In a nutshell: Apple has introduced its fourth generation Apple TV 4K, complete with an A19 chip that the company claims delivers 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice the GPU performance compared to the previous model. The long-awaited set-top box also ships with three far-field microphones, Siri AI, and a smarter remote.
Apple said the A19 chip inside its new box includes a new, dedicated AV1 decoder that enables more efficient, high-quality streaming while simultaneously using less bandwidth. It also includes secure enclaves that protect and compartmentalize runtimes used to process Siri data from the trio of far-field microphones.
Siri on the Apple TV 4K is powered by Apple Intelligence, enabling a fully hands-free experience. Apple baked in echo cancellation to intelligently isolate voices from background noise. This means the system can pick up on "Hey Siri" commands in noisy environments, even if audio is playing in the background.
Apple's new smart remote, meanwhile, features a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure. New this year is Find My support with Precision Finding, and you can even ping it and have it play a sound to make it easier to locate between the couch cushions.
Apple says the 4th gen Apple TV 4K can be paired with four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod speakers to create an immersive home theater surround sound setup. It also doubles as a home hub, allowing users to manage their smart home from anywhere.
The refreshed streaming box has been a long time coming. The third-gen streamer launched nearly four years ago in November 2022.
The new Apple TV 4K is available to pre-order from today in the US and 29 other countries. Pricing is set at $299 up front, or you can break it down into six monthly payments of $49.83 if that's more convenient. Look for it to launch on November 13. It comes with the new Siri Remote, which can also be purchased separately for use with other Apple devices. It retails for $59 and also arrives on November 13.