Don’t buy an Apple TV now, the new model is coming sooner than you think
Avoid buying the current Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen as a new model with an A17 Pro chip and potentially increased storage is expected in March, possibly at a lower price. Picture: Apple
Image: Apple
It’s no secret that an Apple TV is an excellent addition to any home theatre setup, but right now would be the worst time to buy one.
The Apple TV was last updated in 2022, when the 4K 3rd Gen was released. The base model 64GB version costs R2,999 at the iStore, while the 128GB is R3,599.
When you try to find out more details about the 3rd Gen on the iStore, nowhere does it tell you that this product is now actually four years old.
The biggest news though, is that the new model is expected imminently. According to rumours, the new model comes as soon as later this month, but the popular consensus is that it’s coming in March.
March Product Announcements: Apple TV Update Expected with A17 Pro Chip
March is normally the time when Apple makes its first of its many new product announcements every year, and since it’s been so long since the Apple TV has been updated, it’s expected to be front and centre.
That’s also because one of the best-selling Apple devices - the MacBook Air - will also likely be updated in March, but it will simply be a spec bump with the new M5 chip.
The current Apple TV uses an A15 chip, which was also found in the iPhone 13 series. In fact, when the Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen was released in November 2022, the A15 chip was already over a year old.
That means if you buy an Apple TV today, you’re forking over your hard-earned cash for a chip that is almost five years old.
The new Apple TV will reportedly have an A17 Pro chip, which was first used in the iPhone 15 range in 2023. There’s also a good chance the base storage size will be increased, while the price may actually be dropped.
For all these reasons, it means it makes no sense at all to buy the Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen right now.