The subsequent Apple TV 4K stays a thriller, however a launch might be close to

Apple has launched a ton of latest merchandise this yr, together with the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17 series, a brand new entry-level iPad, and M5-powered versions of the iPad Professional, MacBook Professional, and Imaginative and prescient Professional. Nevertheless, because the yr attracts to an in depth, one product I am unhappy to see Apple nonetheless hasn’t launched but is a new Apple TV 4K.

All yr lengthy, there have been rumors of Apple launching a brand new Apple TV 4K quickly, however with almost a month left within the yr, it is nonetheless nowhere in sight. It was as soon as rumored to debut on the iPhone occasion in September. That did not occur. Then presumably in October, and early November, and that did not occur. Now that December is across the nook and New Yr’s Day is quick approaching, it appears more and more seemingly that the next-generation Apple TV 4K will not launch till subsequent yr.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is without doubt one of the most dependable sources of Apple information, reported that Apple TV 4K inventory was shrinking at Apple Shops, a telltale signal {that a} new mannequin is on the best way. Talking concerning the new Apple TV 4K and HomePod Minis anticipated to be coming quickly, Gurman stated that “If these refreshed fashions do not arrive earlier than yr’s finish, they nonetheless should not be far off — particularly since they’re going to assist showcase the brand new Siri and Apple Intelligence options deliberate for subsequent yr.”

When might Apple launch the brand new Apple TV 4K then?

Subsequent spring is not that far off

For its half, Apple has been tight-lipped on a brand new Apple TV 4K, and it hasn’t formally introduced something about it. Whereas it is attainable Apple might drop a brand new Apple TV 4K at any time in December, I battle to see any probability of that taking place. Apple has solely launched a handful of merchandise in December earlier than, together with the AirPods Max in 2020 and the first-generation AirPods in 2016.

Sometimes, Apple saves its huge {hardware} releases for the spring and the autumn, and for the reason that Siri AI upgrade that Gurman alluded to in his report is lastly anticipated to launch within the first half of subsequent yr with iOS 26.4, the brand new Apple TV 4K launching earlier than it earlier within the yr (which is not that “far off”) would make sense, particularly since a giant promoting level of it should seemingly be help for Apple Intelligence, which the present third-generation mannequin lacks.

Whereas early subsequent yr is the anticipated timeline, if I needed to guess particularly when, I might see the brand new Apple TV 4K launching in March, since Apple has finished product refreshes in March earlier than, like the brand new entry-level iPad and iPad Air with chipset upgrades that launched in March this yr. Although I wish to make it clear that March 2026 is pure hypothesis on my half, as an Apple TV fan eagerly awaiting its launch.

What can we anticipate from the brand new Apple TV 4K?

An upgraded chipset will seemingly be the largest distinction

Since Apple hasn’t up to date the Apple TV 4K in three years, there’s lots of pleasure about what the next-generation Apple TV 4K might have in retailer. Nevertheless, in the event you’re anticipating a design change on the surface, you may wish to preserve your expectations in verify, because it’s rumored to resemble the present third-generation Apple TV 4K, with a slim black plastic physique.

The primary upgrades Apple is rumored to make to the brand new Apple TV 4K are largely beneath the hood, with a brand new processor and Wi-Fi chipset being the 2 greatest adjustments. The present Apple TV 4K makes use of the A15 Bionic chipset, and it’s rumored that the brand new mannequin might function Apple’s A17 Professional chipset, which debuted within the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max in late 2023. If this rumor is true, it could drastically enhance the Apple TV 4K’s efficiency and may even permit it to run AAA video games like Murderer’s Creed Mirage, similar to the iPhone 15 Professional.

Turning to the Wi-Fi chipset, the brand new Apple TV 4K is rumored to function a custom-designed Apple chip that helps Wi-Fi 7 (by way of MacRumors). Earlier this yr, Apple launched the N1 chipset within the iPhone 17 collection, which helps Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, so the brand new Apple TV 4K might have it as properly.

Lastly, Apple Intelligence is predicted to be a key new function of the Apple TV 4K, as the present third-generation mannequin lacks it. As Gurman famous, the brand new Apple TV 4K is predicted to “showcase the brand new Siri and Apple Intelligence options deliberate for subsequent yr,” so it should seemingly be able to new search options and answering questions extra conversationally, much like what Google has finished with Gemini for Google TV, and what Amazon is doing with Alexa+ on its Fireplace TV gadgets.