Apple has introduced its fourth-generation Siri Remote, adding a built-in speaker and enhanced Precision Finding capabilities. While the new remote retains the familiar design of its predecessors, the main upgrades focus on making a misplaced remote easier to locate. Users can purchase the remote separately, gaining access to the new features without replacing their entire Apple TV setup.
Precision Finding Makes a Lost Remote Easier to Locate
One of the key highlights of the new Siri Remote is its Precision Finding capability. Through Apple’s Find My app, users can receive directional guidance to help locate the remote. The feature works with compatible iPhone models that support Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology.
UWB enables highly accurate distance measurement and directional awareness in supported implementations. It is already used in applications such as smart tags, digital keys and device tracking, providing a foundation for precise short-range positioning.
Beyond directional guidance, the new Siri Remote also features a built-in speaker for the first time. Users can trigger an audible alert through the Find My app, making it easier to locate the remote when it is hidden between sofa cushions or underneath furniture.
In terms of compatibility, the new remote works with Apple TV HD and previous generations of Apple TV 4K. Existing users can therefore upgrade their remote without replacing the entire streaming device.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding: A New Approach to Precise Ranging
According toThe Verge, the new Siri Remote’s precise-ranging capability usesBluetooth Channel Sounding, a technology designed to measure distance more accurately than conventional Bluetooth signal-strength estimation.
Traditional Bluetooth ranging often relies on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) measurements to estimate distance. However, signal strength can vary significantly depending on walls, furniture, interference and surrounding radio conditions.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding takes a different approach by analyzing the characteristics of radio signals exchanged between devices, enabling more accurate distance measurement under supported conditions.
Although both Bluetooth Channel Sounding and UWB can support precise ranging, they use different technical approaches. An important potential advantage of Bluetooth Channel Sounding is that it can enable more accurate ranging without requiring a dedicated UWB chip in every participating device.
This creates new opportunities for Bluetooth-enabled products to support more precise proximity detection and distance-aware interactions.
Why Bluetooth Channel Sounding Matters for IoT
Bluetooth Channel Sounding represents an important development in Bluetooth technology, extending its potential beyond conventional wireless connectivity.
By improving distance measurement, the technology could support a range of applications, including:
- Smart home automation:Triggering actions based on a user’s proximity to connected devices.
- Digital keys:Supporting more precise proximity detection for access-control applications.
- Device finding:Helping users locate misplaced consumer electronics and accessories.
- Proximity awareness:Enabling connected devices to respond more intelligently to nearby objects or users.
Apple’s adoption of Bluetooth Channel Sounding in a consumer electronics product highlights the potential for precise Bluetooth ranging to reach a broader market.
Compatibility, Pricing and Availability
Apple has confirmed that the fourth-generation Siri Remote is compatible with Apple TV HD and all generations of Apple TV 4K, and that it can be purchased separately. This allows existing users to access the new remote’s features without upgrading their entire Apple TV device.
However, Precision Finding requires a compatible iPhone running the appropriate software. According to the reported compatibility information, supported models include iPhone Air, iPhone Duo and iPhone 17 or later, excluding iPhone 17e. Availability and compatibility may vary by region.
It is also worth noting that Apple previously introduced Find My support for the second-generation Siri Remote and later models, while tvOS 17 brought Precision Finding capabilities to the remote. The most notable new hardware feature in the fourth-generation model is therefore its built-in speaker, which allows users to trigger an audible alert directly from the remote. Access to directional finding depends on compatible hardware and software.
The new Siri Remote is priced atUS$59in the United States, with shipments expected to begin on November 13. Apple also announced a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K priced at US$299, featuring an A19 chip and upgrades to voice interaction and the home entertainment experience.
UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding: Two Paths to Precise Positioning
From an industry perspective, the latest developments illustrate the growing role of both UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding in short-range positioning.
UWB continues to expand across digital keys, smart tags and device-tracking applications, benefiting from highly accurate ranging and directional-awareness capabilities in supported systems.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding, meanwhile, offers another route to more accurate distance measurement within the Bluetooth ecosystem. By potentially reducing the need for dedicated UWB hardware in certain applications, it could help bring precise-ranging capabilities to a wider range of connected devices.
The two technologies are not interchangeable in every scenario. Their suitability depends on factors such as accuracy requirements, hardware implementation, cost, interoperability and environmental conditions.
Nevertheless, Apple’s use of Bluetooth Channel Sounding in the Siri Remote provides an important example of how precise ranging could become more widely integrated into everyday consumer electronics.
UWB-Powered Smart Locks Bring Hands-Free Access to the Home
Beyond the Siri Remote, Apple has also introduced itsApple Home Collection, a lineup of smart home accessories developed with partners including LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The product range covers categories such as smart locks, video doorbells, security cameras and thermostats.
Among the notable products is LG’s new smart deadbolt lock, which supports UWB-based hands-free unlocking and is priced atUS$349.95.
The lock uses UWB technology to detect a user’s proximity to the door. When an authorized user approaches with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, the lock can recognize their approach and unlock automatically, without requiring them to take out their phone, enter a PIN or perform another manual action.
Compared with conventional Bluetooth-based unlocking, UWB can provide more precise distance measurement and directional awareness in supported implementations. These capabilities can help distinguish genuine proximity to the door from a device that is merely nearby, supporting a more seamless access experience.
In addition to UWB-based hands-free unlocking, the LG smart lock supports tap-to-unlock functionality using a compatible phone or watch, numeric PIN entry and a backup keyhole.
The lock also integrates with Apple Home, allowing users to manage the lock and digital home keys through their iPhone, check lock status and receive relevant notifications. Support for Matter and Aliro is intended to facilitate integration with a broader smart home and digital access ecosystem.
What This Means for the Future of Connected Devices
Apple’s latest products illustrate two complementary directions in wireless technology: UWB is enabling increasingly seamless, context-aware access experiences, while Bluetooth Channel Sounding is opening up new possibilities for precise ranging across Bluetooth-enabled devices.
For the IoT industry, the implications extend well beyond remote controls and smart locks. More accurate proximity detection could enhance asset tracking, connected consumer electronics, smart buildings, access control and location-aware automation.
As precise ranging becomes more accessible, the next generation of connected devices may not simply communicate with one another—they may also understand how far apart they are and respond accordingly.
The continued development of UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding will be worth watching as manufacturers explore new ways to make connected products more intuitive, secure and responsive to real-world environments.