New Apple TV: What is known so far
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year. Rumors suggest the device will have several new features and changes. Below, we summarize what rumors suggest we can expect from the next network player from Cupertino.
New Apple TV with Faster Wi-Fi
The next Apple TV will launch with Apple’s own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He said the chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, an improvement over the current Apple TV’s standard Wi-Fi 6 support. WLAN 6E extends the capabilities of WLAN 6 to the 6 GHz band with a compatible router. This can contribute to higher Wi-Fi speeds and lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 6.
The chip may even support Wi-Fi 7, which offers theoretical peak speeds of over 40 Gbps – a fourfold increase over Wi-Fi 6E.
Newer chip
The current Apple TV is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, which was used in all iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models in 2022. It’s very likely that the next Apple TV will feature a newer chip, such as the A18 or A19 chip. This would result in faster overall performance and possibly even Apple Intelligence support on tvOS.
FaceTime Camera and Gesture Control
tvOS 17 added a FaceTime app to the Apple TV, which supports video calls using the rear camera of a connected iPhone or iPad. With an integrated camera, users would no longer have to rely on an external device for video calls via the TV.
In April 2024, Gurman said Apple had discussed offering an integrated camera for FaceTime and gesture control. However, it’s unclear whether Apple will continue with this plan, especially for the next model. It didn’t elaborate on the gesture aspect, but it sounds like the next device will recognize various hand gestures.
Apple says that tvOS 26 improves FaceTime in many ways – fitting for an Apple TV with a camera:
With tvOS 26, users can enjoy a more personalized FaceTime experience, compatible with iOS. Contact Posters on Apple TV make it easier and more personal by displaying a contact’s personalized photo and name when starting a FaceTime call on Apple TV. Live Captions are being expanded to include French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. This allows Apple TV to leverage device intelligence to display live captions for FaceTime calls, allowing users to follow what’s being said in even more languages. Additionally, FaceTime audio and phone call notifications for the active profile will appear onscreen. This allows users to respond via connected HomePod speakers or their iPhone, keeping communication with loved ones top of mind.
Cheaper Price
On the same day the current Apple TV was announced in October 2022, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected the next Apple TV to be “more affordable.” He said a price below $100 would be the “sweet spot” for the device, but didn’t say whether Apple would actually reach that price.
Both those Both the 2010 and 2012 versions cost $99 at launch in the US, and Apple has reduced the price of the 2012 model to $69, so this wouldn’t be a first. Other companies like Amazon with the Fire TV Stick HD or Xiaomi with the TV Box S offer affordable streaming sticks with retail prices starting at under €50.
In the US, the current device with 64 GB of storage starts at $129, while a 128 GB model with an Ethernet port for wired internet costs $149. In Germany, prices start at €169, although you can still save a few euros in our Apple TV 4K price comparison.
Launch date
According to Gurman, the next Apple TV will be released towards the end of the year with the iOS 26 design. Therefore, a market launch in September or October is likely, but a delay until November or December is always conceivable. The four previous models were announced as follows:
- TV 4K (3rd generation): October 2022
- TV 4K (2nd generation): April 2021
- TV 4K (1st generation): September 2017
- TV HD: September 2015
