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Sketchy Report Claims Apple Working on Redesigned Apple TV With Thinner Design and 'Plexiglass' Top

Apple is working on a redesigned Apple TV box that will feature a flatter, thinner footprint, and a "plexiglass" top, according to a questionable report from iDropNews.

apple tv 4k design
The report, citing "sources," claims that an ‌Apple TV‌ with a thinner and flatter design is in the works, eliminating the "horribly outdated and bulky" design of the current generation ‌Apple TV‌. According to the sketchy report, the ‌Apple TV‌ will feature a "plexiglass" top, a design feature that's expected to debut in an upcoming Mac mini. The redesign mentioned in the report is reminiscent of the design of the first-generation ‌Apple TV‌.

first gen apple tv
Neither iDropNews nor the author of this report has an established track record, so all of the information should be taken with a large pinch of salt. The report also states that the new ‌Apple TV‌ will have "sharp edges like the iPhone 13, iPad Pro, and iMac." The claim is somewhat moot, considering that the current ‌Apple TV‌ design is already flat-edged with hard edges.

Another rumor in the report is about Apple working on a "Nintendo Switch style gaming console." The information is a regurgitation of previous rumors, claiming that Apple is working on a gaming console to advance its gaming portfolio. Today's rumor states that it will be Apple's take on a "premium hybrid gaming console" and will have performance that "will outperform anything that Microsoft or Sony offers in 2021."

Reliable leaker L0vetodream in 2020 said that Apple is working on a gaming controller, but that's yet to be seen in a consumer product. Apple launched Apple Arcade, its gaming subscription service, in 2019 and has since promoted the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and ‌Apple TV‌ as powerful devices to play games on. Earlier this year, Apple updated the ‌Apple TV‌ with an A12 Bionic chip, offering even more performance for ‌Apple Arcade‌ games.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

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Top Rated Comments

ScrumpyDaniel Avatar
62 months ago
"Horribly outdated and bulky'. Really?! The design is absolutely fine and is easy to hide/sit by a TV and looks good.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
62 months ago
The entire point of the black Apple TV is for it to disappear in the dark. We don't need a fancy redesign, just new features.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bassanoclapper Avatar
62 months ago
The only improvement required is a cheaper price
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
62 months ago

A HDMI stick surely would be better?
A tiny USB-powered HDMI stick vs. a box would be a reasonable option for someone who didn’t want wired Ethernet, had a TV with spare HDMI and a USB power outlet, and maybe just wanted basic streaming services, not sophisticated apps.

Otherwise, the Apple TV is as small as it needs to be - making it smaller will probably start with needing a power brick, and cramming the connectors closer together. The weight of the current unit is an *advantage* as it stays where it’s put and doesn’t get dragged around by the weight of cables.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
62 months ago

Apple would ruin a gaming console with all their family friendly nonsense if they did get a true console… and there isn’t Macy here in allle arcade that’s true gaming console worthy
Family friendly content is literally the focus of Nintendo and they sell more hardware and software then anyone
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
10anta Avatar
62 months ago

The only improvement required is a cheaper price
And proper multi-user support i.e. I want my kids to have their own accounts that keeps their content separate, with no access to my watch list or mature themes
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)