Apple TV 4K Apple TV 4K (4th generation, A19)

Which Apple TV 4K is current

Apple announced the 4th-generation Apple TV 4K on October 13, 2026. It costs $299 in the U.S., preorders opened that day, and availability starts November 13 in the U.S. and 29 other countries and regions. Apple's technical specifications page lists the 4th generation. It replaces the 3rd-generation model Apple introduced in October 2022 with an A15 Bionic chip, a $129 starting price and availability from November 4, 2022, in two versions: 64 GB (Wi-Fi) and 128 GB (Wi-Fi plus Ethernet and Thread). As of late October 2026 the new box can be pre-ordered but has not shipped, so every unit in use today is an earlier generation.

What the 4th generation changes

The A19 chip delivers up to 50 percent faster CPU performance and up to 2x faster GPU performance than the previous generation, and it adds a dedicated AV1 hardware decoder. Audio Advice lists the other hardware changes: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri, a new Siri Remote with Find My Precision Finding, and a single 128 GB configuration with Gigabit Ethernet. The case is 3.67 in square and 1.22 in tall and weighs 217 g (7.6 oz). The 2022 model claimed up to 50 percent faster CPU and up to 30 percent faster GPU than the generation before it, and it was the version that added HDR10+ beside Dolby Vision.

Connectivity and setup

Apple's spec sheet lists Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 6, Thread networking and one HDMI 2.1 port, with a built-in power supply rated for 100 V to 240 V AC at 50 Hz to 60 Hz. The remote charges over USB-C and carries both an IR transmitter and the Bluetooth link. Apple rates operating temperature at 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C), which matters for a box that lives in a closed AV cabinet next to a receiver. A wired Ethernet link is the sensible default for 4K streaming because Wi-Fi 7 helps only if the router supports it too; see 4K streaming devices.

Video formats and the 60 fps ceiling

Apple lists standard SDR and HDR video up to 2160p at 60 fps, Dolby Vision (Profiles 8.1 and 5), HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, plus AV1, VP9, HEVC and AVC decoding. It also lists HDMI Quick Media Switching (QMS), which HDMI.org describes as smoothly switching between frame rates, and support for 21:9 and other cinematic aspect ratios on compatible projectors and displays. The port is labeled HDMI 2.1, but Apple's stated output remains 4K/60, not 4K/120, so it will not act as a 120 Hz gaming source (Audio Advice). HDMI.org says support for each HDMI 2.1 feature is optional, which is why an HDMI 2.1 label alone says nothing about 120 Hz; see fixed rate link. For the formats, see Dolby Vision Profile 8.1 and AV1.

Audio: Atmos, and what it does not pass

Apple's audio list covers AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1), E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1) and Dolby Atmos. Audio Advice notes that streaming Atmos commonly travels with Dolby Digital Plus, and Netflix has said 768 kbps is the point past which extra Atmos quality is imperceptible (Engadget); see DD+ JOC. Apple's support page describes the output settings: Stereo sends uncompressed 2-channel PCM, Dolby Digital 5.1 re-encodes to compressed 5.1, Dolby Atmos can be turned on or off, and Continuous Audio keeps a Dolby MAT connection open so format changes do not drop the signal. With Continuous Audio on, older receivers might show an Atmos indicator while the original audio still plays as intended. See Dolby MAT.

The gap is lossless bitstreams. Audio Advice says Apple has not announced native bitstream passthrough for Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio or DTS on the 4th generation, while NVIDIA's published specifications for the Shield TV Pro list TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS passthrough. For mainstream streaming apps that may not matter. For a Plex, Infuse or ripped-Blu-ray library it can. Compare bitstream vs PCM, and see eARC for the HDMI path to a receiver.

HomePod surround and remote control

The 4th generation adds a four-speaker surround mode with HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation), as long as the front and rear pairs match. Apple says the four speakers recognize their position in the room, so audio timing and levels are calibrated automatically. Apple's spec sheet also says the box can control a TV or receiver via IR or CEC; see HDMI-CEC brand names for what each TV maker calls the setting.

Should a 2022 owner upgrade?

Audio Advice's point is that owning a 2022 box does not mean missing the headline features. Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos streaming, Quick Media Switching and many Home hub functions are already on older hardware, Hi-Res Lossless Apple Music works on the 3rd generation and later, and Siri AI is a beta on the 2nd generation and later. What is new is AV1 decoding, the microphones, the four-HomePod mode and Wi-Fi 7. At $299 the new box costs 2.3 times the 2022 launch price of $129. For picture and sound the display, the cable and the receiver matter more than the streamer; see the streaming device guide, the HDMI cable guide and the Atmos setup guide.