You don’t need to buy the new Apple TV 4K just to get the updated Siri Remote with Find My and a built-in speaker, as it works with every model released going back to the Apple TV HD and is available to buy standalone for $59.
Previous Siri Remotes had a basic iOS feature to help you find your misplaced remote, but this is better, with one notable catch. Now the remote has Find My support, but if you want to see exactly how far away it is on your iPhone with details like “20 feet,” rather than simply “far” or “near,” you will need to have an iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, or any iPhone 17 or later. Those are the only models that include its new N1 networking chip with support for Bluetooth channel sounding, which enables AirTag-like precision tracking, but without requiring a UWB chip.
Find My support is available on the Siri Remote (2nd generation and later). Precision Finding works on the Siri Remote (4th generation) paired with iPhone Duo, iPhone Air or iPhone 17 or later (excluding iPhone 17e) running the latest iOS software; availability varies by region.
As Stephen Robles points out in a post on Threads, the new remote’s backward compatibility means only a couple of features are limited to the new Apple TV 4K, including its built-in mic and surround sound with paired HomePod speakers. It will start shipping on November 13th, the same date as the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.