Apple is rumored to launch new Apple TV hardware in the second half of 2022 and code references to a new 'Siri Remote 4' have now been discovered in the latest iOS 16 beta.
The first Siri Remote was identified as "SiriRemote", the second with the white circle around the Menu button as "SiriRemote2", and the latest redesign as "SiriRemote3".
In the iOS 16 beta there are code reference to a new "SiriRemote4" and "WirelessRemoteFirmware.4", according to Aaronp613, a contributor at AppleDB, and reported by MacRumors.
Last month, oft-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that a new version of the Apple TV box will launch in the second half of 2022. Bloomberg has previously reported that Apple is working on combining the Apple TV box with a HomePod speaker. There have also been rumors about 120Hz support and an Apple-designed game controller.
If Apple is indeed planning to launch a new remote control in the iOS/tvOS 16 cycle, it could be related to a refresh of the Apple TV hardware.
Also read: Only Apple TV & HomePod supported as HomeKit hub as of iOS/tvOS 16
Apple did not give tvOS 16 stage time at WWDC 22 but there are still new features such as cross-device compatibility, expanded game controller support, improved multiuser support and Matter support. If new hardware arrives later in 2022 we expect additional tvOS 16 features to be announced at the same time.
- Source: MacRumors
