After a wait of 1439 days, Apple will update the Apple TV on Tuesday during its 'Welcome Home' event. At this event, scheduled for 15:00 Saudi time, several updated products and a completely new smart home hub, rumored to be called HomePad, are expected to be announced.
Despite the packed lineup of new items, the main event will be the updated Apple TV, which has technically not received an update in a very long time. The new streaming box will retain its familiar compact design, but users can expect a significant boost in under-the-hood performance.
The last Apple TV update occurred in 2022 with the release of the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) model. Before local price increases earlier this year, the base 64GB model cost R2,999 at iStore, and the top 128GB version was R3,599. Currently, the same models are priced at R4,199 and R5,249, respectively. Although the next line is expected to be in a similar price range, currency fluctuations offer no guarantees.
The current model uses the A15 Bionic chip, which is used in the iPhone 13 lineup. When the 3rd generation Apple TV debuted, this chip was already over a year old. In fact, by buying the current generation Apple TV today, a consumer is paying for hardware whose performance is approaching five years old.
It is reported that the upcoming Apple TV will be equipped with the A19 or A19 Pro chip—the same silicon introduced in last year's iPhone 17 lineup. In addition to a substantial performance improvement, industry insiders predict that Apple will increase the base memory capacity across all models.
Alongside the streaming device, the debut of an Apple smart home display, which differs from the traditional line of standalone speakers, is highly anticipated and will be presented as HomePad. Leaks indicate that the device will feature a 6-inch square display mounted on a metal arm and based on a round stand—a design that clearly references the iconic early 2000s G4 series iMac.
HomePad is positioned as the central command center for the Apple ecosystem, unifying Apple TV, MacBook, HomePod, and compatible smart devices such as security cameras and doorbells. Deep integration with Apple's next-generation Siri AI will make voice interaction the primary way to control connected spaces.
Reports suggest that Apple will promote HomePad as a multi-room device, encouraging customers to place it throughout their living space. The estimated price is around $350 USD, equivalent to approximately R6,000 in South Africa before local taxes, duties, and retail markups.
To conclude the event, the release of an updated HomePod mini is also planned, which will provide higher Wi-Fi performance and enhanced Siri AI features designed for seamless operation within the new HomePad ecosystem.
