Apple TV With Camera Again Rumored After tvOS 17 Added FaceTime

A future Apple TV box could have a built-in camera for FaceTime and other video calling apps, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

apple tv 4k yellow bg feature
tvOS 17 added a FaceTime app to the Apple TV, allowing for users to have video calls by using the rear camera on a connected iPhone or iPad. If the Apple TV gained a built-in camera, users would no longer need to rely on an external device.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said an Apple TV with a camera would support "gesture-based controls," but he did not provide any additional details. Starting with updates like iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and tvOS 17, you can make hand gestures during video calls in the FaceTime app and other video calling apps to fill the screen with 3D effects. For example, you can hold two thumbs up to show fireworks on the screen, or make two peace signs with your hands to show confetti. It is unclear if Gurman is referring to this feature, or if there would be all-new gesture-based controls for tvOS overall.

In other home-related news, Gurman said Apple has also considered a "lightweight smart display" that could be used around the house.

Here's everything he said about these devices:

Then there's the smart home segment, where Apple still has grand ambitions. It has discussed automating household functions and offering a revamped Apple TV set-top box with a built-in camera for FaceTime videoconferencing and gesture-based controls. And the technology will all work seamlessly with both the iPhone and Vision Pro.

One piece of the strategy is a lightweight smart display — something akin to a low-end iPad. Such a device could be shuttled from room to room as needed and hooked into charging hubs stationed around the house. Apple has started small-scale test production of the screens for this product, but hasn't made a decision on whether to move forward.

It is unclear if or when these devices will be released. Gurman previously reported that a new Apple TV would be released in the first half of 2024, but it is unclear if a camera would be added to that particular model, or if it is still further away.

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

Popular Stories

iPhone Air

Report: 'Virtually No Demand' for iPhone Air

Wednesday October 22, 2025 3:22 am PDT by
Apple is "drastically" cutting production of the iPhone Air and shifting focus toward the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, Nikkei Asia reports. The business publication claims to have learned of a major cut to iPhone Air production motivated by weaker-than-expected consumer interest, nearly to "end of production levels." Despite early reports of the iPhone Air selling out within hours of...
ios 26 1 liquid glass opaque

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Lets Users Control Liquid Glass Transparency with New Toggle

Monday October 20, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
With the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a new setting that's designed to allow users to customize the look of Liquid Glass. The toggle lets users select from a clear look for Liquid Glass, or a tinted look. Clear is the current Liquid Glass design, which is more transparent and shows the background underneath buttons, bars, and menus, while tinted ...
sam sung auction

Former Apple Employee Sam Sung Changed His Name to Avoid Attention

Wednesday October 22, 2025 4:44 pm PDT by
Back in 2012, an Apple retail employee named Sam Sung went viral because his name is similar to Samsung, one of Apple's main competitors. In a recent interview with Business Insider, he detailed that period in his life, how Apple responded, and he explained why he ultimately changed his name. Someone posted an image of Sung's Apple business card on Reddit in 2012, and it spread rapidly....
cadillac lyric infotainment

GM to Remove CarPlay from All Future Vehicles, Including Gas Cars

Wednesday October 22, 2025 11:34 am PDT by
General Motors began phasing out support for CarPlay in its electric vehicles back in 2023, leading to complaints from iPhone users, but the company has no plans to back down. In fact, GM is going further and plans to remove CarPlay from all future gas vehicles, too. In an interview with The Verge, GM CEO Mary Barra said that the company opted to prioritize its platform for EVs, but the...
All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1

Apple's Plan to Launch Three New iPhone Designs Allegedly Revealed

Wednesday October 22, 2025 6:24 am PDT by
Apple plans to launch a new type of iPhone every year for the foreseeable future, according to an Asia-based source. The detailed information was shared by the account "yeux1122" in a blog post on the Korean platform Naver, citing domestic trend and component research companies. Corroborating other reports, Apple will apparently launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026, featuring a...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday October 22, 2025 6:15 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. iOS 26.1 is currently in beta testing. The update will likely be released in the first half of November, and it is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, but some...
maxresdefault

Here's How the iOS 26.1 Transparency Toggle Changes Liquid Glass

Monday October 20, 2025 1:55 pm PDT by
With the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple added a toggle that makes Liquid Glass more opaque and reduces transparency. We tested the beta to see where the toggle works and what it looks like. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. If you have the latest iOS 26.1 beta, you can go to Settings > Display and Brightness to get to the new option. Tap on Liquid Glass, then...
iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday October 18, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps. More features and changes will follow in future ...
iOS 26

What's New in iOS 26.1 Beta 4

Monday October 20, 2025 1:02 pm PDT by
Even though we're at the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple is continuing to add new features. In fact, the fourth beta has some of the biggest changes that we'll get when iOS 26.1 releases to the public later this month. We've rounded up what's new below. Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle Apple added a toggle for customizing the look of Liquid Glass. In Settings > Display and Brightness,...

Top Rated Comments

klasma Avatar
20 months ago
Hopefully two Apple TVs can be paired for spatial video.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ElectricPotato Avatar
20 months ago
Could the camera be implemented in a separate "Surveillance Package" that plugs into the Apple TV? Those of us that just want a streaming device would appreciate it.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
20 months ago
Makes little sense except maybe for a smallish segment of AppleTV users who happen to position their AppleTV box immediately under or above, center of their TV. Position it anywhere else and while user is looking at the other party on their TV, they will NOT see "you" looking back at them. Instead, you will be looking far left or right of them, above or below them... or they won't be able to see you at all.

All the people who put their AppleTV left or right of their set, behind their set, in a separate cabinet, well below or well above their set will not have any FaceTime-type use for this "feature" as either that camera won't be able to see "you" at all or won't be seeing you so that you are looking right back at "them."

There are TWO solutions to this want:
[LIST=1]
* (already exists) wireless camera accessory via Continuity Camera. Maybe that could be an original iSight-type camera vs. having to use an iPhone... but it would work the same way.
* separate camera that mounts above or below, center of the TV and by wired or wireless connection sends its video to AppleTV to send to those on the other end of the video communication. In this, I'd envision the return of a USB port on AppleTV and then plug in a wired camera. Again, this too could be like the original iSight-type camera... and there are MANY of these already on the market, like these 2 4K TV cam examples...



...along with many much smaller types that typically have only HD resolution.

All these other concepts- such as all of the Frankenstein products: merging AppleTV + Camera + Soundbar + Router +++ seem like we are making an A/V iMac... which, just like iMac... can seem great going in but terrible at the end when any one part makes it a "throw baby out with the bathwater" proposition.

Not everyone has a soundbar setup, nor would want to switch to one. Not everyone needs a new router. Not everyone has their AppleTV in the right spot for effective video conferencing. Etc. As you lump in features that don't fit the masses, you cut the segment size of those who would desire this Frankenstein. AppleTV is already a "hobby." Frankenstein would be carving up the hobby share in search of a slice of a slice of a market interested in exactly THAT Frankenstein.

IMO, leave AppleTV almost "as is" except...
[LIST=1]
* Build in a normal USB-C port to which things like cameras, local storage, etc could be attached for those interested without forcing either on those who don't want such features. A "universal" port could scratch just about all itches without adding a lot of cost to AppleTV.
* Add the 3.5" headphone jack back to AppleTV for those with Zone 2 Receivers who would like to use the "Jukebox" benefits of AppleTV with Receiver zones that need analog audio in. Yes, there are HDMI "splitters/extractors" but few (any?) seem to readily pass through CEC & HDR correctly. One dirt cheap headphone jack and this jukebox feature returns in a fully compatible way.

Pretty much everyone can get what they want with those 2 changes. Those wanting an Apple-branded soundbar or router should long for those as their OWN products vs. being mashed into this one thing. Else, the complete Frankenstein would probably be priced towards $1K... but obsolete as fast as AppleTV obsoletes in just a few years... even if the speaker and/or router is still perfectly fine at the time. If you want to be shelling out $1K+ every couple of years, keep hoping for this Frankenstein. Else, buy those more "out there" wants as their own thing and things like routers and soundbars/speakers can far outlast faster-to-obsolescence hardware like AppleTV.

Attachment Image
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nimrad Avatar
20 months ago

Could the camera be implemented in a separate "Surveillance Package" that plugs into the Apple TV? Those of us that just want a streaming device would appreciate it.
Ah, yes, a device you put on your TV to transform any TV to have a Dynamic Island. ?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
20 months ago
Can't see a camera built in working that well as these boxes will be positioned all over the place. They'll be in the very corner, close to the floor, inside cabinets or even hidden behind the TV as I did that to a bedroom wall mounted one.

Only way this would work well is if they made it a separate, really small add on that communicates to the Apple TV wirelesley.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VisceralRealist Avatar
20 months ago
Are they sure this isn't a misunderstanding of Apple releasing an actual TV, rather than putting a camera on a streaming box? Or do most people put their Apple TV directly in front of their TV?

This is a strange rumor, to say the least.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)