New Apple TV 4K: Faster chip, microphones and surround sound with four HomePods

Apple has unveiled the fourth generation of the Apple TV 4K. The box features a significantly faster chip, built-in microphones for hands-free voice control, and, for the first time, true surround sound with four HomePods. However, the most important new feature, the revamped Siri AI, will not be available in Germany for the time being.

A19 chip and AV1 decoder

Inside, the A19 chip now powers the device. Apple promises up to 50 percent more CPU performance and twice the graphics speed compared to its predecessor. This should be particularly noticeable when navigating menus and during animations. Also new is a dedicated AV1 decoder, which enables high-quality streaming with less bandwidth. This is an important update for streaming services that are increasingly relying on AV1.

Three far-field microphones allow you to control the speaker with "Hey Siri" or "Siri" without having to pick up the remote. Echo cancellation is designed to recognize your voice even when a movie is playing. According to Apple, this also works with German as the system language. The Siri Remote retains its design but can now be located using "Find My" and play a sound. Precise location tracking via Ultra Wideband only works with an iPhone 17 or newer.

Surround sound with four HomePods

For the first time, four HomePods can be paired to create a surround sound system. This requires either four HomePod mini 2s or four second-generation HomePods. The speakers must be placed in matching pairs at the front and rear of the room. According to Apple, the system automatically detects the speaker placement and adjusts the volume and timing to the room acoustics. However, this setup is not inexpensive.

As a smart home hub, the Apple TV 4K continues to support Thread and HomeKit. When a compatible doorbell rings, the camera image appears directly on the TV without interrupting playback. Apple Intelligence can optionally summarize camera footage in text form. However, this requires a compatible iCloud+ subscription and an AI-enabled iPhone.

Siri AI is left out.

The new Siri AI is designed to answer questions about movies and TV shows in full screen, provide recommendations, and, with an AI-enabled iPhone, access personal data. It launches as a beta with tvOS 27.2 and also runs on older Apple TV models from the second 4K generation onward. At launch, however, it is only available in English and only in select countries like the US and UK. Siri AI will not be available on iPhone and iPad in the EU for the time being, and because the feature requires the household owner to have an AI-enabled iPhone on Apple TV, it remains unavailable there as well. Apple also announced that some server-based AI features will have daily limits and that extended access will require payment in the future.

Price and availability

In Germany, the Apple TV 4K costs €349. Pre-orders start today, and the new devices will be available in stores from November 13th.