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Apple says Siri AI will come to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models through a future software update, so owners may not need to buy the new model for those features. The update is listed in the tvOS 27.2 beta and is expected later this year, but Apple’s stated availability is limited to English in eight countries. Older HomePod mini models will not receive the advanced Siri AI features.
Apple says Siri AI is coming to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models, meaning owners of those devices may not need to buy the new fourth-generation box to use the upcoming assistant features. The support is listed in the tvOS 27.2 beta and is expected later this year, according to the fine print cited by CNET in its report on Apple’s new home products.
The disclosure changes the case for buying Apple’s newly announced fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, a $300 set-top box. The new model adds an A19 processor, internal microphones for Siri requests, 128GB of storage and an Ethernet port. Apple is also promoting a redesigned Siri Remote with precision finding and a chime to help locate it. Those hardware additions are separate from the Siri AI availability, which Apple says will extend to the two preceding Apple TV 4K generations.
Apple’s software note, as reported by CNET, places Siri AI support for the older boxes in the tvOS 27.2 beta. The stated language and regional availability is English in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The source does not specify a firm public release date beyond saying the features are expected later this year.
The compatibility news does not extend to every Apple home device. CNET reports that the older HomePod mini will not get the advanced Siri AI features; Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 uses a faster S10 processor to handle them. Apple says an updated Siri Remote will also be sold separately for $59 and work with Apple TV 4K models as well as Apple TV HD. CNET reported that it was scheduled to ship Nov. 13.
Older TVs May Avoid an Upgrade
The announcement separates access to Siri AI from the purchase of Apple’s newest TV hardware. For people who already own a second- or third-generation Apple TV 4K, the promised software support may remove one reason to spend $300 on a replacement. They can wait for the update and decide whether the new processor, microphones, storage, Ethernet connection or remote features matter to them independently.
That distinction matters as Apple presents its new devices as part of a broader smart-home lineup. A household may be able to add the assistant to an existing television setup while still needing newer hardware for other functions. In particular, the HomePod mini 2’s advanced Siri features are not coming to older minis, according to CNET’s account of Apple’s compatibility information. Owners should not assume that support for an older Apple TV means every existing Apple device will gain the same capabilities.
For buyers weighing a preorder, the practical choice is to distinguish software access from hardware improvements. The older Apple TV models are slated to get Siri AI, but the source does not say they will match the new model’s performance or features. Waiting for the software rollout could give owners a clearer basis for deciding whether an upgrade is worthwhile.
What Apple’s New Devices Add
Apple announced a new set of home products alongside its renewed push into the smart home. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K keeps the same name, design and resolution as the third-generation model released in 2022, while adding a faster chip and other hardware changes. The new Siri Remote retains a similar look and operation but adds precision finding and a locating chime through Find My, according to CNET.
Apple’s HomePod mini 2 is built around an S10 processor, which CNET says is intended to process Siri AI requests. That differs from the Apple TV situation: Apple says the assistant features will reach the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K through software, despite those boxes lacking the new model’s built-in microphones and faster chip. The source does not detail how those older models will capture voice requests or which features will be available on them.
Apple’s new HomeView is positioned as a household screen that can serve multiple people. CNET reports that its personalized functions depend on each user having a compatible Apple Intelligence device, such as an iPhone 15 Pro or later, or a supported iPad. The report says a paired device must be on the same Wi-Fi network and recently unlocked. This points to a broader requirement: Siri AI in Apple’s home products is tied not only to the appliance but also to compatible personal devices.
“The second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will also get Siri AI when it’s available later this year.”
— Apple, in the Apple TV 4K press release footnote as reported by CNET
Feature Details Still Pending
Apple has not, in the details provided by CNET, published a precise public release date for Siri AI on older Apple TV 4K models. The report says it is expected later this year and appears in the tvOS 27.2 beta, but that does not establish when the finished software will reach all users or whether the schedule could change.
The exact set of Siri AI functions available on the older boxes is also not spelled out in the source material. The older models do not have the fourth-generation box’s internal microphones or faster A19 processor, and CNET does not explain how those hardware differences affect voice interaction, speed or feature parity. The report also does not provide independent testing of performance on the older devices.
For households mixing HomePod mini generations, CNET says basic Siri commands should continue to work, but it has not tested how well the different models will operate together. Apple’s stated availability for the older Apple TV update is limited to English in eight listed countries; broader language or regional support is not confirmed here.
Watch for the tvOS Rollout
The next milestone is Apple’s release of tvOS 27.2 and confirmation of when Siri AI reaches eligible second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K owners. Users should check Apple’s release notes for the final feature list, supported regions and any device requirements before deciding whether to replace a working box.
Those considering the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K can compare its hardware additions with the features their current model is set to receive. HomePod mini owners face a different decision: based on the information reported by CNET, the advanced Siri AI features require the new mini, while basic commands remain available on older models. Apple’s eventual software details and real-world testing will clarify how useful the older-TV support is and how mixed-generation setups perform.
Key Questions
Which older Apple TV models are expected to get Siri AI?
Apple says the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will receive Siri AI. CNET reports the feature is listed in the tvOS 27.2 beta.
When will Siri AI reach those Apple TV models?
Apple’s stated timing is later this year, according to the footnote cited by CNET. The source does not give a specific public release date.
Do older HomePod mini speakers get the same Siri AI features?
No. CNET reports that the advanced Siri AI features are not coming to older HomePod minis. Apple’s HomePod mini 2 has an S10 processor designed to handle those requests.
Does the Siri AI update mean owners should skip the new Apple TV 4K?
Not necessarily. The older models are slated to receive Siri AI, but the fourth-generation box adds an A19 processor, built-in microphones, 128GB of storage, Ethernet and a newer Siri Remote. Whether those additions justify an upgrade depends on the owner’s needs; the source does not say the older models will have feature or performance parity.
Where is the older Apple TV Siri AI update expected to be available?
The availability cited by CNET is English-language support in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Source: rss
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