It’s been almost 4 years since Apple’s last real hardware refresh of the Apple TV 4K. The current third-generation version, which debuted in October 2022, still runs on the A15 Bionic chip, the same one used in the iPhone 13. For a device positioned as the centrepiece of the living room, that is quite the long wait.
The good news? Multiple signs point to a new Apple TV 4K arriving this autumn.
A Major Performance Leap
The most significant change is under the hood. Based on the code references found in Apple’s software, the next-generation Apple TV 4K will be powered by the A17 Pro chip. The same silicon as the one used in the iPhone 15 Pro from 2023.
The A15 to A17 Pro upgrade is quite a significant performance boost. Most importantly, the A17 Pro also features hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which would significantly enhance the graphics of Apple Arcade titles and make the Apple TV a viable living room gaming console.
That said, given how long Apple TV refresh cycles tend to be, some analysts believe they may skip the A17 Pro entirely and jump straight to the A18 Pro or even A19 Pro.
Doubling the RAM: Laying the Groundwork for Apple Intelligence
There’s a more practical reason behind the chip upgrade: Apple Intelligence.
The current Apple TV 4K ships with just 4GB of RAM, which falls well short of what’s needed to run on-device AI tasks. Multiple sources indicate the next Apple TV 4K will bump memory to at least 8GB. This is the minimum threshold for Apple Intelligence features to function. This means the next Apple TV could become an AI entry point for the living room.
Wi-Fi 7 and the Custom N1 Chip
Connectivity is set for an important upgrade too. The next Apple TV 4K is expected to feature Apple’s custom N1 wireless chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
The core advantage of Wi-Fi 7 lies in its ability to use the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands at the same time. Theoretical speeds can go up to four times faster than Wi-Fi 6. While broadband connections and router capabilities limit real-world performance, lower latency is a tangible benefit for 4K streaming and cloud gaming.
Bluetooth 6 should further reduce latency for peripheral connections—particularly important for game controller use, or when logging on to play Hellspin casino through their multi-platform application.
A New Remote and a Familiar Design
Beyond the hardware itself, the next Apple TV 4K is expected to ship with an updated Siri Remote. References to “ATVRemote1,5” have appeared in macOS 26.7 code, indicating a new remote is in development.
Specific improvements remain unclear, though. Whether the feature users have long requested (a built-in UWB chip to help locate the remote between sofa cushions) will finally be adopted is still unknown.
As for the device itself, sources agree the next Apple TV 4K will keep virtually the same appearance and dimensions as the current model. No major design changes are planned.
Release Date and Price: Autumn, But Likely More Expensive
Based on many reports, the next Apple TV 4K is most likely to launch between September and November 2026, possibly after the iPhone event, or at a second autumn event in October.
Price is the biggest uncertainty. Apple already raised the price of the current Apple TV 4K significantly in June 2026… the 64GB Wi-Fi model went from $129 to $199, and the 128GB version from $149 to $249. In Germany, the current starting price has risen to €229.
Given the cost increases associated with the new hardware (especially the memory and chip upgrades), analysts widely expect the next gen to be priced no lower than the current model. Some predictions suggest a starting price around $200, or even higher.
For users who have waited four years, the next Apple TV 4K offers genuine improvements in performance, AI capability, and connectivity. But the higher price tag may prove a hesitant factor in the purchasing decision.
