It’s been more than a year since Apple unveiled a new version of its streaming player, but the company is widely expected to debut a new, upgraded version of the Apple TV 4K box this year. The question is when will it launch?
Apple typically hosts a few events every year — often around March, June, and September or October (and sometimes November), respectively. Last year, the tech giant unveiled its new MacBook lineup in January, hosted WWDC in June, and held its iPhone event in September. Apple generally launches most of its hardware towards the end of the year, but Bloomberg said the new Apple TV 4K is due to release in the first half of 2024.
While the new streaming player is expected to hit shelves this year, the specific date and price remains up in the air, and Apple is typically tight-lipped before any official announcement. In addition, rumors about what the device’s trappings and capabilities have been swirling for the last year.
Apple released its last streaming player in November 2022, which means it’s high time for a refresh.
The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K will sport a faster processor, sources told Bloomberg. It’s not clear whether the player will include the A16 Bionic chip from the iPhone 14 Pro devices or the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro models.
While no physical changes are expected, it’s possible the new streamer could be thinner. When the current Apple TV 4K released, the inclusion of the A15 Bionic chip allowed the device to be 12% thinner and 50% lighter than previous model.
The upcoming player may also finally integrate with Apple’s smart speaker and FaceTime camera.
Apple’s upcoming devices — including the new streaming player — aim to take on Google and Amazon’s smart home offerings. Despite a large ecosystem of products, Apple has historically lagged behind its competition in the smart home sector, largely because they’re priced at a premium.
Even with regular device updates, Bloomberg said that the tech company’s streaming players haven’t made a big splash in the market when compared to Amazon and Roku.
The current Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi-only version comes with 64GB of storage and costs $129. The Wi-Fi and Ethernet-supported version of the streaming player comes with 128GB of storage and costs $149.
Apple wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help.