Apple has just announced a new Apple TV 4K. It arrives alongside HomeView and Smart Home Collection, as part of what Apple calls its most connected Apple Home launch yet.
The new box is built around Siri AI, a rebuilt version of Siri powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence. It also has a faster A19 chip and a new four-speaker surround sound option using HomePod. It can be pre-ordered today.
It also costs US$299 / £299. That’s twice the starting price of the 2022 model, which launched at US$149 / £149. So the obvious question is whether it’s worth it.
That’s what this guide is for. I’ve been through the specs and features for both boxes, comparing what’s new, what’s the same and what the old model might get anyway. By the end, you should know whether to upgrade, or which Apple TV to buy if you’re starting from scratch.
Ready? Let’s jump in…
Apple TV 4K 2026 vs Apple TV 4K 2022: what’s actually new
So, the big question is what’s actually new with the Apple TV 4K 2026 model?
The chip is the obvious place to start – the 2022 model uses the A15 Bionic, while the new one has the A19.
Apple says CPU performance is up to 50-percent faster than the previous generation. GPU performance is up to 2x faster. There’s also a new dedicated AV1 decoder for more efficient streaming.
In day-to-day use, I’m not sure you’ll notice much. The 2022 box was already quick at navigating menus. The GPU jump matters more if you play Apple Arcade games on the big screen.
The headline feature is Siri AI. It’s a rebuilt Siri powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence. On Apple TV, it gets a full-screen interface and can answer questions mid-show without taking over the picture.
The new box also has three far-field microphones. You can talk to it without picking up the remote. The 2022 model had no such option, so you need the remote or AirPods.
The Siri Remote gets a smaller upgrade. The design stays the same, but it now supports Find My with Precision Finding. It can play a sound too.
The one new feature that could tempt me is that the new Apple TV 4K supports a four-speaker surround setup using HomePod Mini 2. You can also use HomePod (2nd generation), as long as the front and rear pairs match.
It’s a pretty expensive route to surround sound (as each HomePod Mini 2 is $149/£149), so I’d want to hear it before recommending it.
The 2022 release features Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital surround, but you’ll need a slightly more complex home theatre system for that.
Apple TV 4K 2026 vs Apple TV 4K 2022: what hasn’t changed
There’s no new design, although eagle eyed readers will notice the LED has moved from the right-hand side to the centre.
Most of the basics look much the same – the 2022 model already had HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, plus Thread on the Wi-Fi + Ethernet version. The new box has Thread built in.
Two long-running complaints also remain: there’s still no audio passthrough, a feature many users have been asking for, and the new box still only supports 4K at up to 60Hz.
It’s still a smart home hub, and it adds Apple Intelligence camera descriptions and summarised notifications in the Home app.
Apple has also said Siri AI is coming as a beta to Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later. That includes the 2022 box.
Obviously, you won’t get the far-field microphones, so you’ll need to use the microphone remote, but you will get the new Siri.
Apple TV 4K 2026 vs Apple TV 4K 2022: spec comparison
Scroll to see more →
| Specifications | Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A15 Bionic | A19 |
| Performance | Up to 50% faster CPU than 2021 | Up to 50% faster CPU, up to 2x faster GPU than previous generation |
| Siri | Siri (upgrade to Siri AI soon) | Siri AI |
| Hands-free | No | Three built-in far-field microphones |
| Remote | USB-C, clickpad | USB-C, clickpad, Find My with Precision Finding |
| Surround Sound | Dolby Atmos, Digital 7.1 and 5.1 | Dolby Atmos, Digital 7.1 and 5.1, Four-speaker HomePod surround |
| Storage | 64GB or 128GB | TBD |
| Starting price | US$149 / £149 | US$299 / £299 |
So, should you upgrade?
If you have a 2022 Apple TV 4K, probably not. It’s still fast, still supports the formats that matter, and may get Siri AI anyway.
Upgrade if you want hands-free Siri, or if the four-speaker HomePod setup appeals. Those are the two things the old box can’t do.
If you’re on an older Apple TV HD, the case is stronger. You’ll notice the speed, the increased resolution and the smarter Siri. Whether that’s worth US$299 / £299 is your call, but at least the jump will be a noticeable one.
My view is that Apple has built a better box, but not a better-value one. The price hike is steep, and the upgrade is more about Siri than the hardware.
Liked this? I love my Apple TV, but here are 299 reasons why I won’t be buying the new Apple TV 4K
