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A single word in a footnote, yet it stands out: Apple limits Hi-Res Lossless on television to the third-generation Apple TV 4K "or newer." Nothing newer than the third generation is currently available. This wording is just one of a series of Apple-specific hints about the successor.
Since October 2022, Apple has been selling the same streaming box with the A15 chip. A successor is widely considered a given – the overall picture known so far of the new Apple TV 4K ranges from the new chip to Siri AI. Most recently, a product image labeled "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)" even appeared in Apple's code.
This aligns with a note from a source maintained by Apple itself: the support document for Lossless Audio in Apple Music. In the section on Apple TV 4K, it states that Hi-Res Lossless is only available on the third-generation Apple TV 4K or newer.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple's support document on Lossless Audio lists the third generation Apple TV 4K "or newer" as a requirement for Hi-Res Lossless.
- The third generation is the current model; there is officially no newer one.
- In Apple's overview of tvOS updates, features that are only available for the current model do not have such a designation.
- Users of a second-generation Apple TV 4K will remain on lossless up to 48 kHz with Apple Music.
What's in the support document
The document explains how to enable lossless audio on each device. For the Apple TV 4K, Apple specifies two requirements: the latest tvOS version and an HDMI connection to an AV receiver. This is followed by a note that Hi-Res Lossless is limited to the third generation "or newer".
This statement replaces a wording that had been there for years. At the launch of Lossless Audio in May 2021, it was stated that the Apple TV 4K did not currently support Hi-Res Lossless with sampling rates above 48 kHz. With tvOS 27, Apple changed that: Apple Music on Apple TV now supports Hi-Res Lossless, at the same time as AutoMix, which is also coming to the HomePod.
The support document does, however, limit the new feature. While the second-generation Apple TV 4K from 2021 also runs tvOS 27, it does not receive Hi-Res Lossless support.
As Apple would otherwise put it
The addition only becomes meaningful in comparison. In Apple's overview of software updates for Apple TV, several features are listed that are exclusively available for the current model. These are marked "Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)" – without "or newer".
In the same overview, only the second generation carries a suffix like "and newer," referring to features also found in the 2021 model. In this context, it refers to two existing models. However, the Hi-Res endorsement appears after the most recent available device.
Three tracks from Apple's own material
The support document is not the first discovery from Apple's own material. Together with the code and product image, it forms a short series:
| Source | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Code, early September | Model identifier from the A19 generation |
| Code, September 25 | Product image "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)" in the familiar casing |
| Support document, current status | Hi-Res Lossless on the third generation "or newer" |
The model identifier from the discovered code relating to the A19 generation matches a Bloomberg report that Apple is expected to release the new device this fall. Apple has reportedly been holding back several finished home units until Siri AI is shipped.
Why the footnote alone proves little
The source here is Apple itself, but the information remains vague. The document doesn't mention a model, a chip, or a release date. "Or newer" could be a stock phrase that Apple included when rewriting the information, or it could simply be an oversight.
I still consider this sentence more than a footnote, because Apple manages without any addition in the update overview for the same device. On its own, I wouldn't consider it proof. However, next to the product image from the code, it loses its character as a coincidence.
For listeners with a hi-res system, this information also has a practical side. According to the wording, the function will also apply to every future model. However, with a second-generation Apple TV 4K, lossless audio up to 48 kHz remains the only option, even under tvOS 27.
Apple's living room update is getting closer
I expect Apple to unveil the new box in October, along with the HomePod mini 2, which also appears to be from the same leaked code. In the overview of Apple products expected in October, the Apple TV 4K is the device with the strongest evidence.
Do you listen to Apple Music via Apple TV on a system with an AV receiver – and would Hi-Res Lossless be a reason for you to replace a second-generation speaker now? Tell us about your living room setup in the comments.
