Apple TV 4K core owners have long complained about stagnant hardware options, with the current 2022 A15 Bionic model now 1,267 days old as of April 24. That puts the set-top box on track to break an unwanted company record for the longest gap between hardware updates, a mark no one in the product’s fanbase is eager to see fall.

The original 2017 A10X Fusion Apple TV 4K still holds the existing record, having been the only available model for 1,337 days between updates. If no new hardware ships by July 4, the current 2022 unit will surpass that mark. Previous generational jumps took just 532 days, making the current wait feel far more drawn out.

Apple has a new Apple TV 4K ready for 2026, but may reportedly hold the launch to align with an AI-focused tvOS 27 update. The current 2022 model was reconfigured to undercut earlier pricing, softening the blow of the long wait. This premium flagship’s update gap is more noticeable than the budget Apple TV HD’s 2,545-day run, as that model was a lower-cost option.