Four years ago, the Apple TV 4K was a fast box you talked to by holding a button on the remote. As of October 13, 2026, the new model listens from across the room, runs an A19 chip and doubles as the brain of a four-speaker home theater. If you own the 2022 model, the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 decision comes down to one surprise: your old box gets the headline Siri AI feature too.
So the real gap is hardware: hands-free microphones, a faster chip and surround sound with HomePods. The new Apple TV 4K costs $299 in the U.S. and reaches stores on Friday, November 13.
Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 at a glance
The 2022 box is officially the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation). The new one is the 4th generation. Here is the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 breakdown, using Apple’s announcement for the new model and its tech specs page for the 2022 model.
| Feature | Apple TV 4K (2026, 4th gen) | Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A19 | A15 Bionic |
| AV1 video decoding | New dedicated AV1 decoder | Not listed |
| Microphones | Three far-field mics for hands-free Siri | Not listed (Siri via the remote) |
| Siri AI (beta) | Yes, with tvOS 27.2 | Yes, with tvOS 27.2 |
| Thread | Built in | 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model only |
| Storage | Not listed by Apple yet | 64GB or 128GB |
| Ethernet | Not listed by Apple yet | Gigabit, 128GB model only |
| Four-HomePod surround | Yes | No |
| U.S. price | $299 | Sold before this launch |
Siri AI is coming to your 2022 box anyway
Apple says Siri AI, the new full-screen Siri built on its next wave of Apple Intelligence, runs in beta on the Apple TV 4K 2nd generation or later. That covers the 2022 model as well as the 2nd-generation box before it, not just the new one.
On any supported box you can ask for a show and fire off a follow-up question mid-episode, with the answer floating in a small overlay. Linked to an iPhone with Apple Intelligence, Siri can also use personal context, like finding the series a friend recommended.
There are strings attached on every model:
- Software: tvOS 27.2 is required.
- Home owner: the person who owns the home in the Home app needs an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence, with Siri AI switched on.
- Language and region: English only at launch, in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore and South Africa.
- Limits: some server features have daily caps, and expanded access will cost extra later.
So if Siri AI is the only thing you want, keep your money. The 2022 model will get it with a free update, which takes the biggest software reason out of the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 debate.
What the new Apple TV 4K adds over the 2022 model
Hands-free Siri. The 2026 box has three far-field microphones with echo cancellation, so you can just say the wake word while a movie plays instead of hunting for the remote. On the 2022 model, Siri still starts with a press of the remote’s button.
More speed. Apple puts the A19 at up to 50 percent quicker on the CPU and up to twice as quick on graphics compared with the A15 machine it replaces. In the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 matchup, that matters most for Apple Arcade and App Store games, less for streaming Netflix.
A real surround setup. Only the new model can drive four speakers at once: a pair of HomePod mini 2 speakers or a pair of HomePod (2nd generation) speakers up front, plus a matching pair behind you. Front and back pairs must be the same model, and the system tunes itself to the room. If you have been eyeing a HomePod setup instead of a soundbar, this feature alone decides the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 question for you.
A smarter home hub. Doorbell alerts pop up on the TV, and you can talk to the visitor and unlock the door from the couch. HomeKit Secure Video clips are processed locally. Thread is built in, while on the 2022 lineup it came only with the 128GB Ethernet version.
The Siri Remote fine print
The remote is a smaller factor in the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 choice. It looks the same but now works with Find My, and basic support reaches back to the 2nd-generation Siri Remote. Precision Finding is pickier: it needs the new 4th-generation remote plus an iPhone 17 or newer (minus the iPhone 17e), an iPhone Air or an iPhone Duo. Making the remote play a sound is limited to the newest remote.
Apple also sells the new Siri Remote on its own, and it works with the Apple TV HD and every Apple TV 4K, a far cheaper fix than a new box if losing the remote is your main gripe. Our guide to using your Apple Watch as a TV remote covers another backup option.
New Apple TV 4K price and what Apple has not said
The new model is $299 in the U.S., or six payments of $49.83 with Apple Card Monthly Installments. Orders opened on October 13 across 30 countries and regions, the U.S. included, and the box lands in stores on Friday, November 13.
Apple’s announcement names a single model and does not list storage, Ethernet or supported HDR formats. The 2022 model’s spec sheet lists Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG. These gaps are the biggest open items in any Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 comparison right now. If a wired connection or a specific format matters to you, check Apple’s full tech specs page before you order.
Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022: pick the 2026 model if…
- You want to talk to Siri without picking up the remote.
- You own, or plan to buy, four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers for surround sound.
- You play a lot of Apple Arcade or App Store games on the TV.
- Your 2022 box is the 64GB Wi-Fi model and you want Thread for smart home gear.
- You are still on an Apple TV HD or a 1st-generation Apple TV 4K, which cannot run Siri AI at all.
Keep the 2022 model if…
- You mostly stream shows and movies, which the A15 still handles well, including F1 races with Dolby Atmos sound.
- Siri AI is the feature you were waiting for, since it arrives on your box with tvOS 27.2.
- You own the 128GB Ethernet model and rely on its wired port and Thread radio.
Frequently asked questions
Does the new Apple TV 4K have Ethernet?
Apple has not said yet. Its announcement for the 4th-generation model lists built-in Wi-Fi and Thread but does not mention an Ethernet port, so check the full tech specs before ordering if you need a wired connection.
When is the new Apple TV 4K release date?
Pre-orders opened on October 13, 2026, and the new Apple TV 4K reaches stores on Friday, November 13.
Should you replace your 2022 Apple TV 4K?
For most 2022 owners, the Apple TV 4K 2026 vs 2022 answer is no. Siri AI comes to your box for free, and the A15 still streams just fine. Upgrade if you want hands-free Siri or a four-HomePod theater, because both depend on the new hardware. The new box is a great buy for someone starting fresh, and a polite shrug for someone whose remote still works.
