The latest Apple TV is the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022), sold in 64 GB Wi-Fi and 128 GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet versions.
Latest Apple TV At A Glance
The newest Apple TV on sale from Apple is the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), released in late 2022. It keeps the small puck design, but it runs on the A15 Bionic chip, streams in 4K HDR, and ships with the aluminum Siri Remote with USB-C charging.
Apple sells two main versions of this box: a 64 GB model with Wi-Fi, and a 128 GB model with Wi-Fi plus Ethernet and Thread smart home features. Both run the current tvOS software, so you get the same apps, games, and Apple services on either one.
- Model name — Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
- Year released — 2022.
- Chip — A15 Bionic, shared with iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.
- Storage options — 64 GB Wi-Fi, 128 GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet.
- Video formats — 4K with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.
- Audio formats — Dolby Atmos and multichannel surround.
Which Is The Latest Apple TV Model Right Now?
As of early 2026, Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) is still the newest Apple TV hardware you can buy directly from Apple. Rumors point to a refresh with a faster chip at some point, but Apple has not announced or shipped a newer box yet.
That can be confusing, because retailers still list older Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K units, and tvOS updates keep rolling out to many of them. The trick is to separate hardware and software. The latest hardware is the third-generation Apple TV 4K from 2022, while the latest software is tvOS 26, which runs on several models from 2015 onward.
If you want the most up to date Apple TV experience with all the new tvOS interface changes and features such as Apple Music Sing and the refreshed Liquid Glass home screen, the 2022 Apple TV 4K is the model to buy. Older boxes still work well for streaming, but they miss some of the newer tricks and will reach the end of their update window sooner.
Apple TV Lineup: How We Got Here
Before you choose the latest Apple TV, it helps to see how the current box compares to earlier models. Apple has been selling tvOS-based streaming boxes since 2015, and several of those devices still sit under living room televisions today.
Here is a high level look at the most common models you will come across:
| Model | Year Released | Max Output |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV HD (4th generation) | 2015 | 1080p SDR |
| Apple TV 4K (1st generation) | 2017 | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision |
| Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) | 2021 | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) | 2022 | 4K HDR, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
Apple no longer sells the HD or first-generation 4K model on its own site. The 2021 second-generation Apple TV 4K occasionally appears at a discount through third-party retailers, while the 2022 third-generation Apple TV 4K is the current main product in Apple’s Store worldwide.
If you want to double check which model you already own, you can open Settings on your box and look under General > About for the model name and number. Apple also lists every hardware revision on its official model lookup page, which is handy if you only have the serial number or box.
Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) Features That Matter
The latest Apple TV is not just a streaming stick with a new logo. The 2022 Apple TV 4K brings a better processor, wider HDR format handling, and smart home tricks that help it act as more than a simple video box.
Processor And Performance
Inside the 2022 Apple TV 4K sits Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, the same family of processor used in iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. That gives the box plenty of headroom for smooth 4K streaming, fast interface animations, and higher end Apple Arcade titles.
The A15 chip means apps launch quickly and game performance stays steady, even with higher resolution textures and more demanding effects. Compared with the older A12-based second-generation Apple TV 4K, the third-generation model feels snappier when you scroll through long content rows or switch between user profiles.
Picture And Sound
The Apple TV 4K has always handled high resolution video, but the latest model adds HDR10+ to its list of video standards it can use alongside standard HDR10 and Dolby Vision. That helps it work better with TVs from brands that favor HDR10+, while still playing nicely with Dolby Vision sets.
On the audio side, the 2022 box works with Dolby Atmos soundtracks and multichannel home theater setups. You can pair it with a soundbar, an AV receiver, or a pair of HomePod speakers for immersive audio during films, sports, and games.
Storage, Ethernet, And Thread
The third-generation Apple TV 4K comes with either 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage. Both sizes are fine for basic streaming, because apps on tvOS are compact, but the larger capacity helps if you install many Apple Arcade games or several streaming apps with big offline caches.
More notable is the split between connectivity options. The 64 GB model connects over Wi-Fi only. The 128 GB version adds a full Ethernet port on the back, which can give you more stable video when your Wi-Fi network is crowded. It also includes Thread networking hardware so it can act as a better smart home hub for accessories that rely on that standard.
Apple’s own Apple TV 4K tech specs page spells out those hardware differences, along with video formats the box can use and the exact Wi-Fi standards inside the chassis. The main takeaway is simple: the pricier 128 GB version is built for people who care about wired networking and smart home gear as well as streaming.
Siri Remote And Controls
The latest Apple TV ships with the aluminum Siri Remote, now charging over USB-C instead of Lightning. The clickpad lets you swipe through lists or click in the four directions, and the dedicated power and mute buttons mean the remote can stand in for your TV’s controller once you set up volume control.
You don’t need to use the physical remote every time. Many people drive their Apple TV with the built-in Remote app in Control Center on an iPhone, or by asking Siri on other devices to play content on the living room TV.
Which Apple TV 4K Should You Buy?
When people ask which is the latest Apple TV, they often really want to know which version of that latest box is worth buying. For the 2022 Apple TV 4K, the choice boils down to storage, Ethernet, and Thread.
Here is a simple way to think about the decision:
- Pick 64 GB Wi-Fi — if you mainly stream from a few apps, your Wi-Fi is reliable, and you do not plan to load many large games.
- Pick 128 GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet — if you want wired networking, plan to install several Apple Arcade titles, or already use Thread-based smart home accessories.
For many households, the 64 GB model is more than enough. Streaming apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ do not need much space, and tvOS manages app storage automatically. You can always offload games you no longer play.
The 128 GB model makes more sense if you see the Apple TV as a small game console and smart home brain as well as a video box. Extra storage keeps multiple big games ready to launch, the Ethernet jack helps keep 4K streams steady on busy evenings, and Thread hardware gives you better range and reliability for compatible sensors and lights.
tvOS On The Latest Apple TV
Apple keeps adding features to tvOS, and the 2022 Apple TV 4K benefits the most from that steady stream of updates. tvOS 26 arrived in 2025 with a refreshed Liquid Glass interface, a more responsive Control Center, and better integration with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Apple Fitness+.
The latest software also brings an Apple Music Sing mode where lyrics appear on screen and your iPhone can act as a microphone. There is an updated user profile system that loads the right account when the box wakes, so each person in the home sees their own watch list and content rows.
Many of these upgrades reach older Apple TV hardware as well, but the 2022 box gets the smoothest experience and more of the graphics-heavy interface changes. New gaming features and visual enhancements are tuned for the A15 chip, which gives developers extra processing headroom for animation and effects.
How To Check Whether Your Box Is The Latest Apple TV
If you already own an Apple TV, you might want to confirm whether it is the current hardware or one of the older models. The fastest way is to check the model name in Settings on the device itself.
- Open Settings — Turn on your Apple TV and open the Settings app from the home screen.
- Go to General > About — Select General, then choose About from the list.
- Check the Model entry — Look for the line labeled Model. It should list something like “Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)” along with a model code.
- Compare with Apple’s list — If you still aren’t sure, match that code against the entries on Apple’s model lookup page to confirm the exact generation.
If your box reads Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), you already have the latest Apple TV hardware. If you see Apple TV HD or an earlier Apple TV 4K generation, your device will keep running tvOS for a while, but you might miss newer visual features or gaming options, and resale values tend to fall once a new model arrives.
When you do decide to upgrade, you will not lose your purchases. Films, shows, and apps tied to your Apple ID follow you to the new box as soon as you sign in, and iCloud keeps your basic settings and subscriptions in sync.