By Joe Rossignol
It's been almost a year and a half since the current Apple TV was released, so the device is due for a hardware update soon. Below, we summarize rumors about the next Apple TV, including potential features and launch timeline.
The current model is the third generation Apple TV 4K, announced in October 2022. Key new features over the previous 2021 model include a faster A15 Bionic processor, more storage at 128GB, a slightly thinner and lighter design, and HDR10+ support. , a USB-C port on the Siri Remote, lower prices and more.
Launch Timing
In January 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the new Apple TV will be released in the first half of 2024. If these timings remain accurate, the new Apple TV will be released by the end of June. If so, the device could be announced in a press release on Apple's website or unveiled during a keynote at WWDC on June 10.
Gurman has not commented on the next Apple TV in recent months, and his report has been published almost 15 months ago, so it's unclear whether the device will continue to be released in the first half of 2024 or whether Apple's plans have changed.
Announcement dates for the latest Apple TV models:
- Apple TV 4K third generation:October 2022
- Apple TV 4K second generation:April 2021
- Apple TV 4K first generation:September 2017
- Apple TV HD:September 2015
Rumors
Fast chip
According to a report from Gurman last year, the next Apple TV will feature a faster processor compared to the current model. It's unclear which chip will power the device, but possible options include the A16 Bionic chip, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro models, or the A17 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Lower Price
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the next Apple TV to be “more affordable” than the current model. He said that a “price under $100” would be the “sweet spot” for Apple TV, but exact pricing for the next model remains to be seen.
Both second generation (2010) and third generation Apple versions The third-generation (2012) TVs cost $99 in the US at launch, and Apple eventually dropped the price of the third-generation model to $69, so there is precedent for a sub-$100 Apple TV that could better compete. with low-cost streaming devices sold by Google, Amazon and Roku.
In the US, the current Apple TV starts at $129 with 64GB of internal storage, and a 128GB model with an additional Ethernet port is available for $149.
Same design
The new Apple TV will have the same exterior design as the current model, Gurman said.
Apple said that The improved energy efficiency of the A15 Bionic chip allowed the current Apple TV to remove the fan, resulting in a more compact design that is approximately 12% thinner and approximately 50% lighter than the previous model.
Apple TV with camera
In the future, Apple TV may have a built-in camera for FaceTime and other video calling apps, Gurman reported in his Power On newsletter a few days ago.
TvOS 17 coming to Apple TV added the FaceTime app, allowing users to make video calls using the rear camera on a connected iPhone or iPad. If Apple TV had a built-in camera, users would no longer need to rely on an external device.
It is unclear whether the camera will be added to the next Apple TV or a later model.
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