Will We See a New Apple TV This Year?
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It’s been close to two years since we’ve seen an Apple TV hardware upgrade. When can we expect to see a new model released? Let’s take a look at the reports we’ve seen about Apple’s next-generation Apple TV set-top box.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in January 2023 that a new Apple TV was on track for a first-half 2024 release.
Gurman himself told us in early 2023 that we should expect a new Apple TV and more advanced HomePods in 2024:
Beyond the future smart displays and new speaker, Apple is working on revamping its TV box. A new version with the current design is in the works for the first half of next year with a faster processor, the people said.
However, the first half of 2024 has come and gone, with no sign of a new Apple TV. Gurman changed his tune in early June 2024, saying we shouldn’t expect a new Apple TV to be unveiled at Apple’s 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which was set to take place shortly after Gurman’s remarks. He said his sources were not telling him that a release was not “imminent,” and if we do see a new Apple TV in 2024, it will likely be little more than a spec bump, with a current A-series chip and possibly a lower price, much like the last three generations of Apple TV 4K.
Does this mean that Apple’s September 9 Glowtime event, which will unveil the new iPhone 16 lineup, next-generation Apple Watch lineup, and possibly new AirPods will also offer a peek at a new Apple TV? So far, few observers expect to see a new Apple TV at the media shindig.
However, as pointed out by MacRumors, at least three previous Apple TV updates were announced in the fall:
- Third-generation Apple TV: March 2012
- Apple TV HD: September 2015
- First-generation Apple TV 4K: September 2017
- Second-generation Apple TV 4K: April 2021
- Third-generation Apple TV 4K: October 2022
In 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the next Apple TV could boast a starting price under $100 that could better compete with streaming boxes and sticks offered by Amazon, Google, and Roku. The current 64 GB Wi-Fi-only base model Apple TV starts at $129 in the United States, while a model with 128 GB of storage with Ethernet and Wi-Fi is available for $149.
If a new Apple TV debuts within the next year, significant changes are not expected. Apple has done little over the years to change the design of the Apple TV, and it’s likely to continue that policy with a new Apple TV box. So, we can expect to see Apple continue making little black boxes that blend in with the other components on your television console.
The current Apple TV 4K is powered by the same A15 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 13 lineup and standard iPhone 14 models. While we’ll likely see an updated chip in a new Apple TV 4K, it could be the same A16 chip that was used in last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and is used in current iPhone 15 non-Pro models. Apple typically does not design chips exclusively for use with the Apple TV lineup, using chips previously used on iPhones instead.
However, Apple could take a considerable leap forward by equipping the Apple TV with the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This powerful chip would allow the Apple TV to run console-quality games, making the set-top box a more powerful option for arcade-quality games.
Current Apple TV 4K models offer Wi-Fi 6 support; Apple may bump the Apple TV’s wireless connectivity up to Wi-Fi 6E, which would provide improved streaming and downloading of content and apps for those with compatible home routers.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
