Apple has reportedly tested two changes designed to make Siri easier to use with its next Apple TV 4K: built-in microphones for hands-free voice commands and a refreshed Siri Remote with its own speaker.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the microphones would allow users to speak to Siri without first picking up the remote or relying on a nearby HomePod. Apple has also tested adding a speaker to the Siri Remote so it can be easier to locate when misplaced.
Bloomberg does not say either feature is guaranteed to appear on the final shipping hardware, so they remain tested capabilities rather than confirmed specifications.
Hands-free Siri would change one of the basic interactions with Apple TV. Voice requests currently depend largely on pressing the Siri button on the remote or using another Apple device, while built-in microphones could let the box respond more like a smart speaker.
A speaker-equipped Siri Remote would tackle a different living-room problem: finding the remote after it disappears into furniture or another room. Apple already provides software tools for locating a Siri Remote with an iPhone, but audible feedback from the remote itself could make the process more direct.
The tests come as Apple prepares a broader smart home push. The next Apple TV is expected to appear at Apple’s October 13 “Welcome home” launch alongside HomeView and an updated HomePod mini.
Bloomberg says the new Apple TV will use an A19 chip and is scheduled to reach customers and stores on October 30.
Whether the microphone and speaker-equipped remote survive into the finished product should become clearer when Apple unveils the new hardware.