It's no secret that I've been critical of my Apple TV 4K (2021). What was once my favorite streaming platform, primarily because of tvOS' slick UI and the set-top box's reliability, has descended into a love-hate relationship where I find myself constantly frustrated with its sometimes laggy menus, increasingly glitchy apps, and weird audio problems.

When it works, I still really like my 2nd-generation Apple TV 4K, but over the past few months, the bad has definitely started to outweigh the good. When I've covered my Apple TV 4K woes in the past, staunch defenders passionately told me that my unit must just be a lemon -- and hey, they might be 100% correct. But I'm not about to run out and purchase the Apple TV 4K 3rd-generation when there's a refresh that's set to include several new features reportedly just around the corner in early 2026 (until then, though, I'm exploring other steaming devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Roku Ultra -- I'll have more on those streamers in a few weeks).

With that in mind, while the long-rumored Apple TV 4K 4th-generation is set to be a relatively minor hardware update to Apple's popular streaming device, there are still several upgrades worth getting excited about.

Say hello to the A17 Bionic chip

AAA gaming could come to the Apple TV 4K

Most of the upgrades coming to the Apple TV 4K (2026) are reportedly under the hood, with a new, more powerful processor being one of the key new features. The current Apple TV 4K features Apple's A15 bionic chipset, and it's rumored that the new version could include the A17 Pro, the same chip offered in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max from late 2023 (via MacRumors). Would it be great to see Apple's M series chips make their way to the Apple TV? No doubt -- but it would be a very uncharacteristic move for the desktop and iPad chip to land on the next iteration of the Apple TV 4K, so I'm trying to be realistic.

While the A17 Pro is a few years old now, it's still plenty powerful, which should lead to an overall snappier tvOS experience, especially when multi-tasking. More interestingly, though, the A17 Pro could bring big-budget, more resource-intensive games like Assassin's Creed Mirage, Death Stranding, and the Resident Evil 4 Remake.

While I've long given up on the iPhone becoming a real gaming platform for console-like experiences, I've really enjoyed the few titles that have landed on Apple's smartphone, and it would be great to play those same experiences on the Apple TV 4K, similar to how I use my ROG Xbox Ally X on the go and then play the same games on my gaming PC in my office.

Wi-Fi 7 is likely coming

Faster Wi-Fi is never a bad thing

According to a recent report, the Apple TV is rumored to feature a custom-designed network chip that supports Wi-Fi 7 (via MacRumors). Right now, my home network is powered by Google's Nest Wifi Pro, which only features Wi-Fi 6E compatibility, but I've experienced so many issues with the mesh router system over the past year (random disconnects and device incompatibility), that I'm likely going to upgrade to a router that features Wi-Fi 7 soon.

With that in mind, I'm hyped that reports point to the Apple TV 4th-generation supporting Wi-Fi 7, and while my 1Gbps internet connection isn't taking advantage of the new Wi-Fi network standard's theoretical maximum speeds of 46Gbps (real-world speeds are roughly 6-15Gbps), I'll still appreciate its lower latency and better reliability. Even if the new Apple TV (2026) doesn't feature Wi-Fi 7 and instead opts for Wi-Fi 6E, it'll be a worthwhile upgrade over my current 3rd-generation Apple TV's Wi-Fi 6.

Should I just be using Ethernet with my Apple TV 4K? Probably, but with my main router being in my basement office and my TV located in my living room, that likely isn't happening anytime soon.

AI is probably coming to the next-gen Apple TV 4K

This might be the first time I'll actually use Apple Intelligence (or any AI, really)

It's no secret that I don't have much use for most AI features. I use Photoshop CC's Generative AI to clean up photos (mostly dust), and I ask ChatGPT questions occasionally (I always check the listed sources), but I can actually see myself using Apple Intelligence with the Apple TV (2026) as long as Apple allows ChatGPT integration on the set-top box.

I'll often be watching TV with my partner and, inevitably, we'll end up trying to figure out what other TV shows or movies a specific actor has been featured in, or we'll look up the filming location for a TV show because that fictional version of New York really looks like Toronto (spoilers: it often is actually Toronto). Usually, this involves a quick Google search or asking ChatGPT a direct question. With Apple Intelligence reportedly directly integrated in tvOS 26 and the Apple TV 4K (2026), in theory, all I'd need to do is hold down the Mic Button on the Siri Remote to launch Apple Intelligence to ask whatever burning question I have on my mind.

It's obviously not a game-changing feature since my phone is typically nearby anyway, but it's a convenience I'd genuinely appreciate because it's far less distracting than pulling out my phone when I'm watching a movie or TV show, especially if Apple Intelligence on the Apple TV 4K (2026) is able to quickly pull up visuals, too.