Apple TV+ is having its best year ever, but the Apple TV 4K streaming box still awaits its first revision since 2022—and that update is coming soon. Here are four features to expect when the new Apple TV 4K arrives very soon.
#1: A17 Pro chip
The current Apple TV 4K model launched in late 2022 and packed what was then a pretty modern chip: the A15 Bionic.
But Apple’s silicon efforts continue achieving new heights, and demanding software like Apple Intelligence and newer games require an upgraded chip.
Recent leaks indicate the next Apple TV 4K will get an A17 Pro chip.
A17 Pro is currently the minimum required Apple chip to support AI features, which are expected to grow much more important in the year ahead. The chip could also provide Apple’s set-top box a gaming upgrade.
#2: Apple Intelligence support
This should come as no surprise, since Apple has been gradually adding AI to its full suite of products.
Though Apple Intelligence originally only supported iPhones, iPads, and Macs, Vision Pro gained it this spring, and watchOS 26 brings it to the Apple Watch.
Rumors point to AI features coming with the new Apple TV 4K too—though perhaps very minimally until next spring’s big Siri overhaul.
What can AI do for a TV viewing experience, you ask? Earlier this year, Amazon showed off its AI-powered Alexa+ assistant on Fire TV, and examples included:
Getting personalized TV recommendations based on your current mood
Jumping to different scenes with only a brief description
Getting info on music after-the-fact from any part of a show or film
#3: Apple’s new N1 wireless chip
It’s been a big year for advancements in Apple-designed silicon. Joining the company’s C1 and C1X modems, Apple just debuted a brand new wireless connectivity chip called N1.
N1 combines Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread and is currently included in all new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air models.
This new chip will also be included in the upgraded Apple TV 4K.
Apple recently outlined the benefits of N1 for the iPhone. Expect to see similar advantages for Apple’s Home products, especially with new Apple Home accessories on the horizon.
#4: Wildcard: Center Stage camera
This change seems a little less certain, but last year when discussing Apple’s smart home ambitions, Mark Gurman mentioned the company was weighing adding a camera to its next Apple TV 4K.
He writes:
It has discussed…offering a revamped Apple TV set-top box with a built-in camera for FaceTime videoconferencing and gesture-based controls. And the technology will all work seamlessly with both the iPhone and Vision Pro.
In this AI era, rumors have indicated that several new Apple products will soon boast cameras—including AirPods and smart glasses.
Adding a camera to the Apple TV 4K makes sense not just for potential AI benefits, but also the two use cases Gurman mentions: video calls and gesture-based controls.
FaceTime is already a feature of tvOS, and a great one. Currently though, you have to use your iPhone’s Continuity Camera feature to enable FaceTime.
tvOS 26 has FaceTime changes that hint a built-in camera might be coming, lending further support to the feature’s arrival. And with the new Center Stage front camera debuting on iPhone 17, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a similar offering on the new Apple TV.
New Apple TV 4K features: wrap-up
The expected features above are just a sampling of what Apple could have in store for its new Apple TV 4K. Since the device tends to sit several years between updates, Apple generally packs plenty of new features into each hardware update.
What features do you want added to a new Apple TV 4K? Let us know in the comments.
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