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The Apple TV 4K is finally getting a refresh after sitting unchanged since 2022. With October shaping up to be one of Apple's busiest product months, the new streaming box is expected to arrive any day now with meaningful upgrades that go beyond just a spec bump.

The biggest change under the hood is the jump from the A15 chip to the A17 Pro. This isn't just about faster menus. The A17 Pro brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing, opening the door for console-quality gaming on your TV. Developers will finally have the horsepower to port more demanding titles to tvOS.

Apple is also adding its custom N1 wireless chip to the new Apple TV. This means support for Wi-Fi 7 and the latest Bluetooth standards, which translates to faster streaming, especially for 4K content, and better connectivity with your AirPods and other accessories. The N1 chip already debuted in the iPhone 17 lineup, so it makes sense to see it spread across Apple's product family.

The new model will ship with 8GB of RAM, up from the current 4GB. More memory means smoother multitasking between apps and less time spent waiting for things to reload. Picture-in-picture, gaming, and jumping between streaming services should all feel snappier.

While the external design is expected to stay the same, there's talk of a FaceTime camera being built into a future Apple TV model. That feature might not arrive with this generation, but it shows where Apple is heading with the living room experience.

With the A17 Pro's gaming capabilities, pairing your Apple TV with a quality controller makes sense. The SteelSeries Nimbus+ works seamlessly with tvOS and offers a comfortable grip for longer gaming sessions. It connects via Bluetooth and charges through Lightning.

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If you're planning to upgrade your home theater setup alongside the new Apple TV, the Belkin Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable supports 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz. It's certified for the full HDMI 2.1 specification, which means you'll get the best possible picture and audio quality your TV can handle.

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To protect your Siri Remote and make it easier to find, the elago R4 Protective Case adds a slim silicone layer with a wrist strap. It comes in multiple colors and gives you a better grip without adding much bulk.

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Apple typically announces its October products either through a formal event or a series of press releases. Given that the M5 chip will likely debut this month across multiple products including the iPad Pro, an event seems possible. Either way, the new Apple TV should be available before the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear.

The current Apple TV 4K starts at $129, and pricing is expected to remain similar unless Apple decides to position this as a more premium gaming-focused device. That said, Apple could also keep an older model at a lower price point to compete better with budget streaming sticks from Amazon and Roku.

Whether you're looking to upgrade your streaming setup or dive into Apple Arcade gaming on the big screen, the new Apple TV 4K is shaping up to be a solid update. The combination of better performance, improved connectivity, and potential gaming capabilities makes it worth waiting for if you've been on the fence.