Apple TV 4K: New Siri Remote feature requires iPhone 17 or later

The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K comes with an updated Siri Remote. This new remote is also available separately for $59 in the Apple Online Store and can also be used with the Apple TV HD and the Apple TV 4K from the first generation onward.

While the aluminum remote's design barely differs from its predecessor, the new Siri Remote offers one particularly exciting new feature: Precision Finding. This makes it possible to locate the remote using Apple's Find My app on an iPhone. Much like with an Apple AirTag, the iPhone can display the exact direction and distance to the Siri Remote, making it easy to find even under a couch or behind a cushion. However, Apple states in the fine print that this requires at least an iPhone 17, an iPhone Air or an iPhone Duo, the iPhone 17e is not compatible with this feature.

This limitation is surprising, as Apple already included the second generation U2 ultra-wideband chip in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. It is possible that the Siri Remote uses Bluetooth 6 instead of ultra-wideband for Precision Finding, as the latest Bluetooth standard is only supported from the iPhone 17 onward. Anyone using an older iPhone can at least play a sound through the Siri Remote's speaker to locate it.