Summary

  • Recent low retail inventory hints that a refreshed Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini might arrive very soon.
  • The new Apple TV 4K will likely keep the same design but feature an A17 Pro chip for faster performance.
  • The HomePod mini will also feature an upgraded chip and new colors.

It feels like it's several years overdue at this point, but Apple's long-rumored Apple TV 4K refresh could be released very soon, according to a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a reliable source of leaks.

"Retail inventory of the full-sized HomePod, the HomePod mini, and the Apple TV set-top box is running low at Apple retail stores around the world. Shortages more often than not mean that updated products are on the way. But let's not jump to any conclusions here," writes Gurman in a recent story, citing a long-running release pattern for new Apple products, particularly refreshes.

According to Gurman, the refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini have been "ready since last year," but their release has been pushed back because Apple is waiting for its upgraded, AI-powered Siri to be ready. Apple's new version of Siri, powered by Google's Gemini AI platform, will reportedly start rolling out in May, according to an earlier report from Gurman.

While Apple initially wanted to wait for its revamped Siri to be released before dropping both new devices, the tech giant "just got tired of waiting," according to Gurman.

👁 The Apple TV's home screen
4 reasons Apple is long overdue to finally make a TV

After years of rumors, it's time for the reports to become a reality.

The new Apple TV is expected to feature a similar design

All the changes will likely be under the hood

Previous rumors indicate that Apple's new Apple TV 4K will feature the same overall design as the current Apple TV 4K (3rd-generation) that released back in 2022, alongside an identical Siri Remote that features physical buttons. With the new Apple TV 4K, the key upgrades will be a faster A17 Pro chip, offering faster overall performance and the ability to play higher-end games. The current Apple TV features Apple's A15 chip.

Apple's new HomePod is also expected to feature an upgraded chip (the current version features an S5 chip), alongside several new colors. While I don't have much interest in the new HomePod, I've been waiting for a refreshed Apple TV 4K to drop since mine started to suffer from performance issues, so I'm hoping this rumor is true.

It's already been a busy spring for Apple, with the iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, AirPods Max 2, and the M5-powered MacBook Air and MacBook Pro all recently dropping.