The Apple TV 4K is expected to get a minor chipset revision at any point, and a new code leak has revealed it will run the A17 Pro, gaining Apple Intelligence.
The Apple TV 4K was last updated in 2022 with a two-tiered approach. The new model will likely have a similar release, with few upgrades beyond the chipset.
According to a code leak discovered by MacRumors, Apple will use the A17 Pro in the next Apple TV 4K. That would be a big performance leap from the A15 Bionic and enable features like Apple Intelligence.
It isn’t clear how Apple will utilize the improved performance of the chipset. The Liquid Glass redesign introduced in tvOS 26 requires the A15 Bionic, and the games available on Apple TV don’t push any boundaries.
The A17 Pro could enable more AAA games to arrive on Apple’s set-top box. Apple has heavily promoted titles like Resident Evil and Death Stranding since it improved graphics performance in Apple Silicon.
Some rumors indicate that Apple would introduce its in-house wireless chip to its new Apple TV and HomePods. The chip would offer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
These protocols, along with Thread, are more than enough for modern smart homes. The more expensive model will likely also have Ethernet for those that need it.
Apple doesn’t have a release cadence for the Apple TV hardware, so it could be announced at any time. Some speculation places it at the iPhone 17 event being held in September.
