Apple has announced the new Apple TV 4K, and the main addition is Siri AI running full screen on the TV. The 4th generation model also gets an A19 chip, three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri, and a four-speaker surround sound mode built around HomePod mini 2.
Siri AI and three far-field microphones make the Apple TV 4K fully hands-free
Siri AI is a rebuilt version of Siri powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence. On the Apple TV 4K it opens a full-screen experience. Ask which Apple TV shows won Emmy Awards this year and it returns poster art from the Apple TV app, along with follow-up suggestions such as more award-winning comedies.
It also works while a show is playing. Viewers can ask where Pluribus was filmed or whether an episode is appropriate for a 15-year-old, and the answer appears in a small overlay so playback keeps going. With an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, Siri AI can use personal context too, so a request to play the show a friend recommended works.
The new Apple TV 4K has three far-field microphones, so there is no need to pick up the remote to talk to Siri. Echo cancellation separates your voice from whatever is playing, which lets “Hey Siri” or “Siri” register with the audio running. The hardware follows earlier reports that Apple was testing built-in microphones for the new Apple TV 4K.
Microphone data is processed in Secure Exclaves, which Apple describes as isolated runtimes that tvOS, apps, the user and Apple cannot access. Siri requests use on-device processing or Private Cloud Compute. Far-field Siri works when the primary tvOS language is set to English, French, German, Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish or Mandarin Chinese.
Siri AI arrives as a beta in tvOS 27.2 and also works on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) or later, so owners of older models are included. The feature first surfaced in tvOS 27 beta code in August. It requires the home owner to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, and Apple notes Siri AI will not be available in the EU on iPhone and iPad at first.
The A19 chip adds up to 50 percent faster CPU performance and an AV1 decoder
The A19 chip gives the new Apple TV 4K up to 50 percent faster CPU performance and up to 2x faster GPU performance than the previous generation. Apple points to quicker navigation and smoother animations. A new dedicated AV1 decoder handles streaming with less bandwidth.
The Siri Remote keeps its design and adds Find My support with Precision Finding, plus an option to play a sound from the remote. Precision Finding works with the Siri Remote (4th generation) paired with iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, or iPhone 17 or later, excluding iPhone 17e. Playing a sound is exclusive to the newest Siri Remote.
The new Siri Remote is sold separately and works with Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. Find My support is available on the Siri Remote (2nd generation or later). iPhone and iPad owners can also choose how iCloud photos appear on the TV, so Memories and Slideshows or Portraits screen savers can run without exposing the whole library. A new screen saver shuffle rotates between categories automatically.
HomePod mini 2 gives the Apple TV 4K a four-speaker surround sound setup
For the first time, the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) supports a four-speaker surround setup with HomePod mini 2. The speakers detect where they sit in the room, and audio timing and levels are calibrated automatically. HomePod (2nd generation) can be used too, provided the front pair matches and the rear pair matches. As described by Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing:
Pair it with HomePod for the best surround sound setup we’ve ever offered.
The Apple TV 4K also remains a home hub, with built-in Wi-Fi and Thread. With a compatible doorbell, a notification appears on the TV so you can see who is at the door, talk to them and unlock it without leaving what you are watching. HomeKit Secure Video adds Apple Intelligence-generated camera activity descriptions and summarized notifications in the Home app.
Those camera descriptions need an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad for setup and an eligible iCloud+ plan, and the number of supported cameras depends on the plan. Siri AI can also control accessories and turn scenes on or off by voice.
Availability
Pre-orders for the new Apple TV 4K open today in the US at $299, with the device arriving in stores on Friday, November 13. The launch is part of a wider smart home lineup that includes the HomePod mini 2, Apple HomeView, and Apple Home Collection, a new range of smart home accessories.
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