Nikkei: Apple is working on a new Apple TV that will be released next year

Several rumors have indicated that Apple is working on an updated version of the Apple TV, and a report today Nikkei Asia Review adds to speculation that Apple will release a new version of its set-top box next year.

Citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans, Nikkei’s ‌Apple TV‌ listing appears in a broader report on Apple’s 2021 production plans.

Apple is also preparing an aggressive production schedule for its high-end computers, including the MacBook Pro and iMac Pro, for 2021, two other people familiar with the matter say. The company is in the process of replacing Intel’s core processors in its computing setups with proprietary CPUs built with technology from British chip designer Arm. Apple has already introduced three MacBook models powered by the M1 central processor in late 2020 and announced that it will take about two years to fully switch to custom CPUs. The US tech giant is also working on a new Apple TV, a home entertainment device for video-on-demand services, for next year, one said.

Rumors of a new HetApple TV‌ have been circulating throughout the year since signs of the as-yet-unreleased device were spotted in an iOS 13.4 beta in January. At the time, rumors suggested it would have an A12 chip and be available in 64 and 128 GB storage sizes.

Since then, there have been signs of a new ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ with an updated remote in iOS 14 code, and leaker Jon Prosser has suggested that the new ‌Apple TV‌ will be equipped with an A12X Bionic chip. However, another rumor claimed it will use an A14 chip, the same chip used in the iPhone 12 series.

Besides possible remote changes, storage capabilities, an updated processor and a “T1125” code name, little else is known about the new ‌Apple TV‌, although Prosser recently suggested it could include a U1 chip that enables Ultra Wideband support for improved spatial awareness between devices. .

Given the wave of rumors, one theory is that Apple is working on multiple ‌Apple TV‌ set-top boxes, which could explain the discrepancy in chip rumors. Whatever Apple’s plans, a new ‌Apple TV next year feels like a safe bet – Apple hasn’t updated the current ‌Apple TV‌ 4K since September 2017.