Apple TV 4K Refresh Expected to Bring a New Siri Remote
Photo Credit: Teodor Costachioiu / Shutterstock.com
Apple is preparing a hardware refresh for the Apple TV 4K, and a code leak uncovered in a recent software release points to a new Siri Remote arriving alongside it. The updated set-top box is expected to launch at the iPhone event scheduled for the coming weeks.
The evidence surfaced in the macOS 26.7 RC, one of a wide array of public and beta software updates Apple released. Notably, that build included references to several products the company has not yet announced. MacRumors combed through the code and identified a mention of ATVRemote1,5, which appears to be a next-generation Apple TV remote, according to Juli Clover of MacRumors.
The same code trove also produced other unreleased-product references, including a video showing AirPods with cameras in action, per MacRumors' findings. As a result, the appearance of a new remote identifier in shipping macOS code strengthens earlier speculation that Apple intends to pair the Apple TV 4K update with a refreshed accessory this fall.
The idea of a new remote is consistent with prior reporting. For instance, Mark Gurman has said the forthcoming hardware refresh would arrive with "possibly a tweaked Apple TV remote," language that stopped short of confirming a full redesign. Therefore, the code discovery in macOS 26.7 suggests a new remote is coming, though it does not spell out what changes to expect.
No rumors have detailed specific alterations to the remote. However, one common feature request among users is an easier way to locate a lost remote. Apple could address that by adding the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip seen in AirTag 2 to the Siri Remote, though that remains speculation rather than a confirmed feature.
For anyone weighing accessories to pair with the current or upcoming box, including an anti-slip silicone case for the Siri Remote that is AirTag compatible, a TotalMount for mounting the Apple TV, and an iPhone Continuity Camera mount for use with the device. In addition, on the audio side, AirPods Pro 3 are listed at $189, down from $249.
The timing lines up with Apple's usual fall cadence, with the iPhone event serving as the launch stage for the refreshed Apple TV 4K. Moreover, because the remote reference sits inside a release-candidate build rather than a beta, the accessory is far enough along in Apple's pipeline to warrant attention from anyone tracking the company's home-entertainment roadmap. As such, we are keeping an eye out for further details as the event approaches.
What the leak does not resolve is whether the new remote will be sold separately, bundled only with the new box, or offered as an upgrade for existing owners. Meanwhile, Apple has not commented on the code references, and the company rarely acknowledges unreleased products before an official announcement. Until the iPhone event, therefore, the model identifier in macOS 26.7 stands as the clearest signal that a hardware change is imminent.
For readers already invested in the Apple TV ecosystem, the practical takeaway is straightforward: a new box and a companion remote are on the near horizon, and the software groundwork is already in place. Ultimately, the specifics, from chip choices to added tracking capability, will have to wait for Apple's formal reveal.
