The new Apple TV 4K is $299 and ships Nov. 13, Apple says. For the launch, see our Apple event story. The question for an owner is what that $299 buys that an older box and a $59 remote do not.

What it costs against the outgoing box

  • New Apple TV 4K, 128GB with Ethernet: $299, or $49.83 a month for six months through Apple Card Monthly Installments, a 0 percent APR option Apple says is U.S.-only and subject to credit approval (Apple).
  • Outgoing 128GB with Ethernet: $249, per an archived copy of Apple's page from 7:11 p.m. ET on Oct. 12.
  • Outgoing 64GB, Wi-Fi only: $199 on the same archived copy.

9to5Mac says Apple raised those two prices in June, from $129 and $149. The new box is $50 above the $249 model.

Two things that do not need new hardware

Siri AI is a beta on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later), Apple says. MacRumors reads that as the 2021 and 2022 boxes on tvOS 27.2 and later.

Apple's footnote says it requires the owner of the home in the Home app to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad on the latest software, with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language.

A hand holding the silver and black Siri Remote with its clickpad, back, TV, play, mute and volume buttons.
Apple's product image of the Siri Remote. Image: Apple

The new Siri Remote is $59 and works with Apple TV HD and every Apple TV 4K, per Apple. Find My already works on the 2nd-generation remote and later, per Apple. What the new one adds is Precision Finding and an option to play a sound from the remote.

Precision Finding needs a recent iPhone: Apple lists iPhone Air, iPhone 17 or later except 17e, and iPhone Duo, on the latest iOS. We cover the remote in our extra costs story.

What only the new box gets

Front view of the black Apple TV 4K box with the Apple logo on top and a small white status light on the front.
Apple's product image of the new Apple TV 4K. Image: Apple
  • A19 chip: Apple claims up to 50 percent faster CPU and up to 2x faster GPU than the previous generation, which MacRumors says has an A15.
  • Three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri.
  • Four-speaker surround: Apple's requirements are four HomePod (2nd generation) or HomePod mini 2 speakers in matching front and rear pairs, with the latest software. Older boxes stay limited to two HomePods, per MacRumors. See our HomePod story.
  • Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, with AV1 and VP9 video, per Apple's specs.
  • 128GB with Gigabit Ethernet as the only configuration.

MacRumors expects 8GB of RAM, but says that spec is unconfirmed, and we omit it from the list.

Why it matters

Apple's headline software reaches older boxes, so the $299 mostly pays for speed, microphones and surround. The trade-off is $50 more than the outgoing 128GB model for features that matter only if you use voice, own HomePods or want a faster interface. Apple's speed figures are untested claims.

CNET calls it more expensive than every other premium streaming box. 9to5Mac says that at $299 it "feels priced more like specialized hardware."

Who should buy it

This is our judgment, and we have not tested the box. If you own a 2021 or 2022 Apple TV 4K and want Siri AI or a findable remote, keep it. Add the $59 remote (at Amazon) only for Precision Finding and the speaker, not for Find My itself.

Buy the new box (at Amazon, $299 as read 5:10 PM ET Oct. 13) if you have no box, or want four-HomePod surround or hands-free microphones. Pre-orders are open and the box ships Nov. 13.