Apple's New £299 TV Box Can Find Your Lost Remote and Answer Questions About Your Shows

Apple has unveiled its new £299 Apple TV 4K in the UK, introducing Siri AI for answering questions about television programmes and helping viewers discover what to watch. The streaming box also adds Find My support for locating a compatible Siri Remote, alongside a faster processor and upgraded smart home features.

Announced on 13 October, the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is available to pre-order, with UK retail availability scheduled for 13 November, according to Apple.

Siri AI Can Answer Questions While You Watch

The main upgrade is Siri AI, a redesigned voice assistant powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence. Available in beta, it introduces a full-screen interface that displays programme artwork, recommendations and relevant information in response to questions.

Viewers can ask where a series was filmed or whether a programme is appropriate for a 15-year-old. Responses appear in a compact overlay during playback, allowing users to find out more without interrupting what they are watching.

Siri AI can also help viewers discover new content. Asking which Apple TV programmes won Emmy Awards this year, for example, brings up relevant titles and suggestions for related viewing. With a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, users can also make personalised requests, such as asking Siri to play a show recommended by someone they know.

Apple says Siri AI will be available in English in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. The beta feature supports Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onwards, but requires the home owner to have a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with Siri AI enabled and set to a supported language. Personalised requests have additional device requirements.

Find a Lost Siri Remote With Find My

The new Siri Remote adds Find My support with Precision Finding, helping users locate a misplaced controller. The feature is compatible with the second-generation Siri Remote and later models, although Precision Finding has more specific hardware requirements.

Users need a compatible iPhone running the latest iOS software to use Precision Finding with the fourth-generation Siri Remote. Supported devices include the iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 or later, excluding the iPhone 17e, with availability varying by region. Playing a sound to locate the remote is exclusive to the newest Siri Remote.

A19 Chip Promises Faster Performance

Apple says the A19 chip delivers up to 50 per cent faster CPU performance and up to twice the GPU performance of the previous generation. A dedicated AV1 decoder is designed to enable more efficient, high-quality streaming while using less bandwidth.

The device also supports four-speaker surround sound using four compatible HomePod or HomePod mini 2 speakers arranged in matching front and rear pairs. The speakers automatically calibrate audio timing and levels to the room.

As a smart home hub, Apple TV 4K can display compatible doorbell notifications on the television, letting users see visitors, speak to them, and control connected accessories.

For prospective buyers, the biggest changes are Siri AI's conversational entertainment search and the improved remote-finding tools. However, Siri remains in beta, and some capabilities depend on compatible Apple devices, software, and smart home accessories. Buyers should check those requirements before paying £299 for the new streaming box.