Apple has introduced the Apple TV 4K (fourth generation), a new streaming box that adds onboard microphones and a faster processor. The device arrives in November at $299, a price that places it above every other premium streaming box on the market. Apple announced the product as an update to its set-top line, with preorders open now at the company's website and availability in stores on Nov. 13.
The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K runs on an updated A19 chip. Apple says the processor is 50% faster than the existing A15 and delivers twice the graphics performance. The box carries 128GB of storage, matching the previous flagship. It also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus.
For voice control, the new Apple TV 4K includes three onboard far-field microphones built for conversing with Siri AI. The package includes a remote that looks familiar and keeps a traditional microphone button. The remote also offers Find My with Precision Finding, which is intended to help locate it if it is lost behind couch cushions. Owners can pair the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K with the new HomePod Mini 2 to build a four-speaker surround system.
The $299 price stands out against the competition. The Apple TV 4K costs $200 more than the Roku Ultra and the seemingly discontinued Google TV. The outgoing Apple TV 4K (2022) recently saw a price increase of its own, with the entry-level model rising from $129 to $199. Apple attributed that increase to an electronics shortage referred to as RAMageddon.
Apple's new box is likely to be capable, particularly for gaming. The outgoing TV 4K handled streaming games through Steam Link and Xbox Remote Play well, and the new hardware should improve on that. For households that mainly want to watch television, a $50 streamer from Amazon or Roku should do just fine.
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