Apple TV 4K launches, with Siri AI starting in eight markets

Apple's fourth-generation Apple TV 4K went on sale in South Korea on November 13 for ₩449,000. Apple set the same release date in the United States, where the box costs $299. The new streaming box has three built-in microphones that can pick up voice commands from across the room in supported settings. In the US, Apple is using the hardware launch to bring its conversational Siri AI beta to the television. The TV beta starts in English in eight markets.

Apple scheduled the hardware release in 30 markets. Apple lists the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom for the initial TV release of Siri AI. Apple's South Korean store lists the box and describes Siri voice search for shows, films and music, as well as voice control for compatible smart-home accessories.

What the TV can hear and what Siri AI needs

The new box uses three microphones and voice isolation. Apple says the microphones can pick up a request while the TV is playing sound. Its hardware notes list a separate set of supported tvOS languages for hands-free activation, including English, French and German. Apple also documents the established Korean-language Siri commands that owners can use with the button on the remote.

Apple's product page shows Siri AI finding films for a family, answering questions about what is on screen and controlling home accessories. Its launch materials show movie recommendations with artwork and a short answer displayed over a playing show. A personal request, such as playing something a friend recommended, requires a paired device with Siri AI enabled.

Setup depends on another device in the household. The owner of the home in Apple's Home app needs an iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence, with current software and Siri AI enabled in a supported language. Apple's compatibility list includes the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone 16 family and iPads with an M1 or later. Some features that use server-side models have daily limits.

Older boxes are on the compatibility list

Apple's Siri AI support page lists second-generation Apple TV 4K and later with tvOS 27.2.1 and a nearby paired device running Siri AI. The public Apple Developer release list still showed tvOS 27.2, dated October 26, as the latest regular release when checked on November 13. Apple's release listing gave no date for the 27.2.1 rollout to earlier boxes.

The fourth-generation model includes a remote that can play a sound when it goes missing. A compatible iPhone can also show the remote's direction and distance through Find My. Apple's specifications list the iPhone Duo, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 or later, excluding the iPhone 17e, for that Precision Finding feature. Apple sells the new remote separately, with compatibility extending to Apple TV HD and earlier Apple TV 4K models.

One 128GB configuration

The new box ships with an A19 chip and 128GB of storage. It has a Gigabit Ethernet port, Wi-Fi 7 and Thread networking for compatible smart-home devices. Apple's specifications list AV1 playback and video output up to 4K at 60 frames per second. Viewing in 4K HDR requires a display that supports it.

The box, fourth-generation Siri Remote and power cord are included. The HDMI cable for the TV and the USB-C cable for charging the remote are sold separately. Apple announced the hardware on October 13 and began taking South Korean preorders on October 15 ahead of the November 13 release. The Korean store showed a purchase button on launch day, while the US page still displayed a preorder label when checked.