Apple’s next-generation Apple TV could arrive with an upgraded Siri Remote, with references discovered in Apple software pointing to a new version of the controller.
Code found in macOS 26.7 includes a reference to “ATVRemote1,5,” which is believed to represent an unreleased Apple TV remote.
The discovery adds to evidence that Apple is preparing to refresh its streaming hardware, although the code does not reveal what changes the new Siri Remote could introduce.
The Apple Post previously reported that Apple is preparing an updated Apple TV for launch this autumn, with the device expected to receive a faster processor and upgrades designed around Apple’s next generation of Siri.
The current third-generation Siri Remote features an aluminium design, touch-enabled clickpad, dedicated Siri button and USB-C charging. An updated model could give Apple an opportunity to introduce additional functionality alongside the new Apple TV.
One possible addition could be improved support for locating a misplaced remote. Apple already allows recent Apple TV owners to use an iPhone to locate a Siri Remote using an on-screen proximity interface, although the remote itself does not currently offer the same Precision Finding experience available with devices equipped with Ultra Wideband technology.
The Apple TV hardware itself is also expected to receive a significant performance upgrade. Reports have pointed to a newer Apple-designed processor replacing the A15 Bionic used in the current model, alongside updated wireless technology.
The Apple Post reported earlier this year that the next Apple TV and HomePod mini had reportedly been finished for months and were already being used internally by Apple employees, with their launch reportedly tied to the company’s upgraded Siri experience.
Apple last refreshed the Apple TV 4K in 2022, when it introduced the A15 Bionic chip, a more compact design and a Siri Remote with USB-C charging.
The appearance of a new remote identifier in Apple’s own software suggests the controller could now be refreshed alongside the next Apple TV, rather than Apple carrying the existing Siri Remote over to the new generation.
