Apple launches fourth-gen Apple TV 4K at $299 with Siri AI and far-field microphones

Hardware and price

Apple announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K on 13 October 2026 as part of its 'Welcome home' launch event in New York City. The device runs an A19 chip, first seen in the iPhone 17, which Apple says delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and 2x faster GPU performance than the prior model. It comes in a single configuration with 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and an Ethernet port. The starting price is $299, more than twice the $129 starting price the prior-generation model debuted at, and $50 more than the top-of-the-line model that is being discontinued. Pre-orders open today and the device ships on 13 November.

Microphones and Siri AI

The new box includes three built-in far-field microphones, so users can talk to Siri without a remote or a paired HomePod. Siri AI is the central feature, letting users search for content with natural language, such as "What are the best nature docs on Apple TV right now?" Unlike on the HomePod, Siri does not speak its responses aloud on Apple TV. Answers appear full screen when searching for content or in a text bubble for general knowledge questions. Apple also describes personal context, which uses information from an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone so users can ask for a show a friend texted them. Siri AI launches in beta in English in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and India. Apple says Siri AI is available on Apple TV 4K 2nd generation or later, a point 9to5Mac reported as a change from earlier expectations that the feature would require the new hardware.

Siri Remote and surround sound

The updated Siri Remote keeps the same basic design as the prior model but adds Precision Finding support for Find My and a built-in speaker. The speaker lets users play a sound on the remote when it is lost. Precision Finding can guide users directly to the remote from an iPhone or Apple Watch. The new Siri Remote is compatible with Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K and can be bought separately for $59 from the Apple Store, shipping on 13 November. The box also supports four-speaker surround sound with HomePod mini 2 or HomePod 2 speakers.

Smart home push and reception

The Apple TV 4K was announced alongside the HomeView smart display, priced at $299, and the HomePod mini 2, priced at $149, as part of a push into the smart home. TechRadar reported that Apple is sunsetting the previous models. TechCrunch reported that Bloomberg said Apple wanted to launch the device in 2024, but delays in the AI-powered Siri pushed back the launch of new home devices. Reviewers focused on the price increase: TechRadar called the $299 price a big jump compared with competing Roku players and Fire TV Sticks, while 9to5Mac noted that the higher starting price may put off prospective upgraders.