The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is right here, full with Siri AI enhancements and Discover My on the Siri Distant. Here is how a lot distinction 4 years makes over the earlier mannequin.
Earlier than the October 13 replace, Apple’s final change to the Apple TV 4K befell in October 2022. Again then, the massive information was a storage improve.
4 years later, and the fourth-generation mannequin is a spec-bump replace that does extra than simply storage. It is a part of a giant sensible house push by Apple, with modifications starting from enhancements to how you utilize Siri to the way it handles encompass sound audio.
We do not normally anticipate many modifications within the Apple TV 4K, with it normally falling sufferer to the spec-bump replace cycle. With such an extended hole between updates, it was sure that Apple would make some worthwhile modifications past a chip replace.
Fortunately, that occurred.
What follows is a comparability between the brand new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K and the earlier third-generation Apple TV 4K.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Specs
| Specs | Apple TV 4K (Gen 4, 2026) | Apple TV 4K (Gen 3, 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Worth (beginning) | $299.00 | $129.00 (launch) |
| Dimensions (inches) | 3.67 x 3.67 x 1.2 | 3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 |
| Weight (ounces) | 7.6 | 7.3 |
| Processor | A19 | A15 Bionic |
| Storage | 128GB | 64GB 128GB |
| Connectivity | HDMI 2.1 WiFi 7 with MIMO Bluetooth 6 Thread IR Receiver Ethernet |
HDMI 2.1 WiFi 6 with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 Thread IR Receiver Ethernet (one mannequin) |
| Video | SDR HDR10+ Dolby Imaginative and prescient |
SDR HDR10+ Dolby Imaginative and prescient |
| Audio | AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Dolby Atmos | AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Dolby Atmos |
| Siri Distant | Bluetooth 6.0 IR transmitter USB-C Discover My with Precision Discovering |
Bluetooth 5.0 IR transmitter USB-C |
| Ports | HDMI Gigabit Ethernet |
HDMI Gigabit Ethernet |
| AirPlay | Sure | Sure |
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Design, Weight, Dimension
The 2022 Apple TV 4K was a rounded sq., resembling an oblong hockey puck close to your TV. As standard for Apple’s spec-bump updates, the looks hasn’t modified in any respect.
That features the scale. The outdated mannequin was 3.66 inches sq. and 1.2 inches tall. The brand new one is successfully similar.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: The design hasn’t actually modified externally.
There is a little more weight to the brand new mannequin, nevertheless, at 7.6 ounces, it is a 0.3-ounce weight acquire over the 7.3-ounce predecessor.
That stated, for a tool destined to take a seat in the lounge and never transfer, that is not important.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Processor and Efficiency
A staple of the spec-bump replace is a change of chip, and there is definitely one right here. The outdated mannequin used an A15 Bionic chip, first launched within the iPhone 13 line.
The brand new version switches it as much as the A19, final launched within the iPhone 17. Apple claims that the chip, full with Safe Enclave, is roughly 50% higher in CPU efficiency and as much as twice as quick in GPU efficiency over the A15 Bionic.
If we have a look at the comparative smartphones in Geekbench, we will see this distinction a bit clearer.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: The brand new mannequin will likely be higher for gaming.
The one-core outcomes for the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic put it at 1,955, versus 2,998 for the iPhone 17’s A19. Likewise, the 4,965 multi-core rating of the A15 Bionic is way behind the 8,287 of the A19.
The Metallic benchmark, used for GPU efficiency, can be fairly totally different. At 35,327, the iPhone 17’s Metallic rating is greater than double that of the 14,574 seen within the iPhone 13.
Whereas these are iPhone outcomes for the relative chips, it does reveal that the Apple TV 4K counterparts have an identical efficiency disparity. Gaming will inevitably be higher on the newer mannequin.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Siri
The actual good thing about the A19 chip is not actually efficiency, however Siri AI help. Apple’s massive push ahead on AI has occurred in every single place else within the ecosystem, with house units lagging behind till now.
Certain, outdated Siri on the third-gen Apple TV answered queries, however by no means actually did in order that nicely. That is not an issue anymore.
The brand new Apple TV 4K now takes benefit of Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, which implies it has all the bells and whistles of the iPhone model. That features issues like a wider data graph of the world and contextual consciousness.
Not solely are you able to ask issues like which Apple TV reveals received awards lately, however you will see their posters and might ask follow-up queries too. There are additionally Amazon X-ray-style queries out there too, resembling “The place was this present filmed?”
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Siri AI in motion
After which there’s private context, which implies it will probably reap the benefits of knowledge factors it is aware of about you and your knowledge from different Apple units that Siri AI has analyzed. There stands likelihood that you will get a good reply to questions like “What was that present Aunt Mildred talked about final week?” after which find yourself watching the end result.
Linked to this can be a little bit of a {hardware} change for the Apple TV. Whereas beforehand you needed to discuss via the distant management, that is totally optionally available now.
A trio of far-field microphones with echo cancellation are actually listening to the room, similar to a HomePod or HomePod mini. Now you can utter “Hey Siri” with out gripping the management to start out a question via your Apple TV.
To be frank, this could possibly be nice for individuals who do not already personal a HomePod. It is a related function, however pushed via your tv.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Taking part in Content material
In relation to viewing content material via the Apple TV 4K, there’s probably not a lot distinction from the earlier model, a minimum of visually.
There’s help for 4K 60FPS HDR10+ content material on each fashions, in addition to Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HLG help. HDMI Fast Media Switching (QMS) continues to be there, utilizing the HDMI 2.1 port.
This time round, Apple does embody a devoted AV1 decoder, constructed into the A19, which can assist with viewing some content material on-line.
The checklist of supported audio codecs can be unchanged, with each able to dealing with AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plys 7.1 Encompass Sound, and Dolby Atmos.
Picture help can be there, with HEIF, JPEG, GIF, and TIFF usable on each generations.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Siri AI in motion
The massive viewing social gathering trick for 2026 is the brand new Encompass Sound function when used with 4 HomePod audio system. Positioned across the corners of the room, the HomePod and HomePod mini pairs can work collectively, routinely calibrating the audio for a cinematic expertise.
This solely works with the second-generation HomePod and the brand new HomePod mini 2.
Sure, you would output audio to a pair of HomePods utilizing AirPlay earlier than, however definitely not in an routinely configured encompass setup like this.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Storage and Connectivity
The third-gen Apple TV 4K was offered in two configurations. One was a Wi-Fi-only mannequin with 64GB of storage, whereas the opposite added in gigabit Ethernet and bumped storage to 128GB.
For the fourth-gen mannequin, Apple’s determined to stay with the Ethernet-enabled variant and its 128GB capability. You’ll be able to’t get a Wi-Fi-only mannequin anymore.
Connectivity has improved a bit through the years, although you are still going to be plugging into an HDMI 2.1 port.
Wi-Fi has grown from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7, with Ethernet nonetheless gigabit, although there is no actual must go greater proper now.
Bluetooth can be up, going from 5.0 within the Gen 3 to Bluetooth 6 in Gen 4. An IR receiver and Thread help persist via each fashions.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Siri Distant
The Siri Distant within the third-gen mannequin was fairly good, with the up to date design being slightly greater than its predecessor. It additionally had a silver aluminum end, and eventually shifted from Lightning in favor of USB-C for charging.
There are nonetheless some refined modifications within the new Siri Distant for the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K, regardless of it trying fairly similar to the earlier mannequin.
First, whereas there’s nonetheless an IR transmitter and USB-C, the Bluetooth connectivity has been upgraded. It is gone from 5.0 to six, like the principle field.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Discover My will assist you to discover the brand new Siri Distant.
The opposite is that it now has Discover My help with Precision Discovering and an added speaker. Not will TV viewers be pissed off by dropping the distant, as they will now know which route within the room they should look by checking their iPhone and listening for the chirp.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Pricing
The third-gen Apple TV 4K launched again in 2022 with two costs. The Wi-Fi-only 64GB mannequin value simply $129 at launch, with the 128GB Ethernet mannequin at $149.
Nevertheless, in June, the costs have been bumped as much as $199 and $249, respectively, due to the continued reminiscence disaster.
The brand new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is being offered in a single single configuration, priced at $299.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: Welcome change, unwelcome value
The brand new Apple TV 4K is in a bizarre place. There’s lots of good to it, but in addition one fairly painful aspect.
As a spec-bump replace after a four-year wait, it has what we anticipate. Higher efficiency, lots of Siri enhancements, and neat tips just like the HomePod encompass sound function.
The massive factor about it’s Siri AI, or extra these exterior microphones that weren’t on the earlier mannequin. With the brand new model, it is virtually justifiable to not purchase a HomePod or HomePod mini to go along with it in order for you the higher Siri performance alone.
In fact, there’s the potential to shell out nigh $600 for 4 HomePod mini 2 models to get the encompass sound going.
The one actual downside is the value, which is definitely a difficulty.
Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3: The brand new mannequin is healthier, but in addition pretty costly.
The tech trade as a complete suffers from the identical downside. The tougher-to-stomach half is that it is $50 greater than the earlier mannequin’s equal, which itself was $100 greater than its preliminary launch value.
It is onerous to not really feel for individuals who purchased the third-gen mannequin in the previous couple of months of sale, who could also be kicking themselves. If they’d waited and spent $50 extra, they’d have a more recent and extra future-proofed set-top field.
Because it stands, it is very onerous to justify telling anybody to improve their Apple TV 4K from the third era to the fourth. It is even onerous to say that in regards to the second-generation customers, too.
If the value have been nearer to $200, it would be simpler to speak about that.
The place to purchase the Apple TV 4K 4th Gen and Apple TV 4K third Gen
The Apple TV 4K 4th Era retails for $299, with Apple Premier Associate Expercom anticipated to hold the brand new set-top field. Simply examine availability and presents in our Apple TV 4K Worth Information.
Adorama has restricted Apple TV 4K third Era stock out there, whereas eBay has a wide range of pre-owned choices on the market.
