Apple's latest smart home event introduced the Apple TV 4K (4th gen), and the headline news is its price. The new model costs $300, roughly double the launch price of the 2022 third-generation model, which was $130 for 64GB and $150 for the 128GB model with Ethernet. The sticker shock is hard to ignore.
The performance gains are substantial, however. The device is powered by the Apple A19 chipset, the same chip found in the iPhone 17. Compared with the A15 in the 2022 model, the CPU is 50% faster and the GPU is 2x faster. The chip also includes a built-in AV1 decoder, which matters for modern streaming services, since H.265 carries patent issues. Apple has dropped the 64GB option, so every unit now ships with 128GB of storage and gigabit Ethernet.
Beyond streaming, the device can run Apple Arcade games, support workouts through Apple Fitness+, serve as a webcam via Continuity Camera, and display photos from iCloud. The remote keeps its familiar design but adds Find My support with Precision Finding. Audio options expand as well: up to four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd gen) speakers can form a surround setup, and up to two pairs of AirPods with Spatial Audio can be connected. Video support includes Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG, with 4K at 60fps output.
The device also works as a smart home hub, supporting Wi-Fi and Thread. It can show live doorbell feeds, let users talk to visitors and unlock smart locks, and display camera views in picture-in-picture mode. Siri AI and Apple Intelligence process security camera feeds into summarized notifications, using the A19's Secure Exclaves for privacy and a mix of on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute. Three far-field microphones let users summon Siri from across the room.
The Apple TV 4K (4th gen) is available for pre-order from Apple.com, with availability set for November 13.
Source: GSMArena · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing