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There are a lot of folks waiting for a new version of the Apple TV because the set-top box hasn't been updated since 2022. There is an update coming this year, but people will need to wait a bit longer because Apple is holding the next ‌Apple TV‌ until the new version of Siri comes out this fall. Design ‌Apple TV‌ design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing in 2026. The next ‌Apple TV‌ is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black plastic material. We're expecting the 2026 ‌Apple TV‌ to be indistinguishable from the existing ‌Apple TV‌ on the exterior, with no changes to size or design. New Chip The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is going to get a new A-series chip, and that'll be the biggest upgrade. Rumors suggest Apple is planning to use the A17 Pro that was first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models. Compared to the A15 Bionic in the current ‌Apple TV‌, the A17 Pro is a solid update, and it's a good reason to hold off on buying the current model. The A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometer process for faster speeds and better efficiency, and it has hardware-accelerated ray tracing for higher-quality graphics in games. The A17 Pro is the oldest chip Apple makes that supports Apple Intelligence , and it's also used in the iPad mini 7 . Given that Apple has held the ‌Apple TV‌ update for so long, it's possible it'll get an even newer chip like the A18 or A19. A RAM update is possible too, especially if the ‌Apple TV‌ has any kind of ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support. Apple Intelligence and Siri The next ‌Apple TV‌ is ready to launch , but new ‌Siri‌ features are the holdup. Apple wants to release the ‌Apple TV‌ with the smarter version of ‌Siri‌ that's in the works, and it's not ready to go. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman says the Apple TV is linked to "new artificial intelligence features" that Apple has postponed until iOS 27 , which is coming in September 2026. Apple intended to launch the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features in spring 2026, but the company was still experiencing issues with ‌Siri‌. At this point, we're not going to see new ‌Siri‌ capabilities until iOS 27 , which also means a delay for all the devices that Apple is holding. Along with the ‌Apple TV‌, the rumored home hub and a new version of the HomePod are waiting on ‌Siri‌. Updated ‌Siri‌ features may require more RAM and a faster chip, so if you want the smarter ‌Siri‌ on the ‌Apple TV‌, that's another reason to wait before making a purchase. Wi-Fi The ‌Apple TV‌ could get Apple's N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Wi-Fi 7 works with the 6GHz band offered by newer routers. 6GHz connectivity is faster and less congested, which you want for a device designed for streaming content. Bluetooth and Thread The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K could get Bluetooth 6 for connecting devices like controllers and earbuds. Apple's N1 chip also supports Thread, so the ‌Apple TV‌ will be able to continue to serve as a Thread border router and a Matter hub for smart home devices. Pricing There have been rumors of a price drop, so it's possible Apple has plans for a cheaper ‌Apple TV‌. Apple could release two models, one that's higher-end and one that has lower specs and a lower price tag, or it could keep the existing ‌Apple TV‌ around as a low-cost option. Launch Date Since the new version of ‌Siri‌ has been pushed to ‌iOS 27‌ and the ‌Apple TV‌ is tied to that update, we're likely not going to see the ‌Apple TV‌ refreshed until September 2026 at the earliest. Related Roundup: Apple TV Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy) Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater This article, " Here's What's Coming in the 2026 Apple TV " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple has published a new ad to appeal to customers in the market for an iPhone and Apple Watch pairing, highlighting the insights it can offer for your health. Titled simply "Health with iPhone + Apple Watch," the half-minute ad focuses on a woman waiting in line at a cafe who begins receiving unsolicited health and fitness advice from other people in the queue, as well as local residents, drivers, and passersby – and even accompanying pets. An Apple Watch notification about her new cardio fitness trend cuts through the cacophony, and she subsequently looks into the Health app on iPhone to learn that her cardio fitness is above average. "Listen to your body. Not everybody," says the onscreen slogan, as she grabs her coffee and goes about her day. The YouTube blurb reads: With iPhone and Apple Watch, you get science-based insights about your health. You see data on things like your heart rate, cycle tracking, cardio fitness, and sleep quality. So you can be more aware of what your body is telling you. Apple Watch Cardio Fitness determines cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by VO2 max. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen that the body is able to use during exercise, and it can be improved through physical activity. Apple introduced the feature in 2020 . Cardio Fitness is a category in the Health app on iPhone, and fitness level is classified as high, above average, below average, or low relative to people in your same age group and of the same sex. Users can also track how their cardio fitness levels have changed over the past week, month, six months, or year, and if fitness levels fall into the low range, they can get a notification on Apple Watch that includes guidance on improving it. Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11 Tag: Apple Ads Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral) This article, " New Apple Ad Sells the iPhone and Apple Watch Health Pairing " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple's entire entry-level product lineup now costs less than a single 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip. The ten products that now define Apple's lowest-cost tier are as follows: iPhone 17e : $599 MacBook Neo : $599 iPad (11th generation) : $349 Magic Keyboard Folio : $249 Apple Pencil (USB-C) : $79 Apple Watch SE 3 : $249 AirPods 4 : $129 Apple TV 4K : $129 HomePod mini : $99 AirTag : $29 The total comes to $2,510, which is $189 less than the $2,699 starting price of the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the M5 Pro chip. AppleCare One, which can cover any three Apple devices of the buyer's choosing, costs an additional $19.99 per month. The MacBook Neo , announced on March 4, is the linchpin of the shift. At $599, it is Apple's most affordable laptop ever and the first Mac to contain an A-series chip, using the A18 Pro that debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro. After its March 11 launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple saw its "best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers." The iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo , both at $599, anchor the lineup at an identical price point that would have seemed implausible just two years ago, when the cheapest Mac laptop cost $999. What is striking about today's lineup is how capable most of Apple's entry-level products have become relative to their more expensive siblings. The iPhone 17e uses the same A19 chip and 48-megapixel main camera as the $799 iPhone 17 , differing meaningfully only in its slightly smaller 60Hz display, single rear camera, and notch design. The ‌MacBook Neo‌'s A18 Pro chip posts a single-core score of 3,461, within 6% of the M5 MacBook Air , and is highly capable for everyday tasks. The Apple Watch SE 3 shares the same S10 chip as the $399 Series 11 and, with its last refresh, gained an always-on display, sleep apnea detection, body temperature sensing, and fast charging. The notable exception in the lineup is the entry-level iPad , which is the only current Apple device that does not support Apple Intelligence . It is also notable that three of the eleven products on the list are also due for imminent replacements. The 12th generation ‌iPad‌ with an A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support is said to be " ready to go " and "still coming this year." The next Apple TV and HomePod mini are expected to gain faster chips , along with Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Thread support. All three devices have reportedly been ready for release since last year, primarily held up by the delayed arrival of a more capable version of Siri . Overall, Apple's entry-level lineup arguably never seems to have been stronger or more affordable. Related Roundup: MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: MacBook Pro This article, " A Full Apple Ecosystem Now Costs Less Than a MacBook Pro " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has named the botched 2012 launch of Apple Maps as his "first really big mistake" in the role, according to a Bloomberg report covering the town hall meeting that was held Tuesday with his recently announced successor, John Ternus. The Maps app launched with mislabeled landmarks, faulty directions, and a user experience that fell well short of Google Maps at the time. "The product wasn't ready, and we thought it was because we were testing more of local kind of stuff," Cook told staff. Reflecting on the debacle, Cook said it was "valuable," noting that he expressed regret to users at the time and suggested they use competing navigation apps instead. From the report: "We apologized for it, and we said, 'Go use these other apps. They're better than ours.' And that was some humble pie," Cook said. "But it was the right thing for our users. And so it's an example of keeping the user at the center of the decisions that we made." Cook added: "Now we've got the best map app on the planet. We learned about persistence, and we did exactly the right thing having made the mistake." The fallout led to the first major management shake-up of Cook's tenure, with software chief Scott Forstall – a close Steve Jobs collaborator – pushed out in the aftermath. (Fun fact: Forstall was recently invited back to Apple Park to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.) On the bright side, Cook singled out the Apple Watch and its expanding health features as the work he's most proud of. He recalled receiving his first note from a user whose life had been saved by the device. "It caused me to just stop in my steps," he said. Cook conceded that his list of mistakes would be "extraordinary in length" (the never-released AirPower charging mat and Apple's abandoned car project would surely be high up there) but the CEO has successfully avoided the kind of product recalls and cancellations that have plagued other consumer device companies over the last 15 years. Cook became CEO in August 2011 and hands over the reins to Ternus, currently chief of hardware engineering, on September 1, 2026. Tags: Apple Maps , Tim Cook This article, " Tim Cook Calls Apple Maps Launch His 'First Really Big Mistake' as CEO " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
