Last month we reported in a tweet from Ming-Chi Kuo that a new Apple TV is coming in the second half of this year. Now, a reference to “SiriRemote4” in the iOS 16 beta code (found by aaronp613 On Twitter) giving some weight to this claim.
Originally, many harmful Siri remotes were called “SiriRemote” in iOS code and updated versions with a white ring around the “SiriRemote2” menu button. The brand new Siri Remote currently shipped with Apple TV (and much more usable) is referred to as “SiriRemote3”. So this “SiriRemote4” will be the new hardware, although it is entirely possible that it will not Look Or Law Different from the current model.
In May, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that the updated Apple TV was supposed to have an “improved cost structure.” This simply means that Apple should have a lower cost to produce, which means we can expect the company to sell it at a lower price. Our biggest complaint about Apple TV hardware is, after all, that it costs a lot more than competing devices.
What do we want from a new Apple TV?
We’ve used lots of streaming boxes and smart TVs here at McWorld, and Apple TV remains our favorite way to enjoy streaming services. It is much more expensive than competing devices, so its reach is limited. 4K Apple TV with 32GB storage costs $ 179 (not like buying Apple TV HD) By comparison, the top-of-the-line Roku is available at $ 99.99 and is often priced lower, and the Fire TV tops at $ 69.
In addition to a steep price reduction, it would be nice if Apple TV supported HDMI 2.1. This is not often required for streaming services (which does not exceed the 4K 60Hz limit of HDMI 2.0) but it is only a matter of time before some 8K content is streamed, and features like 120Hz output and variable refresh rate for gaming and other apps. One needs HDMI 2.1 for this.
Also, it will be really effective if Siri Remote Find My is supported, so you can detect it more easily with your iPhone if it falls under the sofa cushion or under the side table.
The latest discovery of a “SiriRemote4” doesn’t tell us if any of these items have a card, but they’re at the top of our list for a new Apple TV device this fall, which is likely to be even more so.