Apple on Tuesday unveiled and all-new Siri Remote for the Apple TV 4K (6th gen.) that features an innovative clickpad control that offers five-way navigation for better accuracy, and is also touch-enabled for fast directional swipes. The outer ring of the clickpad supports an intuitive circular gesture that turns it into a jog control — perfect for finding a scene in a movie or show. And with its one-piece aluminum design, the new Siri Remote fits more comfortably in a user’s hand.
The new Siri Remote also has a power button that controls a TV’s power, and another for mute, making it the only remote needed while enjoying TV. Using Siri, customers can easily search for specific shows or movies, control smart home accessories, check sports scores or the weather, and much more.
The old Siri remote for Apple TV had a blank, black square of space that you swiped your thumb across to control menus and playback. It was novel at the time but often too sensitive or imprecise, causing complaints from many users.
The new version still relies on a touchpad, but with more visual and tactile cues. It’s circular, with an outer ring and four dots in the cardinal directions. Apple says there’s a new gesture that controls up and down motions if you move your thumb in a circle, and touts five-way navigation for better accuracy.
The remote is silver, which should show up better than the black version it replaces, and made from 100% recycled aluminum.
MacDailyNews Take: We can’t wait to try the new Siri Remote – and for somebody to make a silicone case for it that accommodates an AirTag! Right now, just from looking at it, backlit controls would be the one thing we most wish it offered.
The old Siri remote is the only reason why I haven’t replaced my AppleTV3. If the reviews of the new remote are out and are positive, I will get one.
I also have tv 3rd gen. I have different reasons for keeping it. (1) My TV is HD (not 4K). The old A5 seems to handle streaming HD video well. (2) I don’t need third-party apps and games on TV. With software updates (still coming after all these years), it has become a portal to the tv+ service. I select its tile on main screen and access my complete tv+ subscription, including bundle for Paramount+/Showtime. There are separate tiles on main screen for other services like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Prime… (3) It turns my HDTV into an AirPlay display. So when I can’t play it directly, I can AirPlay it from my iPad to tv and watch on HDTV.
It’s far more useful now than in 2013 when released. When I first got it, I used it to rent movies from iTunes Store and not much else. Apple should offer something similar now, a small low-cost box that turns any modern TV into a streaming device for tv+ and other Apple services like Music and Podcasts, plus AirPlay display. That’s what my old tiny 3rd gen tv does for me, and it’s very useful.
Many companies are dropping support for the ATV 3 I love mine also. I have a 1080 TV buy I want the games there like console, I wish quality. I’ll buy it even if I can’t watch in 4K only to play the games with an Xbox and PS or third party controller. UFC, YouTube, HBO max etc.
UFC YouTube HBO max no longer support the ATV3
Fortunately, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime work great on my 3rd gen tv, and they’re the services I subscribe to (along with tv+). And as I said, for other stuff, I can AirPlay it from my iPad to tv and watch on HDTV.
Seems like it would need an Undo button for times like when you wanted to hit the Up or Down area, but accidentally swiped ahead ten minutes in your movie. Other than that it looks good.
But can it be used also on an older TV? I have 5 Apple TV’s and I HATE the remotes…HATE.
It works on the new 4K Apple TV, the existing 4K model (now discontinued) and the older HD model. They are actually repackaging the HD model to include this remote, in place of the dumb flat one.
This may help: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJFM3LL/A/siri-remote?fnode=bf10ab77d5c6f411164e6acb75c773c58ca580033c0b8fd8fd5f05ae9a2e3327488b949e637d6965e3939231578f74ee46b0aee603fcd81022799198f4f9578b41e28b26b8480e28834dd65c9c20106965522050e0716bb752c92b7c00f317e4
“…precise control to your Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD.”
Thanks again for not making backlit. Good job timmy. Once again, not giving customers what they want.
You need psychological help.
A REASONABLE person would ask Apple directly, “I would really like a backlit remote. Could you tell me if a deluxe remote is forthcoming? If not, what other remotes will work?”. Your friends might chime in with helpful suggestions like, stick with the Harmony remote, it’s the best overall universal remote for advanced users.
But no, you come here to bitch and make backhand personal attacks on the guy at Apple LEAST LIKELY to micromanage the design details of an accessory that is certainly no less poorly conceived than the infamous round puck mouse. Did all the unhinged assholes on MDN call for Job’s head?
Grow the F up, or take your miserable attitude elsewhere. Please. You are obviously not well in the head.
Nuff,
Orange man gone.
Nothing has gotten any better, far worse in fact.
You libturds are still miserable, insufferable twatwaffles.
Nothing has changed.
FU, and please take that in the worse way possible.
Wow, Nuff. Great way of showing the world what an idiot you are. Congrats!
Don’t bother trying to educate the libs. They have proven themselves to be too stupid to learn and too stupid to comprehend the damage they have done to the country
NO APPLE CONTENT POSTED BY HAL AND HIS BULLY BUDDIES.
You have serious anger issues. Get help
Yupper, I am seriously pissed about how the libturds have destroyed the country. Seriously pissed, like most Americans.
Looks like some widdle liburd feeling are hurt. Waaaahhh LOLOLOLOLOLOL
On a decent web forum, all these insulting clowns would be removed. It is NOT censorship to remove inflammatory posts that have nothing to do with the article.
Anybody home at M D N ???
I agree, they are insulting the clowns!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOL
George / dd : well ain’t you funnay. LOLOLOLOL.
If you think this makes your point, whatever that point was supposed to be, you are wrong. You proved the contrary. You are a classless politician pawn, a jerk of the lowest order. You prove this time and time again with your empty-headed posts.
Well, at only $59 if I want to buy one for my last-generation AppleTV 4K…no.
That’s more than I paid for the Roku Streaming Stick I got for my daughter. And it has a voice-controlled remote, too.
So, do we believe the remote will be sold separately at some point?
It will be sold separately—. I like the old remotes. Not sure what the issues people are having…..
It is already listed as a separate accessory.. . . go to the accessories link under TV in the Apple Store Site and you will find it
That’s too much trouble, Jim. It’s easier to bitch.