The 2026 Apple TV 4K (4th generation) introduces the A19 chip and 8GB of RAM, a notable architecture upgrade from the previous A15 Bionic and 4GB.
The device supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Gigabit Ethernet, while enabling 4K playback with HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos.
The review highlights rapid system performance and the utility of the tvOS interface, which remains ad-free.
This update represents a significant hardware shift for Apple’s living room strategy.
The review praises the speed of menu navigation and video playback. The home screen is ad-free, while tvOS supports services such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Disney+, Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube. The device plays 4K video, supports advanced image formats such as Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, as well as Dolby Atmos audio.
Inside, it has the A19 processor, the same one used in the iPhone 17, and 8GB of memory. The previous model had an A15 Bionic processor and 4GB of memory. The new device also supports newer wireless connectivity, wired network connectivity, and Bluetooth.
Siri can respond without you holding the remote. In testing, it responded quickly, even to complex commands. The Apple TV 4K can also control compatible smart devices through the Apple Home app and act as a control center for devices that support Matter and HomeKit.
You can connect four second-generation HomePods or HomePod mini 2s to play audio from four locations. With the HomePod mini 2, the setup offers four-channel audio, while the larger HomePods add effects that make it feel like the sound is coming from above. Greenwald hadn't finished testing this feature.
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Your iPhone or iPad can be used as a camera for FaceTime and other video calls on your TV. This feature works through Continuity Camera.
The remote hasn't changed on the outside. The touchpad seemed too sensitive to the reviewer, who turned it off. With an iPhone 17 or later, iPhone Air, or iPhone Duo, you can locate it when it's about 60 feet away. The Find My app can also make the remote play.
The Apple TV 4K supports games played with a wireless controller, Apple Arcade games, and PC games via Steam Link. However, according to the review, it is not a replacement for a console.
For a lower price, the review cites the Roku Ultra at $149,99, the Amazon Fire TV Cube at $199,99, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus at $69,99, and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at $59,99 as alternatives.
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