Apple announces new Apple TV 4K with A12 Bionic, new remote, and more

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Apple Unveils The Next Gen Of Appletv4k
Apple Unveils The Next Gen Of Appletv4k (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

  • Apple TV 4K just got a big update.
  • The newly updated box will support HDR in high frame rate for the first time.
  • A new configuration and calibration feature will use your iPhone, too.
  • There's a new Apple TV remote, too

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Apple just updated the Apple TV 4K, adding support for a new remote, HDR in high frame rates, and more. The addition of an Apple A12 Bionic processor also means that all of this is possible, too.

The key point here is the newly redesigned Apple TV Siri Remote, made from aluminum and not glass. There's a new click pad that is also touch enabled, making it easier to use than the existing controller, too. That remote is also built from 100% recycled aluminum, of course.

Apple says the new Siri Remote can now control your TV via new power and mute buttons as well. So yay for that!

Apple Unveils The Next Gen Of Appletv4k Siri Remote

Apple Unveils The Next Gen Of Appletv4k Siri Remote (Image credit: Apple)

That beefy new A12 Bionic also means we can enjoy HDR content at high frame rates for the first time.

With A12 Bionic, Apple TV 4K now supports high frame rate HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Dolby Vision video, enabling fast-moving action at 60 frames per second (fps) to play more smoothly and appear more lifelike than ever before.1 Apple is working with leading video providers around the world, including FOX Sports, NBCUniversal, Paramount+, Red Bull TV, and Canal+, as they begin to stream in high frame rate HDR. And with high frame rate support in AirPlay, videos shot on iPhone 12 Pro can be displayed in full 60-fps Dolby Vision on the new Apple TV 4K.

Moving on, Apple also confirmed that we will be able to calibrate our new Apple TV 4K using our iPhones for the first time, making it easier to adjust color balance and more for a more accurate image. Apple says this will make a huge difference to the way our content appears on-screen, but we'll have to confirm that ourselves when the new boxes ship.

Apple Unveils The Next Gen Of Appletv4k Palmer Screen

Apple Unveils The Next Gen Of Appletv4k Palmer Screen (Image credit: Apple)

Speaking of ship dates, the refreshed Apple TV 4K starts at $179 starting April 30, with availability beginning May. The base model ships with 32GB of storage, but $199 will get you the 64GB version if you're concerned about having enough space for all those Apple ARcade games.

Apple Tv 4k Hero Select
Apple TV 4K


The new Apple TV 4K features the A12 Bionic, high-refresh-rate HDR, and a new Siri Remote.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.