Apple TV HD: what it still does in Apple Home

Apple TV HD came out at the end of October 2015. Apple first sold it as Apple TV (4th generation) and renamed it later, so older Apple pages may use either name. Apple’s model number is A1625. Apple no longer sells it, and it no longer gets new versions of tvOS.

What it can still do

• Home hub. Apple’s current Apple TV 4K page, updated for the October 2026 model, still names Apple TV HD among its examples of a home hub.
• AirPlay 2. Apple lists it as an AirPlay 2 target for multi-room audio.

AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are different things. AirPlay 2 is how audio is sent to the box. The hub role is what runs your accessories when you are out.

What it cannot do, and what Apple does not list

Read this list before relying on one as your only hub.

• tvOS 27. Not available for this model. Its last version is tvOS 26.6, from 27 July 2026.
• Siri AI. Apple’s Siri AI beta covers Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later). Apple TV HD is not an Apple TV 4K and is not in that range.
• The October 2026 Home update. Apple says its updated Home architecture requires every Apple device that accesses the home to use the latest software. Apple does not say how it treats a device that cannot install tvOS 27.
• Thread. Apple’s ports and interfaces list for this model does not include Thread.
• Sensors. Apple’s specifications list none for the Apple TV itself.

Specifications

The A8 chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO, 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI 1.4, an IR receiver and a USB-C port for service and support.

What replaces it

Apple TV 4K (4th generation), at £299. Apple lists Thread networking technology, Gigabit Ethernet and Siri AI in UK English at launch as a beta.

If you only need the hub role and want to keep this box for watching, HomePod mini 2 at £149 is the cheapest Apple hub that lists Thread.

For the first 4K model, see Apple TV 4K (1st generation).

Specifications