Earlier this week, Apple announced its new Apple TV 4K, which costs nearly twice as much as the 2022 model did at launch. Amazon is now offering the first discount on the forthcoming streaming box (coming out on November 13th), just days after discounting Apple’s new smart display for the first time. Right now, you can preorder the latest Apple TV 4K ahead of its November 13th release date for $289.99 ($9 off) at Amazon. Yes, it’s a tiny discount, but every little bit helps given the higher price tag.
Powered by the new A19 chip, Apple’s latest streaming device now features support for Siri AI out of the box, which is coming to older Apple TV 4K models via a software update. Unlike its predecessors, though, the new model features far-field microphones so you can quickly make hands-free requests. You can, for example, ask for recommendations, like nature documentaries available on Apple TV, or ask questions about what you’re watching. Siri AI can also understand personal context, too, so long as you have an iPhone or iPad connected to your account that supports Apple Intelligence.
Apple has made a few other welcome upgrades, though — as my colleague John Higgins points out — not as many as some may have expected. While Apple skipped features we’d hope to see on a $300 streamer, like audio passthrough and support for 120fps output, it’s nice that the Siri Remote now supports Find My precision tracking, so you can make it ring when it goes missing or use the Find My app on your iPhone to pinpoint its location. The new Apple TV 4K also supports a more expansive surround-sound setup, allowing you to pair up to four compatible HomePod speakers instead of just two.
