Apple’s new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K adds three built-in far-field microphones, allowing users to invoke Siri, search for entertainment and control playback without picking up the Siri Remote. The new model is available to preorder in the United States for $299, with availability beginning November 13.

Users can say “Hey Siri” or “Siri” while a movie or show is playing. Apple says advanced echo cancellation helps the Apple TV distinguish a person’s voice from audio coming through the television, making voice requests possible even during playback.

Hands-free control for TV and smart home devices

The microphones expand Siri beyond remote-based commands. Users can ask the Apple TV to find something to watch, control playback and operate compatible smart home accessories and scenes using only their voice.

With Siri AI, entertainment searches can be more conversational. Viewers can ask follow-up questions about the content they are watching, with responses displayed in a compact overlay over the video rather than taking over the entire screen.

Apple separates microphone processing

Apple says the new Apple TV 4K and its A19 chip include Secure Exclaves, protected processing environments designed to handle microphone data separately from the rest of the system.

According to Apple, data processed and analyzed inside these environments cannot be accessed by tvOS, apps, users or Apple itself. The company presents the architecture as a way to support always-available voice controls while keeping microphone processing isolated.

Language and availability

Far-field Siri support depends on the region and the primary language selected in tvOS. Apple lists support for English, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian and Swedish.

The $299 Apple TV 4K is available to preorder in the United States, and Apple says customer availability begins November 13. The built-in microphones mean owners can use voice commands without keeping the Siri Remote nearby, while the device’s language restrictions determine where the hands-free feature can be used.