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Apple says Siri AI will come to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models through tvOS 27.2, allowing some owners to access the feature without buying the new $300 model. The update is listed in beta and is expected later this year in English in eight countries; older HomePod mini speakers will not get the advanced Siri AI features.
Apple says second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will receive its upcoming Siri AI features, giving owners a reason to hold off on buying the newly announced fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. The support is listed in a footnote to Apple’s announcement and is tied to tvOS 27.2, which is currently in beta; the company says availability is planned for later this year.
The new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K costs $300 and keeps the existing product name and general design, while adding an A19 processor, internal microphones for Siri requests, 128GB of storage and an Ethernet port. Its revamped Siri Remote adds a chime and precision finding through Find My. Those hardware features are distinct from Siri AI support: Apple’s announcement says the two previous Apple TV 4K generations will also receive the new software capabilities.
According to the fine print cited by CNET, the feature is in the tvOS 27.2 beta and is planned for English-language use in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Apple has also said the new Siri Remote will be sold separately for $59 and work with Apple TV 4K models and Apple TV HD. The report lists a Nov. 13 shipping date for the remote.
The same backward compatibility does not extend to older HomePod mini speakers. CNET reports that Apple designed the new HomePod mini 2, with an S10 processor, to handle Siri AI, while existing HomePod minis will not receive those advanced features. They can still be mixed into a home setup, and basic Siri commands are expected to remain available, but how mixed-generation speakers behave together has not yet been tested in the report.
Older Apple TVs Can Wait
The announced support changes the immediate upgrade calculation for households that already own a second- or third-generation Apple TV 4K. If Siri AI is the main reason to buy the new box, those owners may be able to wait for the software update rather than spend $300. The older models do not have the new box’s faster processor or built-in microphones, so the announcement does not establish that every feature or interaction will be identical across generations.
It also highlights a difference among Apple’s home devices. Some newer AI features will reach older Apple TV hardware, but the company is not extending them to previous HomePod minis. Buyers weighing a wider smart-home upgrade should separate software access from hardware benefits such as the new processor, microphone, storage and remote features.
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Apple’s New Home Hardware
The compatibility news arrived alongside announcements for a new Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2 and HomeView, Apple’s first smart-home device with a screen. The new products are presented as hardware capable of running Siri AI, which makes the older Apple TV support a notable qualification to the case for upgrading.
The report also says some iPads can receive Siri AI later this year: iPad Pro and iPad Air models with M1 or later, and iPad mini models with the A17 Pro chip. Apple’s HomeView relies on supported iPhones or iPads for personalized household information. CNET reports that each person must have a compatible device paired with HomeView, on the same Wi-Fi network and recently unlocked. That setup requirement is separate from whether an older Apple TV can receive Siri AI.
“Siri AI will also come to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models.”
— Apple, in the Apple TV 4K announcement footnote as reported by CNET
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Features and Rollout Still Pending
The announcement does not specify whether every Siri AI capability will work in the same way on older Apple TV 4K models, which lack the new model’s processor and built-in microphones. The feature is described as being in beta, so its final behavior and exact public release date remain unclear. Apple has named eight English-language markets, but the announcement details provided do not set out a more precise rollout schedule.
It is also not yet clear how smoothly new and old HomePod minis will work together when users issue voice commands. CNET says basic Siri commands should still work but notes that mixed-device arrangements will need testing. The report does not establish that older HomePod minis will gain Siri AI later.
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Watch for tvOS 27.2
The next key milestone is the public release of tvOS 27.2 and confirmation of which Siri AI functions it brings to second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K units. Owners considering an upgrade can compare those release details with the new model’s hardware additions before deciding whether the $300 box is worth buying.
Apple’s stated timeline is later this year, but a specific public release date is not included in the source material. Buyers interested in the new Siri Remote can also check its announced separate-sale availability and compatibility with older Apple TV models.
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Key Questions
Which older Apple TV models are expected to get Siri AI?
Apple says second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will receive the features through tvOS 27.2. The software is listed in beta, with availability planned for later this year.
Do I need to buy the new $300 Apple TV 4K for Siri AI?
Not solely for the announced Siri AI support if you already own a second- or third-generation Apple TV 4K. The newer model has separate hardware upgrades, including an A19 processor, internal microphones, 128GB of storage and an Ethernet port.
Will older HomePod mini speakers get Siri AI?
According to CNET’s report, older HomePod minis will not receive the advanced Siri AI features. They may still be used alongside newer speakers, and basic Siri commands should remain available.
When and where is Siri AI expected on older Apple TVs?
Apple’s announcement says later this year, through tvOS 27.2. The listed English-language markets are the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom; a more precise release date is not provided.
Source: rss
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