Apple might soon release a new-generation Apple TV, one that features 4K quality playback, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 features.
The news comes from information mined from the HomePod firmware that, for some reason, contains crucial details about Apple's other products still in the pipeline. Developers quickly combed the firmware when Apple released it by accident, discovering pretty telling details about the HomePod itself and even the iPhone 8.
HomePod Firmware Shows 4K Apple TV Is Coming
As for the 4K Apple TV, iOS developer Guilherme Rambo confirmed its existence on the firmware via Twitter, captioning off the attached screencap with a simple "confirmed!" alongside a hearts-for-eyes emoji.
The Apple TV will support High Dynamic Range for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, as mentioned above. Apple's current-gen Apple TV doesn't support 4K, and many fans have been clamoring for Apple to jump into the ultra high-definition format, as many others have done already, such as Google's Chromecast.
Rumors about a 4K-capable Apple TV have been circulating for months, with nary a hint of confirmation from the Cupertino, California-based tech firm. Bloomberg first reported such rumors back in February, saying Apple plans to support 4K content with "more vivid colors." Two of the biggest streaming platforms, Netflix and Amazon, support HDR and 4K playback already, with Google Play introducing it recently. Apple's notional adoption of the resolution bump, if true, makes it a latecomer.
Why Apple hasn't already released a 4K-capable Apple TV remains uncertain, but poor sales combined with a slow adoption of 4K TVs in households could be the reason. 4K TV adoption, however, won't be a problem going forward, according to new data.
Why A 4K Apple TV Is Basically Confirmed
The 4K Apple TV is more than likely, given the fact that iTunes started to support 4K and HDR in users' purchase histories just last month, fueling anticipation for the new set-top box. With HomePod code adding more clues, it basically seems confirmed that Apple will unveil its new next-generation box soon.
Some other features missing from the Apple TV are picture-in-picture support and multi-users support. It's technically possible that both can be added via a future software update, though.
A possible announcement date remains murky, although Apple could unveil it during its fall keynote, where it's also expected to finally pull the curtains off the much-rumored iPhone 8.
Check out our article to learn how to get the most out of your Apple TV.
Thoughts about a 4K-capable Apple TV supposedly in the works? Would you buy one or turn to alternatives instead? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
