Apple has introduced its fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, bringing powerful hardware upgrades, deep home theater integration, and a hefty $300 price tag. Available starting tomorrow, the premium streaming box costs double and in some cases quadruple the price of competing hardware options on the market. Reviewers note that while the device offers an exceptionally fast interface, top-tier privacy policies, and minimal ad intrusion compared to rivals, its steep cost and inconsistent software features may give casual buyers pause.
Externally, the fourth-gen streaming box matches the size, finish, port layout, and HDR support of the 2022 model, handling both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Internal improvements are significant, led by the A19 chip first seen in the iPhone 17. The storage capacity is now standardized at 128GB by default, eliminating the lower-cost 64GB tier previously offered. The aluminum remote keeps its familiar shape, USB-C charging, touch-sensitive clickpad, and side-mounted voice button, but adds the Find My feature so users can track it via app or sound ping.
Key takeaways
- The fourth-gen Apple TV 4K is priced at $299 and launches tomorrow.
- Hardware updates include the A19 chip and 128GB of default storage.
- The aluminum remote now features built-in Find My tracking.
- Users can pair up to four HomePod or HomePod mini speakers for surround sound.
Home theater surround sound with four HomePods
A flagship addition to this generation is the ability to network four HomePods together for a home theater surround system. Users can configure a setup using four second-generation HomePods, four HomePod mini 2 speakers, or a paired combination of the two, provided the front pair and back pair match. Calibration is managed through the Apple Home app, utilizing test tones and visual color ripples on the screen to confirm speaker positioning. The resulting multi-speaker setup delivers deep bass response and clear phantom center channel dialogue, though true overhead Dolby Atmos effects remain somewhat limited.
The system connects seamlessly with the Apple TV 4K when all speakers belong to the same Apple Home and are set up by the primary user. During testing, the front HomePods created a convincing phantom center channel for dialogue, while the rear surrounds effectively mapped spatial audio cues for fast-paced action scenes. However, while horizontal spatial placement excels, vertical Dolby Atmos immersion does not fully form an enveloping overhead canopy for movie soundtracks or music mixes.
Siri AI performance and far-field microphones
Siri AI integration arrives with the fourth-gen device and is also rolling out to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models via tvOS 27.2. Leveraging personal context from iPhones or iPads on the same Wi-Fi network, the updated Siri can search text messages for specific media recommendations or answer detailed queries. Far-field microphones built directly into the box allow users to speak hands-free by saying 'Hey Siri' without relying solely on the remote control.
Despite promising capabilities, testers found that voice recognition and personalized responses could be inconsistent across different prompts and topic switches. While the system occasionally retrieved correct details from past text message recommendations or launched requested films instantly, it also struggled with voice context retention and misinterpreted live media requests. These quirks indicate that the newly integrated AI features still require refinement to become reliably seamless in daily living room use.
Comments