It’s all coming to the Apple TV 4K 2026
The Apple TV 4K hasn’t been updated since 2022 and needs a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple will likely wait to release it until after Siri AI launches in iOS 27.
Design
Apple TV design updates don’t happen often, and that’s not changing. The next Apple TV will have the same circle shape as the current model and will continue to be made from a black plastic material.
We expect the 2026 Apple TV to be indistinguishable from the existing Apple TV on the outside, without any changes in size or design.
New chip
The Apple TV 4K is going to get a new A-series chip, and it will be the biggest upgrade. Rumors suggest that Apple is considering using the A17 Pro which was first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Compared to the current Apple TV A15 Bionic, the A17 Pro is a solid upgrade, and it’s a good reason not to buy the current model. The A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometer process for faster speeds and better efficiency. It features hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games and supports hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding, which is useful for streaming content.
The A17 Pro is the oldest chip made by Apple that supports Apple Intelligence, and it is also used in the iPad mini 7.
Since Apple has been holding on to the Apple TV update for so long, it’s possible that it will get an even newer chip like the A18 or A19. A RAM update is also possible, especially if the Apple TV has an Apple Intelligence support type.
Apple Intelligence and Siri
The next Apple TV is ready to launch, but the new Siri features are a delay. Apple wants to launch the Apple TV with the smarter version of Siri that Apple is testing in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
BloombergMark Gurman says the Apple TV is tied to “new artificial intelligence features” that Apple has delayed until iOS 27, which launches in September 2026. Apple had intended to launch Apple Intelligence Siri features in spring 2026, but the company was still having issues with Siri. At this point, we’re not going to see any new Siri features until iOS 27, which also means a delay for all Apple-owned devices.
Along with the Apple TV, the rumored home hub and a new version of the HomePod await the launch of Siri AI.
Updated Siri features may require more RAM and a faster chip, so if you want the smarter Siri on Apple TV, that’s another reason to wait before making a purchase.
Wi-Fi
The Apple TV could benefit from Apple’s N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Wi-Fi 7 works with the 6 GHz band offered by newer routers.
6GHz connectivity is faster and less cluttered, which is what you want in a streaming device.
Bluetooth and wire
The Apple TV 4K could benefit from Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and headphones.
Apple’s N1 chip also supports Thread, so the Apple TV will be able to continue serving as a Thread edge router and Matter hub for smart home devices.
Siri Remote
It’s possible that Apple will introduce a new Siri Remote alongside the “Apple TV”, although it’s unclear what Apple might change.
Prices
There were rumors of a price drop, but with the June 2026 price increase for the 2022 Apple TV and all Macs and iPads, a price drop is unlikely.
Launch date
With Siri AI launching in September in iOS 27, we could see the Apple TV refreshed as soon as new iPhone models are released.
