The current Apple TV 4K is on the verge of breaking a new record, but not one the kind companies are proud of. The current model is nearing the status of the longest-running device in the series’ history without a hardware update.
Since its launch in 2022, 1,267 days have passed (as of April 24) without Apple introducing a new model. Reports indicate that the company already has a new device ready for release, but one obstacle is artificial intelligence.
It is predicted that Apple may postpone the device’s launch until the fall of 2026, awaiting the tvOS 27 update, which will include revolutionary AI-powered features requiring advanced hardware to function.
If Apple doesn’t release the new version before July 4th, the 2022 model (with the A15 Bionic chip) will break the current record held by the 2017 model (with the A10X Fusion chip), which remained the latest available option for 1,337 days before its update.
Looking at the history of Apple TV 4K update cycles, the wait between the first and second generations was 1,337 days, and between the second and third generations, the update came after only 532 days. The current (third) generation has already exceeded 1,267 days, with expectations that it will break the previous record this summer.
While the current device still offers strong performance, the update gap seems particularly long this time around. Besides the desire for faster processors to support demanding games, users also need greater support for smart home protocols like Matter, which older versions of the device don’t fully offer.
However, analysts see a silver lining; If we have to wait for years with one device, it is better that this device be the current version that Apple has competitively repriced to be the cheapest in the series’ history at launch.
