New Apple TV 4K brings two long-awaited upgrades —and a big price hike

The new Apple TV 4K is official and starts at $299 / £299 / AU$449 It has microphones built-in for hands-free Siri control and supports HomePod surrounds The updated Siri Remote can chirp to help you find it, supports Precision Finding, and works with older Apple TV models I fondly remember when Apple brought the price down on the Apple TV 4K box, and then I also remember the unfortunate price hikes from earlier in 2026.

That pushed the Apple TV 4K without Ethernet to $199 / £199 / AU$299 and the one with Ethernet to $249 / £249 / AU$399.

Now, alongside the HomeView and the second-generation HomePod mini, Apple is ushering in the new Apple TV 4K and sunsetting the previous models.

It keeps a similar shape — it's still a black square with curved edges and a logo up top — but there are some new tricks here.

It also carries a new price point: the Apple TV 4K (2026) comes in one version and costs $299 / £299 / AU$449.

That’s a big jump, especially when compared with competing Roku players and Fire TV Sticks.

It’s actually the same price as the new Apple HomeView, which includes a screen and speakers.

Still, it's up for preorder now — beginning October 13, 2026 — and ships on November 13, 2026.

I’ve spent a bit of time with the refreshed Apple TV 4K, seeing it work through some Siri AI tasks and hearing its new audio capabilities, which include the ability to work with up to four HomePod speakers in a surround setup.

That could mean two second-generation HomePods up front and two HomePod mini second-generation as rear speakers, four full-sized HomePod 2 units, or four HomePod mini 2 units.

Your phone can point you precisely towards the lost Apple TV remote (Image credit: Apple TV 4K (2026)) By far the most meaningful upgrade, and the one that shows Apple’s listening to customers, is the new Siri Remote.

Now in its fourth generation, it can finally chirp and emit a sound when you can’t find it.

So you can ask, “Hey Siri, where’s my remote?” to no one in particular (the Apple TV 4K box's microphones will hear you) and the remote will emit a sound.

It’s pretty loud, though Apple isn’t sharing the exact decibel level, and it should be very audible even if the remote is stuck deep between couch cushions, in a pile on the floor, or somewhere else entirely.