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Apple says Siri AI will come to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models through a tvOS update later this year, so owners may not need to buy the new model for those features. Older HomePod Minis will not get Siri AI, and the update requires a compatible iPhone or iPad nearby.
Apple says second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will receive Siri AI in a software update planned for later this year, giving owners a way to access the new assistant without buying the newly announced fourth-generation box. The disclosure appears in a footnote to Apple’s Apple TV 4K announcement; the feature is included in the tvOS 27.2 beta and is slated for English in eight countries.
The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K costs $300 and adds an A19 processor, internal microphones for Siri requests, 128GB of storage and an Ethernet port. Its design, resolution and many features are similar to those of the third-generation model released in 2022. Apple is also selling its updated Siri Remote separately for $59, with shipping listed for Nov. 13; it works with Apple TV 4K models and Apple TV HD.
Apple’s note says Siri AI will reach the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K later this year. It does not list the first-generation Apple TV 4K. The supported languages and markets named in the announcement are English in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Apple’s compatibility requirements extend beyond the television box. Users need a nearby supported iPhone or iPad to access Siri AI. The cited eligible phones begin with iPhone 15 Pro models; supported tablets include iPad Pro and iPad Air models with M1 or later chips, and the iPad mini with an A17 Pro chip. The report says Apple’s HomeView can switch among as many as six household members when each has a supported device paired to it, connected to the same Wi-Fi network and recently unlocked.
Older TVs May Avoid an Upgrade
The update changes the value calculation for Apple TV owners considering the new $300 model. If Siri AI is their main reason to upgrade, Apple’s planned support for two earlier generations gives them a reason to wait for the software release and see how it works on their existing hardware.
The new model still offers hardware changes beyond Siri AI, including a faster processor, built-in microphones and more storage. Those features may matter to people seeking better gaming performance or a new setup. But access to the assistant alone will not require the latest Apple TV 4K, according to Apple’s announcement.
The support is uneven across Apple’s home devices. Owners of older Apple TV 4K models are included, while older HomePod Minis will not receive the advanced Siri AI features. Buyers planning a connected setup should distinguish between the assistant’s availability on the TV and on speakers around the home.
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Apple Splits Home Device Support
Apple introduced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K alongside the HomePod Mini 2 and HomeView, its first smart home device with a screen. The new Apple TV and HomePod Mini 2 use newer processors intended to handle Siri AI requests. Apple says the new speaker’s S10 chip supports those features; existing HomePod Minis lack the same capability.
The source report says older HomePod Minis can still be mixed with newer units for basic Siri commands, but it had not yet tested how well mixed setups would work. Apple also plans Siri AI for certain existing iPads, including qualifying iPad Pro and Air models and the iPad mini with A17 Pro. That support may make an iPad already used in a kitchen a practical alternative for some household tasks, though it does not establish that every HomeView feature will be available on a tablet.
“The second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will also get Siri AI when it’s available later this year.”
— Apple, in a footnote to its Apple TV 4K press release, as quoted by CNET
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Release Details Remain Limited
Apple has not provided a firm public release date for Siri AI on older Apple TV 4K models; the stated timing is later this year, and the feature is currently identified in a beta. The announcement also does not specify whether every Siri AI capability will work identically on older and newer Apple TV hardware.
Availability is listed for English in eight countries. The source does not establish a broader language rollout or confirm performance in real-world mixed HomePod Mini setups. CNET said those speaker arrangements would need testing.
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Watch for the tvOS Release
Apple’s next stated milestone is the release of Siri AI in a tvOS update later this year. Apple TV owners can check the final compatibility details and supported features when the update is released, then decide whether the new processor, microphones, storage or other hardware justify an upgrade.
For households considering HomeView or HomePod Mini 2, the remaining practical questions include how mixed generations of speakers behave and which features require a supported, recently unlocked iPhone or iPad. Apple has not supplied answers to every setup question in the cited announcement.
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Key Questions
Which older Apple TV models are slated to get Siri AI?
Apple says second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will receive it. The cited announcement does not list the first-generation Apple TV 4K.
When will Siri AI arrive on older Apple TV 4K models?
Apple says it is coming later this year. The feature is included in the tvOS 27.2 beta, but the source gives no firm release date.
Will older HomePod Minis get Siri AI?
No. The report says older HomePod Minis will not get the advanced Siri AI features, though basic Siri commands should still work.
Does an Apple TV with Siri AI work without a newer iPhone or iPad?
The source says a nearby supported iPhone or iPad is required to use Siri AI. Eligible devices include iPhone 15 Pro and later models and certain iPads.
Source: rss
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