Some older Apple TV models also get Siri AI
The features date back to 2021’s second-generation 4K box.
Apple has just announced a brand new Apple TV 4K streaming box designed to accommodate Siri AI. It looks like a nifty piece of kit, but not everyone has $300 to spend on an updated streaming device. Fortunately, the company also revealed that Siri AI will work with several older Apple TV 4K models, which is a nice surprise.
Siri AI will be available in beta in units dating back to the second-generation Apple TV 4K, released in 2021. It will be part of tvOS 27.2, which arrives this fall. We don’t have an exact date yet, but the new Apple TV 4K will be released on November 13, so it will be on or before that date.
There are some questions about what aspects of Siri AI older boxes will be able to leverage. They weren’t designed with the assistant in mind and they don’t have as much power as the next model. For example, the new Apple TV 4K includes far-field microphones, allowing hands-free control without a remote. Older units don’t have built-in microphones like remote controls do.
We also don’t know if older boxes will be able to access all of the updated smart home controls offered by tvOS 27.2. Woozad has reached out to Apple to request clarification here regarding the feature set. We will update this article when we know.
The company announced several other smart home gadgets today, beyond the redesigned Apple TV 4K. There’s a smart home hub called HomeView and a refresh of the HomePod mini speaker. Apple also announced several standard smart home devices, like a lock, cameras, doorbell and more.
