Apple TV 4K Adds Standard Ethernet at $299
The fourth-generation set-top box restores wired networking to its base model after a 2022 removal, and it adds Thread and Wi-Fi 7 support.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Apple released the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K with standard Ethernet connectivity, priced at $299. The device is a shipped product, not an announcement, and it returns a wired-network option that the prior base model had dropped.
Why it matters
Ethernet had been absent from the Apple TV base model since the third-generation version in 2022, which pushed buyers who wanted a wired connection toward a $50 add-on. Restoring it as standard signals that Apple sees wired networking as part of the living-room hub, not an optional extra.
The device lists a 1 Gbps potential network speed and carries an A19 chip with a built-in AV1 decoder. The figures are manufacturer specifications; the source provides no benchmark results to confirm them under load.
The players
Apple
Apple designs its own A-series chips, runs the tvOS platform, and sells the Apple TV as part of its smart-home and streaming ecosystem.
The details
Ethernet lets the set-top box connect directly to a router by cable, and the Apple TV automatically switches away from Wi-Fi when a cable is plugged in. Wi-Fi can be disrupted by physical obstructions and crowded airwaves, which is one reason wired connections are preferred for streaming. The A19 chip includes an AV1 decoder, a hardware block that handles a compressed video format designed to deliver comparable picture quality with less network bandwidth.
Timeline
2022: the third-generation Apple TV dropped Ethernet from its base model.
June 2026: the price of the previous generation's entry-level model increased.
November 7, 2026: the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K was released.
The Tech Race
The fourth-generation model reverses the 2022 removal of Ethernet from Apple's base set-top box. It also adds Thread support and Wi-Fi 7, placing the device as a smart-home hub in a competitive set-top market.
Buyers who want a wired connection no longer need to pay an extra $50 for Ethernet on the fourth-generation model. The $299 price is $100 above the previous entry-level model, so the total cost is higher than the prior base unit.
The takeaway
Watch whether independent reviewers confirm the 1 Gbps Ethernet throughput and the AV1 decoder's bandwidth savings in real streaming tests. Those results will show whether wired connectivity and the smart-home features justify the $299 price.
Further reading
For the broader context on set-top devices and home networking, see Consumer Electronics coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SlashGear.
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