Apple has released a ton of new products this year, including its iPhone 17 series and plenty of new iPads, but unfortunately, the one I've been waiting for the longest, and I'm sure many others have been as well, didn't arrive: the new Apple TV 4K.
This is no doubt a bummer for me. I recently upgraded my TV to the OLED LG C5, and one of the things I wanted to pair it with most was a new Apple TV 4K. Currently, I use a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which is good enough, but since I'm so heavily ingrained in the Apple ecosystem with my Mac, iPad, and iPhone, I was looking forward to pairing my new TV with the Apple TV 4K this year.
While I could pick up the current third-generation Apple TV 4K, buying one now feels wasteful, given that a new model is expected in 2026. Yes, I admit, it's usually not ideal to sit around waiting for the next big tech upgrade -- as there's always something new on the horizon -- but in this case, I think it makes sense.
The existing Apple TV 4K launched in 2022, and spending over $100 on hardware that's likely to be replaced very soon by something significantly more powerful doesn't seem like the best use of money, especially when my Fire TV Stick can get the job done in the meantime. With that in mind, here are the three big reasons I'm holding out for the new Apple TV 4K -- and why you might want to as well.
Apple TV 4K (2022)
- Brand
- Apple
- Bluetooth codecs
- 5.0
- Wi-Fi
- 6
- Ethernet
- Gigabit (128GB model only)
A much-needed chipset upgrade
The A17 Pro could power the new Apple TV 4K
There have been plenty of rumors about the next Apple TV 4K, but the one that seems most plausible to me is a major chipset upgrade. The current model uses Apple's A15 Bionic chip, which debuted in the iPhone 13 lineup back in 2021. It's been a solid performer for the third-generation Apple TV 4K, but Apple's newer chips have seen significant improvements, especially in terms of power and AAA gaming capabilities.
The upcoming Apple TV 4K is rumored to feature Apple's A17 Pro chip, which would be a huge performance boost. It first appeared in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, where the A17 Pro was touted for its ability to run AAA games like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Resident Evil 4. Adding this level of power to the Apple TV 4K would mean two things: much faster, more responsive performance across the entire device and the ability to run AAA games -- something the current model cannot do.
Of course, this remains speculation, but it's hard to imagine Apple not opting for a much beefier chip in its next Apple TV 4K, especially if it plans to introduce more advanced AI features. And that leads directly to my next point.
Apple Intelligence support
Fire TV has Alexa+, Google TV has Gemini, Apple TV needs Apple Intelligence
Another reason I'm waiting for the new Apple TV 4K is for a feature I'd be very surprised to see it launch without: Apple Intelligence. While the rollout of Apple Intelligence hasn't been the smoothest -- many of the promised features, including the revamped Siri, are still pending -- AI has become a major part of modern TV platforms, whether we like it or not. Having Apple Intelligence on the new Apple TV 4K would be genuinely useful, especially since Apple is almost guaranteed to expand its capabilities over time.
Amazon already offers Alexa+ on its Fire TV devices, and Google is starting to ship Gemini on its TV products, like the Google TV Streamer, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple added Apple Intelligence support to the new Apple TV 4K. And if the new Apple TV 4K is powered by the A17 Pro -- the first chip to support Apple Intelligence -- it makes it even more likely.
The most significant Apple Intelligence update for the upcoming Apple TV is likely the new Siri, which is a more conversational and personalized assistant that competes with Alexa+ and Gemini. Apple first previewed this improved Siri at WWDC 2024, but earlier this year, it delayed its release until 2026. I have a sneaking suspicion that one reason the new Apple TV 4K didn't launch this year is because of that delay -- Apple might be waiting until both the hardware and the latest Siri are ready to ship together.
Upgraded Wi-Fi
The upcoming Apple TV 4K could support Wi-Fi 7
I use Wi-Fi to connect all my streaming devices to the internet because it's much easier than hardwiring them. Thanks to advancements in Wi-Fi standards, especially Wi-Fi 6E, I haven't encountered any issues. My Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports Wi-Fi 6E, and I've never experienced dips in quality or buffering. The current third-generation Apple TV 4K supports Wi-Fi 6, which isn't necessarily bad, but better options are available now.
That's why the rumored Wi-Fi upgrade in the new Apple TV 4K is so appealing. The device is expected to feature a custom Apple chip with Wi-Fi 7 support (via MacRumors). Earlier this year, Apple introduced the N1 chipset in the iPhone 17 series, which supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Since this is an in-house Apple-designed chip, it would make sense to include it in the new Apple TV 4K -- especially if Apple wants to keep costs down. Again, this is based on a rumor/leak, so it's not guaranteed to happen. But either way, I'd be surprised if the new Apple TV 4K didn't support Wi-Fi 7, or at the very least Wi-Fi 6E.
Overall, the main reasons I'm waiting for the new Apple TV 4K are the rumored upgrades to its chipset, Apple Intelligence support, and improved Wi-Fi. I don't mind the current Apple TV 4K's design, so whether Apple changes it or not doesn't really matter to me; it's all about the better hardware and features, which I think will be worth the wait and the cost. Hopefully, the new Apple TV 4K will finally be released early next year.