Apple is planning to launch an upgraded Apple TV box with a faster chip in the first half of 2024, reports Bloomberg. The company is also still working on a combined Apple TV and speaker product.
Apple launched an upgraded Apple TV 4K in late 2022 with the A15 Bionic chip, up to 128GB of storage, and a smaller fan-less design. The new box for 2024 is expected to retain this design and focus on 4K.
- "Apple is working on revamping its TV box. A new version with the current design is in the works for the first half of next year with a faster processor, the people said," wrote Bloomberg. "While the new version will support an upgraded chip, it likely won’t support 8K video streaming, a still nascent video format."
Given the current 8K market situation, it is no surprise to see Apple neglect 8K. A more relevant upgrade would be to fit it with a high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port for 4K at 120Hz, which is becoming a standard feature in high-end and even some mid-range 4K TVs. The Bloomberg report did not touch on this subject.
Here is what else FlatpanelsHD hopes to see in a future Apple TV box.
Combined Apple TV and HomePod
Bloomberg previously reported that Apple is also working on combining Apple TV with a TV-optimized HomePod and a camera. The new report claims that work on this product is behind schedule.
- "Work on a long-anticipated product that would combine the TV box with a smart speaker and FaceTime camera also has suffered setbacks, though that project is still ongoing. The device was initially targeted for release this year, but the timing has slipped."
Apple has just launched a new standalone HomePod which can be paired to Apple TV 4K, but the upcoming product is expected to be more tightly integration solution.
- Source: Bloomberg
