Apple’s fourth-generation Apple TV 4K went on sale Friday for $299. If you already have the 2021 or 2022 Apple TV 4K, you can try the main software addition, Siri AI, on the box you own. Apple released tvOS 27.2.1 for those models on Nov. 13. The new hardware adds microphones for speaking across the room and support for four HomePod speakers in a surround setup.
Apple sells one 2026 configuration, with 128 GB of storage. The 2022 generation debuted at $129 for 64 GB and Wi-Fi, while the 128 GB version with Ethernet and Thread launched at $149. That puts the new model $150 above the original price of the closest 2022 configuration. The $149 comparison uses the older box’s launch price, since retailer prices for remaining stock can vary.
Try Siri AI on the box you have
The 2021 and 2022 Apple TV 4K models are the second and third generations. You can identify your model from the number under Settings, General, About. Then go to Settings, System, Software Updates to check for the latest tvOS release. Apple lists the Siri AI beta in English in the United States and says the owner of the Apple Home needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, current software and Siri AI turned on in a supported language. Requests that draw on personal information have an additional requirement for a paired compatible device.
Apple says the assistant can take follow-up questions about what’s playing and look for programs using a description. Test it with the apps you use before spending $299. In MacRumors’ hands-on review, the assistant answered follow-ups inconsistently. The fourth-generation box has three built-in microphones so you can address Siri without reaching for the remote. On the earlier boxes, the Siri button on the remote remains the way to speak directly to the device.
A $59 option if the remote is the problem
Apple sells the fourth-generation Siri Remote separately for $59. Apple lists it as compatible with Apple TV HD and all Apple TV 4K generations. The newest remote can play a sound to help you find it, and supported iPhones can show its distance and direction through Precision Finding. Apple lists iPhone Duo, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 or later, excluding iPhone 17e, for that feature with current software. Earlier Siri Remotes from the second generation onward already support a nearby search from an iPhone. Buying the new remote separately costs $240 less than replacing the streaming box.
Four speakers put the total at $895
The four-speaker setup requires the 2026 box and compatible HomePods in matching front and rear pairs. Four HomePod mini 2 speakers at $149 each add $596, for a total of $895 before tax if you buy everything new. If you already own a compatible pair, another two minis and the box would cost $597 before tax. The original HomePod mini does not appear on Apple’s compatibility list for this four-speaker mode.
Apple’s four-HomePod feature uses speakers in both the front and rear of the room. If you already use a soundbar or an AV receiver, compare that full $895 cost with the system you have. The 2022 box already plays Dolby Vision and HDR10+ video and supports Dolby Atmos audio with compatible equipment. The 2026 specifications add an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7. An Ethernet-equipped 2022 box already has wired gigabit networking and Thread for compatible smart-home devices. For a room that already has an Ethernet cable, the 2022 Ethernet model can keep using that connection. The new Wi-Fi standard matters most when the box connects wirelessly and the router also supports Wi-Fi 7.
