Over a 12 months has handed because the second-generation Apple TV 4K launched in Might 2021, and rumors have began to floor about new options deliberate for the following mannequin and past, together with a quicker chip, elevated RAM, a brand new Siri Distant, and extra.
We have recapped all the Apple TV rumors which have been shared under, in addition to options coming within the tvOS 16 software program replace later this 12 months.
A14 Chip and 4GB of RAM
A brand new Apple TV codenamed “J255” is in improvement with an A14 chip and 4GB of RAM, in response to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. These upgrades would lead to improved efficiency, which might be helpful for gaming on the system.
The present Apple TV 4K has an A12 chip and 3GB of RAM.
Decrease Worth
Apple plans to launch a lower-priced Apple TV within the second half of 2022, in response to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It is unclear if this Apple TV would have the A14 chip and 4GB of RAM that Gurman reported, or if it could be a completely completely different mannequin.
The present Apple TV 4K begins at $179 with 32GB of storage, whereas the Apple TV HD stays out there for $149. By comparability, there are numerous streaming sticks from manufacturers like Chromecast and Roku out there for underneath $50 to $100.
Each the second-generation (2010) and third-generation (2012) fashions of the Apple TV have been priced at $99 at launch, and Apple finally lowered the worth of the third-generation mannequin to $69, so there’s priority for a lower-priced Apple TV.
New Siri Distant
Within the iOS 16 beta, there are code-level references to what seems to be a new and unreleased model of the Siri Distant for the Apple TV.
As noticed by @aaronp613, there are strings for “SiriRemote4” and “WirelessRemoteFirmware.4” that don’t correspond with any present Siri Distant.
Aaron mentioned the unique Siri Distant is recognized as “SiriRemote,” whereas a revised model of that distant with a white circle across the “Menu” button is “SiriRemote2,” and the silver Siri Distant launched final 12 months is “SiriRemote3.” This results in the likelihood that “SiriRemote4” is an upcoming distant for a brand new or present Apple TV.
No extra particulars about “SiriRemote4” are talked about within the code, so nothing is understood concerning the distant’s potential design or options right now. The code findings additionally don’t assure that Apple will transfer ahead with releasing a brand new distant.
HomePod Combo
Gurman believes that Apple will finally launch a tool that combines an Apple TV, HomePod, and FaceTime digital camera, however particulars stay slim. Gurman mentioned the mixed system “will most likely be on the heart of Apple’s method” within the dwelling.
tvOS 16 Options
tvOS 16 can be launched for the Apple TV HD and newer later this 12 months. The replace is at present in beta for builders, with a public beta to observe in July.
An outline of new tvOS 16 options for the Apple TV:
- Cross-device connectivity: Apple says tvOS 16 permits builders to combine their Apple TV app with their iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps to unlock new experiences that “really feel extra private than ever.” For instance, builders can ship extra customized exercises on the Apple TV primarily based on movement sensor knowledge from the Apple Watch, show real-time data on the iPhone whereas a video performs of their Apple TV app, or embrace extra screens for gameplay.
- Expanded recreation controller help: Apple says many extra Bluetooth recreation controllers are supported on tvOS 16. Notably, this contains help for Nintendo’s Pleasure-Cons and Professional Controller.
- Multiuser enhancements: tvOS 16 gives improved system integration for person profiles in Apple TV apps. Apple says with credentials saved in a shared keychain, customers will not must sign up and select their profile each time they launch an Apple TV app that has been up to date with this performance.
- Matter help: Matter is a brand new customary that may allow suitable good dwelling equipment to work collectively seamlessly throughout a number of platforms, together with Apple’s HomeKit, Amazon’s Alexa, and extra. A house hub is required to manage Matter equipment within the House app, which may be an Apple TV up to date to tvOS 16 or a HomePod/HomePod mini up to date to the newest software program model.
