Following a quick teaser tweet from Tim Cook’s account this morning, Apple on Tuesday announced an updated version of its Apple TV 4K set top box. The new model comes with the A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ support, a new Siri Remote with USB-C, and more.
The new unit looks almost identical to the previous version, despite only having an Apple logo on top without the word “tv.” The new changes are internal, as the 2021 model features the A12 Bionic chip. The new model is powered by the A15 Bionic, which is also found inside the iPhone 13.
The A15 chip’s CPU is up to 50 percent faster than the A12, while the new GPU is 30 percent faster. According to Apple, this results in better graphics performance for navigating through the tvOS interface and, more importantly, for playing graphics-intensive games.
Apple’s new device also offers support for the HDR10+ standard, which is supported by TVs from Samsung, Panasonic, and TCL. The unit also offers support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos when connected to a compatible TV or sound system.
Where the Siri Remote is concerned, the device was redesigned last year, the newest model offering a USB-C port instead of Lightning for charging. According to Apple, a tvOS 16 update coming later this year will bring a new interface for Siri on Apple TV, as well as some other new features.
The new Apple TV 4K is currently available for order from Apple’s online store, and will be available as a retail purchase on November 4. Prices start at $129 for the Wi-Fi model with 64GB of storage, and there is a new Wi-Fi + Ethernet model with 128GB of storage that retails for $149.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac, @tim_cook, and store.apple.com