Apple last updated the Apple TV in October 2022, introducing a new, smaller design, USB-C on the Siri remote, and a bump from the A12 chip to the A15 chip. The product is now over two years old, and rumors are starting to pop up about the next model.
What to expect
Previously, Bloomberg had reported that a new Apple TV model would be released in early 2024 with a faster chip, but such rumors didn’t come to fruition. However, Apple TV rumors are back on the table, with Bloomberg once again reporting that a new model is in the works.
Apple will adopt its new in-house networking chip with this new model, moving away from Broadcom. Apple’s new networking chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, which would be a first for Apple TV.
Beyond that, there aren’t many clear details, though it could be presumed that it’ll gain a faster processor as well. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reports that we should expect it to release next year:
Apple will begin rolling out the combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip as part of new home devices scheduled for next year, including refreshed versions of its TV set-top box and HomePod mini smart speaker.
Why a new Apple TV?
A lot of people wonder if Apple even needs to refresh the Apple TV. Sure, the A15 chip might be plenty for general TV needs, but there are other reasons why Apple would want to upgrade the Apple TV anyways:
- Lower cost, making the TV box accessible to more customers
- Apple Intelligence
- Gaming
Apple lowered the starting price of the Apple TV 4K from $179 to $129 with the refresh back in 2022. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the Apple TV box should go even cheaper with the next refresh, even below $100:
The sub-$100 price should be the sweet spot for Apple TV, so I expect the next-gen will be more affordable.
Apple could also implement Apple Intelligence within the next generation Apple TV, giving us an A18 chip. While the new Siri might not be the most useful on the Apple TV, I could see Apple allowing paired HomePods to tap into the chipset on the Apple TV, allowing existing HomePods to take advantage of the brand new Siri without requiring a pricey hardware upgrade.
Last but not least, gaming. Apple has been working with loads of game developers to bring more high end games to the iPhone, iPad and Mac. However, Apple TV has been left out of that equation. Apple could potentially make a powerful Apple TV that could handle a lot of high end games, including ones with ray tracing, although it’s unclear if Apple wants to pursue that strategy.
A whole TV set?
Although extremely unlikely, especially given the fact that Apple is betting on Apple Vision Pro being the replacement for the home theater, Apple is apparently considering making a TV set for your home, once again. This was previously rumored over a decade ago, but Gurman says the idea is back on the table:
It may even revisit the idea of making an Apple-branded TV set, something it’s evaluating.
While this is an extremely early rumor, it’s something worth thinking about for Apple’s smart home ambitions.
Are you excited for the future of Apple TV? Let us know in the comments.
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