Apple TV 4K (2026) vs Apple TV 4K (2022): Is ‘Hey Siri’ worth twice the price?

The Apple TV 4K just got a refresh: Apple released a new generation of its streaming device with some key upgrades to support Siri AI. The new model is up to 50% faster in processing power, thanks to the A19 chip, and features hands-free Siri. It costs $299.

The previous generation, however, was released at $129, less than half the price of the fourth-generation. It also supports 4K resolution, and acts as a smart home hub. In the end, you may wonder which streaming device is worthwhile and whether the latest model is worth the price — we’ll break that down for you.

Also: I saw Apple’s HomeView, HomePod Mini 2, and Apple TV 4K – and I’m sold on one

You should buy the Apple TV 4K (2026) if…

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

1. You value hands-free voice control

The new Apple TV 4K (2026) features hands-free Siri access for the first time. The device itself has three far-field microphones so you can talk to Siri directly, and, with the Siri AI update, you can get more out of the voice assistant.

Siri AI allows more conversational interactions, so it can handle more than simple search queries. For example, you can ask for movie recommendations or ask about specific shows or actors you’d like to see, and Siri will maintain context well enough to answer any follow-up questions you may have, all without picking up your remote.

Also: The new Apple TV 4K is always listening for ‘Hey Siri’ – is that a good thing?

I’ve used my Apple TV 4K (2022) for four years now, and the only thing that I’ve been itching to get, that I have in the Roku Ultra and Fire TVs in my house, is a hands-free Siri. For now, I’ve set up a HomePod as the Apple TV speaker, which works when you want hands-free Siri, but that requires buying a separate device.

2. You’re constantly losing your remote control

The fourth-generation Siri Remote supports Precision Finding. This lets you use newer iPhones with the latest Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip to quickly locate your remote down to within a foot or so.

Losing the remote control is one of the most common gripes with streaming devices. Specifically, the Apple TV 4K’s remote is thin, compact, and slippery because of its metal-finish construction. This makes it a prime candidate for slipping through couch cushions, which gets increasingly annoying (especially when you have no clue exactly where it fell).

In the past, I’ve solved this problem with a silicone cover to keep the remote from slipping through the cushions. I’ve also used the third-generation’s Bluetooth remote-finding feature more times than I’d like to admit.

Also: Apple’s smart home event: All 7 devices, prices, and release dates

Being able to find your remote as easily as you can track an AirTag makes the new Apple TV a compelling option for people tired of losing their remote.

3. You want an Apple-centric home theater

The Apple TV 4K (2026) lets you set up up to four speakers as a surround-sound home theater. The caveat is that you must have at least two HomePod mini 2s to do so.

You can mix and match, however. You can set up two full-size HomePods and two HomePod mini 2s, or two HomePod mini 2s and two HomePod mini (2020) to complete your surround sound, but this can get pricey.

Category	Apple TV 4K (2026)	Apple TV 4K (2022)
Launch price	$299	$129
Processor	A19	A15
Video resolution	4K	4K
A/V features	Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, AV1 hardware decoding	Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos
Siri AI	Yes	Beta support
Hands-free voice control	3 far-field mics	–
Smart home hub	Matter, HomeKit	Matter, Thread border router, HomeKit
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Ethernet	Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Remote	Siri Remote (4th Gen) with Precision Finding	Siri Remote (3rd Gen) with Bluetooth location

You should keep (or buy) the Apple TV 4K (2022) if…

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

1. You mainly stream and have a 4K TV

While the new A19 chip in the Apple TV 4K (2026) makes the device faster, the previous generation of the Apple TV 4K is still pretty fast. The 2022 model is still considerably snappier than other streaming devices I’ve tried, including the Google TV Streamer and Amazon Fire TV Omni Series.

Not getting a resolution upgrade in the latest generation makes it less compelling a purchase for folks who enjoy the streaming experience above all else.

Also: HomePod Mini 2 (2026) vs. HomePod Mini (2020): Is Siri AI worth the upgrade?

The biggest innovations for the Apple TV 4K revolve around AI. Both the new generation and the old generation support 4K resolution, so if you have a 4K TV and really just wanna sit back and relax and stream your favorite subscription services on your 4K TV, then you’ll probably be fine sticking with the Apple TV 4K (2022).

2. You can’t justify the price increase

On top of the unchanged resolution, a $299 price tag makes it difficult to justify the Apple TV 4K (2026) for someone who just wants to stream 4K television.

Also: How I open-sourced my smart home in a weekend – and ditched Google for Siri

The third-generation Apple TV 4K launched at $129 four years ago and has since increased to $149. However, at more than twice the original price, critics have said that the fourth generation lacks compelling enough features to justify the cost.

3. If you constantly lose the remote: Keep the 2022 and buy the new remote separately

Alternatively, if you really like the Apple TV 4K (4th generation)’s remote and you already have an older Apple TV 4K, you can simply buy the fourth-generation remote for $59 and enjoy the Precision Finding feature whenever you lose it.

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You can also buy a separate case for your remote and add an AirTag to it if the Bluetooth finding feature is not accurate enough for your situation.

ZDNET’s final verdict

Given the new price and the features you’re getting with the new Apple TV 4K, my final recommendation is to keep the 2022 model unless you specifically need one of the new hardware features. That is, unless you want the four-speaker HomePod setup and the hands-free Siri AI.

The Apple TV 4K fourth generation is a compelling streaming device for Apple smart home integration and access to a full-fledged entertainment hub with an Apple-centric home theater, offering more than most people need from a straightforward streaming device.

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