Apple Not Yet Ready to Show Major Revamp of Apple TV Hardware - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Not Yet Ready to Show Major Revamp of Apple TV Hardware

apple_tv_roundup Following a Tweet last month in which he hinted at an updated Apple TV arriving sometime this month, former TechCrunch writer MG Siegler is now "pouring a small amount of water" on his own claim, suggesting that major changes to Apple's television-related hardware are not yet ready to be shown.

Well, now I feel the need to pour a little — just a little, mind you — cold water on the rumor fire. While I still haven’t heard anything concrete, the most recent whispers I have heard is that the Apple TV project has been delayed a bit.

That doesn’t mean we won’t see an Apple TV update at the event — we could see an updated unit with a spec bump or something. But the thing to be more excited about, the device with some sort of newfangled control system, doesn’t seem like it’s ready just yet.

Siegler notes that he had originally heard about a new Apple TV hardware (not a television set) targeted for a November launch, but that the information was not concrete enough to warrant a full article at the time. Given the publicity his original Tweet garnered, however, he has felt the need to address the issue now that it appears his original information is unlikely to pan out on that timetable.

Last month, 9to5Mac separately reported that Apple has been testing Xbox Kinect-like motion control for televisions, though it was unclear if that would make its way to the Apple TV set-top box or was being held for a standalone Apple television set farther in the future.

Apple will hold a media event this Tuesday, October 22 where it is expected to unveil both the fifth-generation iPad and the second-generation iPad mini, along with other Apple products such as OS X Mavericks, the new Mac Pro, and updated Retina MacBook Pros.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...
1st generation apple tv

Apple TV Is Now Almost 20 Years Old

Saturday March 21, 2026 6:14 am PDT by
The Apple TV is now almost two decades old amid rumors of the announcement of a new model. Today marks 19 years Apple launched the original Apple TV. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the Apple TV at Macworld Expo in January 2007 alongside the original iPhone, but it didn't launch until March. The ‌Apple TV was initially previewed as the "iTV." The device allowed users to wirelessly stream...
HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Remain 'Ready' to Launch

Sunday March 22, 2026 6:33 am PDT by
Apple has unveiled nine new products this month, but the wait continues for the next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini have been "ready" since last year, but he reiterated that Apple has held off on releasing them until the more personalized version of Siri and other...

Top Rated Comments

arn Avatar
163 months ago
Seems to me that a lot of the front page speculation stories never have enough information to warrant a full article, half article, or even a mention on the front page. I know the site is MacRumors, but a little more real information, and a little less speculation would be highly appreciated.

So don't report on rumors.... got it. :)

Seriously though. It's not like rumors are published at the cost of "real" information.

arn
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
163 months ago
Maybe Tim will give us a little "One more thing" of his own on Tuesday. Apple TV is a great device that potentially can be something a lot better.

I'm hoping for a "Wait, what's this behind my ear?"
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
Maybe Tim will give us a little "One more thing" of his own on Tuesday. Apple TV is a great device that potentially can be something a lot better.

there is no more "one more thing." It's more like, "Thank you folks, have a great day."
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
163 months ago
It was my friend's birthday a couple of weeks ago and he had treated himself to an Apple TV, which was sitting there in the plastic wrapping when I saw him. I had to tell him, 'You should know, an update is heavily rumoured to launch shortly'.

So he had to take his present, purchased with birthday money, back to the Apple store for a refund; and has no idea if a new one is out. It now looks like he will go back and buy it if it's not announced tomorrow, hoping it won't be updated before next year.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

If you had kept your mouth shut, your friend would have enjoyed his Apple TV for weeks and would have been quite happy and content. Because of you, he went through all the trouble going to the store, returning an item, then going back again, buying the same item, and looking like a right idiot, and all for nothing.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gasu E. Avatar
163 months ago
It was my friend's birthday a couple of weeks ago and he had treated himself to an Apple TV, which was sitting there in the plastic wrapping when I saw him. I had to tell him, 'You should know, an update is heavily rumoured to launch shortly'.

So he had to take his present, purchased with birthday money, back to the Apple store for a refund; and has no idea if a new one is out. It now looks like he will go back and buy it if it's not announced tomorrow, hoping it won't be updated before next year.

Boy, I am so glad I don't have friends like you. You are a killjoy. He would have set up the Apple TV, had fun with it, and would have cared very little that a marginally better version came out a few weeks later. Now you have convinced him it is not good enough to have 99%; he should not be satisfied without that absolutely latest speed bump. Thanks to you, "he had to" make multiple trips to the Apple store, for very little if any benefit. You have added sour to the sweet. You imagine you are being thoughtful, but you lack true empathy. Your friends will be happier people if you learn when not to open your mouth and "help" them.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
I thought the person who I quoted was saying you could actually play them on the Apple TV somehow. I don't see how it's possible.

EDIT: Whoops, posted too soon.



Oh, you use the Computers feature. Clever!

Better than that is to use Plex. No need to convert to mp4.. You can run Full HD movies (mkv) on your iDevice and AirPlay it to your TV without quality loss.

That's what I do anyway :)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)