The new Apple TV 4K 2026 – widely expected to launch as the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K – has been a long time coming. The current Apple TV 4K has, after all, diligently punched in and out since its 2022 release, earning the top spot on our best streaming devices list.
Now, the Apple rumour mill is in full spin, which means something shiny and new could be imminent – which is precisely why we’ve rounded up some of the most reliable and likely new Apple TV 4K 2026 fourth-gen rumours below.
Busy? The biggest changes are tipped to come from a faster processor, support for Apple’s next-generation AI-powered Siri experience, upgraded wireless connectivity, and a handful of smart home improvements. But if you want the full details, feel free to scroll on through.
Price and release date
Apple hasn’t announced a launch date for the next Apple TV, but multiple reports suggest it could arrive alongside the company’s autumn hardware announcements.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple delayed several new home products after pushing back its rebuilt Siri experience, meaning that the new Apple TV 4K is now expected to launch no earlier than September 2026 alongside iOS 27.
Pricing remains less certain. The current Apple TV 4K launched at $129 / £149, but was hit heavily by Apple’s recent broad product price hikes – a response to the increased hardware costs fuelled by the AI boom. As a result, the current base model now costs $299 / $199.
We’d like to think that, at the very least, the upcoming new Apple TV 4K will land at the same price as its ageing sibling – especially if it lands mere months after the recent price hikes. But we’ll have to wait and see…
Design
If you’re hoping for a radical new Apple TV 4K redesign, you might be disappointed.
Most credible reports suggest that Apple is expected to stick with the same compact square-shaped design used by the current Apple TV 4K. The familiar black finish is also expected to remain, meaning the new model could look almost identical to its predecessor.
That wouldn’t be especially surprising if true – Apple has barely altered the Apple TV’s appearance over the past decade, instead focusing its upgrades on internal hardware and software. Sure, it would be nice to see a design tweak here and there, but on the whole, it’s the performance that counts, and it’s far from ugly to start with.
Performance and Apple Intelligence
And here’s where the biggest upgrades are expected. Current rumours point to Apple using the A17 Pro processor, first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro. If true, that would represent a sizeable leap over the A15 Bionic found in today’s Apple TV 4K, bringing improved CPU and GPU performance alongside greater power efficiency, thanks to its 3nm manufacturing process.
The A17 Pro also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which could improve graphics in Apple Arcade games and other titles available through tvOS. Of course, Apple could still opt for an even newer chip, such as the A18 or A19, given how long it’s been since the last Apple TV hardware refresh, although there’s currently no strong evidence pointing to either processor.
More importantly, the A17 Pro is the earliest Apple chip capable of running Apple Intelligence, making it the leading candidate if Apple plans to bring its AI features to the Apple TV. If Apple decides to bring its AI-powered features to the Apple TV, it would provide the hardware foundation needed to do so. Extra RAM also seems likely if Apple Intelligence support arrives, although no credible reports have revealed how much memory the new Apple TV could include.
If these reports prove accurate, the new Apple TV could become a much more capable AI-powered smart home hub, assuming Apple Intelligence support makes the jump to tvOS as widely expected.
Apple tvOS 27
Even if you don’t buy the new Apple TV, Apple has already confirmed that a substantial software update is arriving later this year.
The headline improvements in tvOS 27 focus on speed and responsiveness. Apple says that apps will launch faster, animations will feel smoother, and interactions between Apple devices should become more responsive.
Apple has also confirmed a redesigned Podcasts app for both audio and video playback, alongside broader performance improvements throughout the operating system. Apple Music is also expected to receive playback enhancements as part of the update.
Elsewhere, tvOS 27 brings improved HomeKit integration, reduced app sizes, smart downloads and easier access to AppleCare information through the Settings app.
Apple has confirmed that tvOS 27 will be available on the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models. Support, however, comes to an end for the original Apple TV 4K from 2017 and the Apple TV HD released in 2015.
The software update is expected to launch in September 2026, meaning that owners of current Apple TV hardware should benefit from many of the new features even if they decide not to upgrade immediately.
However, if the rumours are accurate, some of the biggest AI-powered Siri capabilities could remain exclusive to the new Apple TV’s more powerful hardware. We’ll have to wait and see.
Connectivity and smart home features
Apple is also expected to upgrade the streaming box’s wireless hardware.
One of the biggest rumours centres on Apple’s new in-house N1 networking chip, which could debut inside the Apple TV before appearing in other products. The chip is expected to support Wi-Fi 7, offering faster speeds and lower latency for compatible routers, particularly when using the less congested 6GHz band.
The new Apple TV 4K is also expected to retain its role as both a Matter controller and Thread border router, allowing it to continue acting as the centre of an Apple Home smart home setup. Bluetooth 6 could be included, although Apple hasn’t confirmed any wireless specifications for the next-generation Apple TV.
So with all that said, if you’re thinking about buying an Apple TV today, don’t.
While the current Apple TV 4K remains an excellent streaming device, it’s approaching four years old. The rumoured fourth-generation model is expected to deliver meaningful upgrades rather than a routine spec bump, including a much faster processor, next-generation Siri, potential Apple Intelligence support and future-ready Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed until Apple officially unveils the device. The company could alter its plans, change the hardware specifications or delay the launch again.
Even so, after nearly four years without a hardware refresh, the Apple TV 2026 is shaping up to be far more than a routine update. If the rumours prove accurate, faster silicon, Apple Intelligence-ready hardware, Wi-Fi 7 and a much smarter Siri could make it the biggest Apple TV upgrade in years – and one that’s well worth waiting for if you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem.
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