI for the Apple TV 4K. The 2022 model was considered excluded because, with its A15 chip and 4 GB of RAM, it falls short of the minimum specifications required by Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In early October, the tvOS 27.2 code revealed a toggle for Apple Intelligence, a feature previously only available on devices with Apple Intelligence.
Apple is now explicitly mentioning the second generation with the A12 chip, a model even older than the previously excluded 2022 model. The situation has also changed for Germany. In August, it seemed likely that Siri AI would launch normally on Apple TV in Germany as soon as Apple enabled the language. However, with the requirement to use the same iPhone in the household, the restriction for iPhones and iPads now also applies to the TV.
No reason for a new device
I consider the expansion to older models to be the better news of the day than the new Apple TV itself, at least for households in the eight launch countries. Anyone who owns a 2021 or 2022 Apple TV 4K there will get Siri AI without having to buy a new device.
In Germany, however, nothing will change on any model as long as Siri AI is missing from the iPhone. Bloomberg recently stated that roughly five months after the launch of iOS 27 is the best-case scenario for Siri AI to arrive on EU iPhones, and even then, it will initially remain in English. Therefore, Siri AI is not a compelling reason to upgrade to the new Apple TV 4K in Germany. Those who want to switch do so for the surround sound, speed, and the microphones, which allow Siri to understand German even without the remote.
Would you have kept your older Apple TV because of Siri AI, or was surround sound the more important reason for getting a new one anyway? Let us know in the comments which model you have under your TV.
