Apple launches new TV 4K with four-speaker HomePod surround

Apple has introduced a new generation of its TV streaming box. The Apple TV 4K (4th generation) uses an A19 processor and costs US$299. Preorders are open in the US and 29 other countries and regions, with retail availability beginning on 13 November 2026.

The box supports four-speaker surround with HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers arranged in matching front and rear pairs, running the latest operating system software. The setup automatically calibrates audio timing and levels to the speakers’ positions in the room.

A full-screen, conversational Siri AI interface powered by Apple Intelligence is available as a beta feature in tvOS 27.2. It requires the home owner designated in the Home app to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with Siri AI enabled in a supported language. Three far-field microphones provide hands-free Siri control, while echo cancellation isolates voice requests during audio playback. Siri requests can use on-device processing or Private Cloud Compute, and microphone data is processed in protected Secure Exclaves runtimes separated from the rest of the system.

Apple rates CPU performance at up to 50 percent faster than the previous generation, with up to twice the GPU performance. The box includes a dedicated AV1 decoder and comes in a single 128GB storage configuration. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 through Apple’s N1 wireless chip, Bluetooth 6, a rear HDMI 2.1 port and Gigabit Ethernet.

Built-in Thread connectivity accompanies the box’s role as a smart-home hub. It supports Apple Intelligence-generated descriptions of HomeKit Secure Video recordings when configured with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad and an eligible iCloud+ plan. Siri AI launches in English in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Beta access also extends to Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onwards.