A new model of Apple TV 4K has been announced, at tonight's Apple Spring Loaded event. The sixth-generation Apple TV hardware has finally been unveiled, with the event hosted by Apple CEO Tim Cook giving our first look at the streaming box, which comes with a revamped Siri remote as well as a new processor. and HDR capability. We had heard a lot of rumors about the new Apple TV hardware, the so-called Apple TV 6 or Apple TV 4K (2021), in recent months. It's been almost four years since the release of the Apple TV 4K (2017) and more than a year after the launch of the streaming platform Apple TV Plus, which means it's certainly time to move on. But what exactly was announced, what does it look like, and how much will it cost? This new Apple TV guide will tell you what we know so far, though we'll be updating this page live during the event, so refresh or check back for the latest info every few minutes.
Come to the point
- What is it? A new version of the Apple TV decoder
- When did it come out? May 2 (available to pre-order April 30)
- How much will it cost? € 179 32GB version / € 199 64GB version
Release date and price of the new Apple TV 4K (2021)
The Apple TV 4K (2021) will launch on May 2, with units available for pre-order starting on April 30. So there is nowhere you can order right now, but it will happen very soon. We've also confirmed the pricing of the Apple TV 4K, priced at €179 for the 32GB version and €199 for the 64GB version. Given Apple's usual pricing conventions, we'd expect this to translate to £179/£199 in the UK. The previous Apple TV 4K model released in 2017 had the same price of €179 / £179 / AU$249 for the 32GB version and €199 / £199 / AU$279 for 64GB.
Apple TV 4K (2021) Specifications and Features
Inevitably, the new Apple TV 4K (2021) comes with new guts after a four-year wait since the last version. The long-rumored upgrade to an A12 Bionic processor has been confirmed. This chip has been around for a few years now, but it's certainly going to offer an improvement in processing speeds, meaning everything from 4K upscaling to motion control has been improved, aided by the addition of full-frame HDR. . High images, explicitly to enhance sports and action movies. . Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio are here again, but both were already supported on the previous model. Other key iOS features like Apple AirPlay (for streaming from other iOS devices), Apple HomeKit (for smart home connectivity), and the Siri voice assistant naturally return here as well, as does audio sharing for connecting two sets of AirPods. One major change is the ability to "auto-customize the color balance" of your smart TV with your iPhone. If you have a compatible iPhone (we anticipate this will be limited to newer models), you can use it to measure the color output on your TV screen and then calibrate the Apple TV 4K video output. Calibrating picture settings is increasingly the focus of TV manufacturers, with features like Dolby Vision IQ or Intelligent Sensing to automatically adjust settings to suit your environment, or AI calibration that changes picture modes. image according to the type of content you are viewing. We'll have to see how well Apple's trick works, though, and it will almost certainly vary with success depending on your TV's capabilities, given that Apple won't guarantee the display itself.
Apple TV 4K Remote Control Changes (2021)
We took a good look at the new Siri Remote that will accompany the Apple TV 4K 2021. It's a neat little thing, with a “one-piece aluminum design” and the Siri button moved to the side. There's also a "five-way directional pad" that can also fast-reverse or fast-forward when used in a scrolling motion. This new remote also comes with TV controls, which means you can also use it to turn on your smart TV.
New Apple TV 4K (2021): rumors denied
One of the most interesting rumors we've read about the new Apple TV is that it could be a hybrid device that's both a smart display and streaming device in one, similar to an Amazon Echo Show but with an Apple built-in. 4K TV. . There was also talk of a camera for video conferencing, apparently taking a lesson from Portal TV's webcam for FaceTime, Messenger or Whatsapp video calls. However, we have a new, much simpler iteration of the Apple TV 4K, which means you shouldn't expect this anytime soon.New Apple TV 4K (2021): everything we expected
The Apple TV line has made solid progress over the past two generation revisions, but there's still room for improvement for a sixth-generation Apple TV. This new model seems to improve a lot of things, and you can take a look at our original wish list to see what Apple has deigned to bestow on us. A major performance improvement (confirmed) We expected a substantial performance improvement and we got it. Apple insider @choco_bit revealed on Twitter that the new Apple TV models will come with the Apple A12Z Bionic chip (currently powering the 2020 iPad Pro) and an improved version of the Apple A14 Bionic chip (currently powering the iPad Air 4). 2020) . The first part turned out to be true, with the A12 Bionic chip available in both 32GB and 64GB models, so while the Apple TV 4K didn't get Apple's latest chip, it's still a step up compared to the A10 seen on the show. last iteration. An Easier-to-Use Remote (Confirmed) The remote that comes with today's Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K really broke the mold when it launched in 2015. Unfortunately, breaking the mold doesn't always mean being easy to use. . We've heard that Apple may be revamping the Apple TV Remote to replace the Siri Remote we've seen since Apple TV HD launched in 2015, and that's what happened. An Enhanced Apple TV Plus Content Library (Confirmed) While Apple finally launched its streaming TV service, Apple TV Plus, in 2019, it still has a fairly paltry number of shows. A larger and more exclusive catalog of shows to attract viewers to the service would go a long way to making an Apple TV 4K device more tempting, especially since Apple services tend to work better on Apple products. We've heard about Ted Lasso Season 2, and it's clear that Apple expects the hardware and the streaming TV service to guide consumers towards each other.
