Apple’s living-room lineup just got a lot more expensive. The new Apple TV 4K costs $299 and the HomePod mini 2 costs $149, and neither one is a bargain next to what they replace. Before you hit pre-order, it is worth asking what you actually get for the extra money.
What Apple announced
On October 13, Apple opened pre-orders for the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) in the U.S. and 29 other countries and regions. It uses an A19 chip, which Apple says brings up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice the GPU performance of the previous generation. It also adds a dedicated AV1 decoder for more efficient streaming. The box reaches stores on Friday, November 13.
The HomePod mini 2 is cheaper and arrives sooner. It costs $149, runs on an S10 chip, comes in pink, green, blue, white and midnight, and goes on sale October 30. A new feature called Sound Glow makes the top of the speaker light up in time with your music.
The price jump is the real story
Apple’s own announcement does not say what changed from last time, so the comparison comes from reviewers. Tom’s Guide counts the new Apple TV 4K as $100 more than the previous model, and notes that Apple had already lifted the older 2022 box from $129 in June. Measured against that $129 starting point, the real step up is closer to $170. The same outlet puts the HomePod mini 2 at $50 above the original’s $99.
Apple does not explain the increases in its materials. Whatever the reason, the effect on a shopper is the same: a streaming box that once sat in impulse-buy territory now costs about as much as a decent soundbar.
What you actually get
The new Siri Remote can now play a sound when you lose it, and it supports Find My with Precision Finding if you own a compatible iPhone. The Apple TV also gets three far-field microphones, so you can say “Hey Siri” without reaching for the remote at all.
For home theater, the box now supports four-speaker surround using matched front and rear pairs of HomePod mini 2 or second-generation HomePod speakers. That is the one genuinely new trick here. It is also expensive: two pairs of HomePod minis at $149 each is $596 before the $299 box.
The headline software feature, a conversational full-screen Siri AI, is labeled a beta by Apple. It runs on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) or later, which means the new box is not required to try it. On the HomePod mini 2, Siri AI arrives in a later software update with no date given, and personal-context requests need an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence.
Who should buy, and who should skip
If you already own a 2nd-generation Apple TV 4K or newer, the case for upgrading is thin. You get the new Siri beta on your current box, and the faster chip mostly matters for games and menu speed. Wait for the first reviews and a few holiday discounts.
If you are on an older Apple TV HD or a failing smart-TV interface, the new model makes more sense, though it is a hard sell at $299 when cheaper streamers exist. The HomePod mini 2 is the easier recommendation for people already deep in Apple’s ecosystem, but the original at $99 is still the value pick if you can find it. Our earlier looks at Apple’s $299 HomeView and its smart home gear and iCloud+ catch cover the rest of the October 13 lineup.
Bottom Line
Apple built a nicer Apple TV and a nicer HomePod mini, and then made both pricier. The new remote and surround support are real upgrades, but the AI features do not need new hardware on the TV side. Unless your current box is struggling, there is no rush to pre-order.
FAQ
How much is the new Apple TV 4K?
The Apple TV 4K (4th generation) costs $299 in the U.S. Pre-orders opened October 13, and it reaches stores on November 13.
When does the HomePod mini 2 come out?
The HomePod mini 2 goes on sale October 30 at $149. It comes in pink, green, blue, white and midnight.
Do I need the new Apple TV to use Siri AI?
No. Apple says the Siri AI beta works on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) or later, so many current owners can try it without buying new hardware.
Featured image: Apple (Apple Newsroom).
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