Apple released many products in 2020, but the one that did not see the light of day was a new version of the Apple TV 4K. But from what we hear, it may still be working toward a 2021 release.

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who says the new Apple TV will also feature major updates to compete with the best streaming devices from Roku, Amazon, and Google. In particular, these updates are said to include a greatly improved remote control and game focus.

According to Gurman, known for its reliability in leaks and predictions, the new Apple TV will feature a new chip that will replace the A10X Fusion found in the current Apple TV 4K. The new one will likely run on the new A14 Bionic variant.

Gurman also stated that the next Apple TV 4K will have a completely new remote control, which is definitely needed. The current Apple TV 4K's Siri remote, while an improvement over the previous model, still has an odd touchpad design that is clunky and doesn't work particularly well; the only thing wrong with the Apple TV 4K is this: it's not a good remote control, it's a bad one.

The last time Apple revamped its Apple TV lineup was when it launched the Apple TV 4K in September 2017. As well-received as that device was, it's time for an upgrade. Especially since the least expensive version with 32GB of storage still costs $179.

Gurman noted that the lack of new models may also be harming Apple's streaming ambitions, as Apple TV is an obvious gateway to encourage subscription to Apple TV Plus. The service is also available on several other platforms.

Meanwhile, competitors are more aggressive in updating their hardware; Amazon releases a new Fire TV device every year and uses it to lure people to Prime Video; Roku and Google also update their hardware on a regular basis; and Apple has been using its new Fire TV to provide a more affordable alternative to the current Prime Video service. It also helps that the three companies' most expensive models ($69 to $130 depending on the company) are still clearly less expensive than Apple's least expensive $149 Apple TV HD.

Given that Apple TV has been around for 14 years, it should be well beyond the 5th generation at this stage. And, especially given the warm response to the $99 HomePod Mini, it's about time Apple launched a cheaper version that people can easily afford.