Apple TV 4K (2026) vs Apple TV 4K (2022): Is the $299 Upgrade Worth It?
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022). The 2026 model keeps the same 93 mm square body. Photo: Dillan Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K today, October 13, 2026. It is the first new Apple TV box in four years. The 4th-generation model runs on an A19 chip, adds far-field microphones for hands-free Siri, and ships with a Siri Remote you can locate with Find My. It costs $299 in one configuration, with pre-orders open now and in-store availability on November 13, per Apple’s announcement.
The model it replaces is the 2022 Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), on the A15 Bionic. That box launched at $129 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and $149 for the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model. Apple raised those prices to $199 and $249 in June, citing RAM and storage costs, according to Stuff. Apple’s store now lists only the new model.
So the real question is not which box is better. The new one is better. The question is whether it is $299 better than a 2022 box you already own, or one you can still find for less.
The short answer
- Keep your 2022 Apple TV 4K. Siri AI is coming to it in beta, it already plays Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos, and the new Siri Remote is sold separately for $59.
- Buy the 2026 Apple TV 4K if you are coming from an Apple TV HD or a 2017 or 2021 Apple TV 4K, or if you want hands-free Siri, four-HomePod surround, or AV1 streaming.
- Buy a used 2022 Apple TV 4K if you want an Apple TV for streaming and nothing else. The 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model is the one to look for. It is getting hard to find new.
Specs side by side
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (2026, 4th gen) | Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | Launched at $129 / $149, raised to $199 / $249 in June 2026, no longer sold by Apple |
| Chip | A19 | A15 Bionic |
| Apple’s performance claim | Up to 50% faster CPU, up to 2x faster GPU than the previous generation | — |
| Storage | 128GB | 64GB (Wi-Fi) or 128GB (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2x2 MIMO | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2x2 MIMO |
| Ethernet | Gigabit | Gigabit, 128GB model only |
| Thread | Yes | 128GB model only |
| Bluetooth | 6 | 5.0 |
| HDMI | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| AV1 | Yes, dedicated decoder | Not listed |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Microphones on the box | Three far-field mics | None (Siri through the remote) |
| HomePod surround | Up to four speakers (front and rear pairs) | Stereo pair |
| Siri Remote | 4th gen: Find My with Precision Finding, built-in speaker, USB-C | 3rd gen: USB-C |
| Size | 93.24 × 93.24 × 31 mm | 93 × 93 × 31 mm |
| Weight | 217 g | 208 g (Wi-Fi) / 214 g (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) |
Specs come from Apple’s new Apple TV 4K spec page and its 2022 Apple TV 4K tech specs.
What actually changed
A19 chip and Siri AI
The A19 is a big jump from the A15. Apple claims up to 50% faster CPU and up to twice the graphics performance. MacRumors expects 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB, though Apple has not confirmed that.
The headline feature is Siri AI, the new Apple Intelligence version of Siri, with a full-screen interface on the TV. It is not exclusive to the new box. Apple says Siri AI is available in beta on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later, with tvOS 27.2. It needs an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone or iPad in the home, and at launch it is English-only in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. Apple also says some server-side features have daily limits and that expanded access will cost a fee later.
Where the extra chip speed matters is games from Apple Arcade and the App Store, and how Siri AI runs once it leaves beta. For Netflix, Disney+ and the Apple TV app, the A15 was never the bottleneck.
Hands-free Siri
The 2026 box has three far-field microphones with echo cancellation, so you can say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” across the room, even while something is playing. On the 2022 box, you hold the Siri button on the remote. This is the biggest day-to-day difference for anyone who talks to their TV. Apple says far-field support depends on the tvOS language, with English, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian and Swedish supported.
AV1, Wi-Fi 7 and Thread
The new model adds a dedicated AV1 decoder. Apple pitches it as high-quality streaming with less bandwidth. AV1 is the codec YouTube and Netflix lean on. The 2022 spec sheet does not list AV1.
Wi-Fi 7 replaces Wi-Fi 6. A 4K Dolby Vision stream does not come close to the limit of either, so this matters mostly if your router is already Wi-Fi 7 and the TV is far from it. If you can run a cable, both boxes have Gigabit Ethernet. On the 2022 box, that is only the 128GB model.
Thread is now on the only model. On the 2022 line, the 64GB Wi-Fi box left it out. If the Apple TV is your home hub for Thread and Matter accessories, the 64GB 2022 model is the one to avoid.
Four-speaker HomePod surround
The 2026 Apple TV 4K can drive four HomePods as surround sound: a front pair and a rear pair, using HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation). Pairs have to match, and the Apple TV calibrates timing and levels for where they sit. Apple lists this for the 4th-generation Apple TV 4K only. If you have a soundbar or AV receiver, this does not matter.
The new Siri Remote
The 4th-generation Siri Remote looks the same and still charges over USB-C. It adds Find My with Precision Finding and a speaker, so you can make it play a sound from the couch cushions. Precision Finding needs an iPhone 17 or later (not the 17e), iPhone Air or iPhone Duo.
Apple sells the new remote on its own for $59, and 9to5Mac reports it works with every Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD. If a lost remote is your main complaint with the 2022 box, that is a $59 fix, not a $299 one.
What did not change
Same 93 mm square body, same HDMI 2.1 port, same Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos support, same built-in power supply. The only outside change is a centered status light. The picture and sound from Netflix, Disney+, Max or Apple TV+ will not be meaningfully different between the two. Both boxes output 4K at up to 60 fps.
Is the new Apple TV 4K worth the upgrade?
From a 2022 Apple TV 4K: no, for most people. You get Siri AI in beta on the box you have. Your streaming picture and sound stay the same. The new remote is available for $59. The upgrade buys you hands-free Siri, AV1, four-HomePod surround and a faster chip for games. That is $299 for features most people will use rarely.
From a 2021 Apple TV 4K (2nd generation): maybe. It also gets Siri AI in beta, but it is on an A12 chip and Wi-Fi 6. If it feels slow, the new model is a real step up.
From an Apple TV HD or the 2017 Apple TV 4K: yes. Neither gets Siri AI, and the HD does not output 4K at all. The jump to the A19 is large.
New to Apple TV: it depends on the price of the old one. The new model at $299 includes 128GB, Ethernet and Thread, which the 2022 line charged $249 for after June. If you can find a 2022 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model for well under that, used or on clearance, it does everything most people need from a streaming box.
Finding the 2022 Apple TV 4K
Apple no longer sells the 2022 model, and new stock is drying up at retailers. Amazon’s listings for both configurations show limited availability. Used and open-box units on eBay are the most reliable place to find one now.
What to look for:
- Model: Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), 2022. The model numbers are A2737 (64GB Wi-Fi) and A2843 (128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet).
- Remote: Make sure the silver Siri Remote with a USB-C port is in the box. The 2021 model is a taller box with a Lightning remote, and it does not have the A15.
- Configuration: Pick the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model if you want a wired connection or a Thread hub.
Amazon also has listings for the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model and the 64GB Wi-Fi model, though stock comes and goes.
Apple TV 4K FAQ
Is the 2026 Apple TV 4K a new design?
No. It keeps the same 93 mm square body. The status light is now centered, and the remote looks the same.
Does my old Apple TV get Siri AI?
Yes, if it is an Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021) or later. Apple says Siri AI is in beta on those models with tvOS 27.2. It needs an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone or iPad in the home.
Can I buy the new Siri Remote for my old Apple TV?
Yes. Apple sells it separately for $59, and it works with Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models.
Why is the new Apple TV $299?
Apple sells it in one configuration, with 128GB, Gigabit Ethernet and Thread. Apple raised the old model’s prices in June, citing RAM and storage costs, so the starting price went from $129 to $299 this year.
Does the new Apple TV support 8K or 120Hz?
Apple lists HDMI 2.1 with up to 4K at 60 fps HDR. There is no 8K output.
When does the new Apple TV 4K ship?
Pre-orders opened October 13, 2026. It arrives in stores November 13.
Verdict
The 2026 Apple TV 4K is the best streaming box Apple has made, and it costs more than twice what the 2022 model did at launch. The picture and sound are the same. The A19, hands-free Siri, AV1, Wi-Fi 7 and four-HomePod surround are real improvements, but they are not the reason most people buy an Apple TV.
If you own a 2022 Apple TV 4K, keep it, and pick up the $59 Siri Remote from Apple if Find My is what you want. If you are on an Apple TV HD or a 2017 box, the new Apple TV 4K is worth it. If you just need a box for streaming, a used 2022 128GB model does nearly all of it for less while you can still find one.
Where to Buy
Where to buy
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