Apple tests microphones and speaker-equipped remote for upcoming Apple TV 4K
Apple is evaluating built-in microphones for the Apple TV 4K and a Siri Remote with an integrated speaker, with potential release slated for late October.
Apple is preparing to unveil an updated Apple TV 4K at its "Welcome home" product launch on Tuesday. According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the company has tested two new features for the set-top box. The first is built-in microphones that would allow users to issue Siri commands directly to the TV without using the remote or a HomePod. The second is a refreshed Siri Remote that includes a speaker, improving the device’s "Find" function and making it easier to locate.
Gurman noted that the new Apple TV 4K would be the first major hardware refresh in years, and he expects it to become available on October 30, alongside the HomePod mini. The accompanying HomeView smart display is scheduled for a mid-November release.
"Apple has also tested two features for the new Apple TV, its first update in years: built-in microphones that would let users shout Siri commands at the set-top box without needing to speak into the remote or a paired HomePod, and a refreshed remote with a speaker to make it easier to find between couch cushions," Gurman wrote.
The company’s upcoming announcements are part of a broader product rollout that includes the HomeView display and other accessories.