New Generation Apple TV Ready to Release by Year-End
Rumors of the latest generation Apple TV expected to arrive by the end of this year.
Apple is reportedly preparing to launch the latest generation Apple TV projected to arrive by the end of 2025. This device is said to bring several significant improvements, ranging from support for high-speed Wi-Fi, next-generation processing chips, to the possible presence of a built-in camera for FaceTime.
Support for High-Speed Wi-Fi
According to a Bloomberg report summarized by Mark Gurman, Apple will embed its own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip in the upcoming Apple TV. This chip is said to support Wi-Fi 6E, an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 spectrum to the 6 GHz band, offering higher speeds and lower latency than standard Wi-Fi 6. There is even the possibility of Wi-Fi 7 support with theoretical speeds up to 40 Gbps.
Next-Generation Processing Chip
The current Apple TV model uses the A15 Bionic chip, first introduced on the iPhone 13 (2022). For the new model, Apple is expected to switch to a more advanced generation chip, such as the A18 or A19. This change is believed to improve overall performance and open up opportunities for integrating Apple Intelligence features on tvOS.
Built-in Camera for FaceTime
Along with the arrival of the FaceTime app on tvOS 17 that uses the rear camera of the iPhone or iPad for video calls, Apple is reportedly considering adding a built-in camera to Apple TV. With an internal camera, users no longer need external devices for FaceTime on the big screen. In addition, there is talk of gesture control features based on hand movements for interface navigation. tvOS 26 itself has already introduced enhancements such as Contact Posters, Live Captions for several languages, and call notifications that can be answered via HomePod or iPhone.
Gurman stated the new model will launch "towards the end of this year", very likely in September or October. However, a November or December release has not been entirely ruled out. For reference, the previous generation Apple TV 4K models were announced in October 2022, April 2021, and the first-generation Apple TV HD in September 2015.