Summary
- The new Apple TV 4K may feature an A17 Pro chip, according to a new leak, boosting its performance significantly.
- If the new Apple TV 4K has an A17 Pro chip, it could support Apple Intelligence and AAA gaming.
- The A17 Pro chip is also found in the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad mini.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series next month, and while I’m excited to see the new iPhones, what I’m really waiting for Apple to unveil is the 4th-generation Apple TV 4K. It’s been three years since Apple released the 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K in 2022, so it’s long overdue.
While I doubt Apple will announce its next Apple TV at the iPhone event next month, rumors suggest it could be revealed and launched before the end of the year, which I hope is the case, especially since new, exciting details about the device have just come to light.
According to MacRumors, the new Apple TV 4K will be equipped with Apple’s A17 Pro chipset. This would provide a significant performance boost compared to the A15 Bionic chip found in the 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K. MacRumors reports it discovered the new Apple TV’s chipset in a software code leak.
Other upcoming Apple device chipsets also surfaced in this leak, including a new iPad mini with the A19 Pro chip and a new entry-level iPad featuring an A18 chip coming soon. But what I find most exciting about this leak is the implications it could have for gaming on the new Apple TV 4K.
- Brand
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Apple
- Bluetooth codecs
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5.0
- Wi-Fi
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6
- Ethernet
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Gigabit (128GB model only)
The new Apple TV 4K could be capable of AAA gaming
The A17 Pro chip is also found in the iPhone 15 Pro and latest iPad mini
If this information is accurate, and the new Apple TV 4K does have the A17 Pro chip, it will pack a serious performance punch. The A17 Pro first debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, and in 2024, Apple used the same chip in its latest iPad mini refresh.
Unlike the A15 Bionic found in the current 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K, the A17 Pro in the new 4th-generation would make it capable of supporting Apple Intelligence and AAA games. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPad mini with the A17 Pro are capable of playing games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Death Stranding. So the new Apple TV 4K could have some serious gaming capabilities with the A17 Pro.
Apple has been touting the Apple TV’s ability to play games for nearly a decade, but without AAA game support, it has never fully delivered.
Apple has been touting the Apple TV’s ability to play games for nearly a decade, but without AAA game support, it has never fully delivered. It appears the new Apple TV 4K might finally fulfill that promise.
Besides this chipset leak, little concrete information is known about the new Apple TV 4K. Other leaks suggest it will have either Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 and will maintain the same black plastic design as the 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K.
Additionally, rumors suggest the price of the new Apple TV 4K might be more affordable, possibly around $100, similar to the price of the Roku Ultra, one of its biggest competitors. The third-generation Apple TV 4K currently starts at $130. If the new Apple TV 4K has an A17 Pro chip, I doubt Apple will lower the device’s price, given how powerful it is, and the uncertainty tariffs are causing. But hey, surprise me, Apple.
