The recent addition of FaceTime functionality in tvOS 17 has reignited speculations about Apple possibly adding a built-in camera to future iterations of the Apple TV box. Apple's unveiling of tvOS 17 last year, with the addition of FaceTime on Apple TV, has garnered significant attention.
Leveraging the advantages of Continuity Camera, it allows users to wirelessly connect their iPhone or iPad and utilize the devices' rear cameras and microphones for video calls on the television.
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg's "Power On" newsletter, Apple has been "discussing automating home functions and offering a redesigned Apple TV set-top box with an integrated FaceTime video conferencing and gesture-control camera." He adds that this technology would "work seamlessly with the iPhone and Vision Pro."
While he suggests that future Apple TVs might come equipped with a camera and support gesture control, he hasn't provided further details. However, this aligns with the gesture features introduced by Apple in iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and tvOS 17, allowing users to make gestures during video calls on FaceTime or other video calling apps to trigger 3D effects. It's currently unclear whether this new report refers to this feature or if Apple is redesigning tvOS gesture controls from scratch.
If these rumors turn out to be true, Apple is poised to introduce an Apple TV set-top box with a built-in camera. This innovation would eliminate the need for users to connect their iPhones to Apple TV for FaceTime calls with family members, as the Apple TV box itself would feature FaceTime functionality. So far, it remains unclear if any such devices are in development, and the timing of their potential release remains unknown.
