The best streaming devices generally don’t get updated all that frequently; there’s not too much that changes year-to-year. It’s been four years since Apple released its last device, but now it’s back with the Apple TV 4K (4th gen).
This fourth-gen streamer has the company’s newest A19 processor — the same as in the iPhone 17 — which means it’s not only faster, but has access to the new-and-improved Siri, which in theory should mean that it’s easier for you to find shows to watch. And, you can also create a fully immersive surround-sound setup using HomePod smart speakers. But, the Apple TV 4K also comes with an exorbitantly high $299. Yes, it’s a nicer setup all around, but it’s hard to justify the price if you’re not in the Apple ecosystem.
At $299, the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) is by far the most expensive streaming device, and is a big jump in price over the 2022 model, whose most expensive variant cost $149 when it was first released (Apple jacked up the price to $249 earlier in 2026). Apple’s just offering one version this time, with 128GB of storage.
Among the best streaming devices, the next most expensive gadget is the Amazon Fire TV Cube, which costs $199 regularly.
Should you upgrade? Here are the major differences; for ease of comparison, I’m only including the 128GB version of the 2022 model.
Aside from the specs, the 2026 model supports up to four HomePod devices, whereas the 2022 model only supports two.
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