New Apple TV box rumoured for September release

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First came the rumours that Apple is planning to launch a video streaming service to rival Netflix, now comes the news of fresh Apple TV hardware...

UPDATE 31.07.15

We had expected news of a new Apple TV box at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June (see story below), but with Apple concentrating instead on the launch of its new music streaming service, that didn't happen. Now Buzzfeed is reporting that the new box will definitely be unveiled in September, alongside the new iPhones.

The big upgrade will be Siri voice control, as well as a slimmer chassis, Apple's new A8 chip, more onboard storage and a new operating system.

There will also be a new touchpad controller, which should make operation simpler, and a dedicated Apple TV App Store to provide more content.

However, the long-awaited subscription internet TV service Apple has been planning may not appear until 2016.

[Source: Buzzfeed]

PUBLISHED 23.03.15

Rumours of an Apple television have been around for years but it now seems more likely (as it perhaps always did) that the company will concentrate on its existing Apple TV set-top box.

After last week's news reports of an Apple streaming video service, it now looks likely we'll see a new Apple TV box - with the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June the likely date for the big reveal.

Buzzfeed reports that "sources familiar" with Apple's TV plans suggest we'll see a new Apple TV in June, complete with upgraded internals and a fully-functioning app store.

As we said when we revisited the existing Apple TV box earlier this year, not only is the hardware relatively long in the tooth, it's also looking rather limited compared to rival, more affordable devices, such as the Google Chromecast and Roku Streaming Stick.

While Apple's set-top box has previously been limited to music, movies and TV shows downloaded through iTunes, or mirroring your Mac or iOS screen using AirPlay, a new box could bring with it a new Apple streaming video service and a fully-functioning app store with access to much more content.

The box is likely to have the standard Apple performance tweaks, from a new processor to increased storage capacity, and could add Siri voice controls, an increasingly common feature on television sets.

Apple dropped the price of the existing Apple TV box to £59 at the Apple Watch launch, so expect a new, higher-spec box to come in at a higher price point.

Apple's WWDC is likely to take place in June, with Apple expected to reveal iOS 9 alongside new Mac software. An Apple TV box complete with a new TV streaming service now looks like a solid bet, too.

MORE: Apple TV review

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).