Katarzyna Petru
tvOS 26 is not just an ordinary update – it’s a complete overhaul of the visual language of Apple TV. The interface, inspired by visionOS, introduces the “Liquid Glass” effect, which is a transparent, dynamic material that reacts to its surroundings in real-time. It looks great and runs smoothly – but only on Apple TV 4K from the second generation. Older models, including the first 4K and HD from 2015, will receive the update, but without the new UI. Apple TV is becoming more modern, visually lighter, and applications – such as ChooseTV or Control Centre – have gained a new dimension, resembling more of a high-end VR system than a classic TV menu.
AirPlay has finally made sense – every speaker can be a permanent speaker
For years, only HomePods could be the default audio source. Now Apple is opening up to AirPlay speakers – Sonos, Bang & Olufsen, LG and Samsung soundbars – which can be set up as a permanent, wireless audio option for Apple TV. Finally, you don't have to select them manually every time. However, there is one limitation – for now, the audio system and sound from games do not utilise this setting, so it’s still not a complete independence from the TV speakers. Changes also include the startup system – there’s now an option to select a user profile upon waking, providing immediate access to personal recommendations, playlists, or saved game states. It's a small detail that improves everyday convenience.
Apple Music Sing and the new FaceTime take home entertainment to the next level
tvOS 26 brings a new karaoke feature – Apple Music Sing, where the iPhone turns into a microphone for ChooseTV. It only works on the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K and iPhone 11 or newer, but the effect is truly immersive. Other users can use their iPhone as a remote for the queue of songs. At the same time, FaceTime is being enhanced – contact photos and names appear, and real-time conversation transcriptions are now available in multiple languages (including Japanese, Mandarin, German, French, and Spanish). Notifications for audio and phone calls now appear on the ChooseTV screen assigned to a specific profile – they can be answered on the HomePod or iPhone without needing to reach for additional devices.
Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos Gain New Capabilities
Apple is introducing its own spatial codec – APAC (Apple Positional Audio Codec) – which operates on Apple TV 4K and supports both encoding and decoding. This is a clear signal that the company wants to have full control over the quality of spatial audio. Additionally, tvOS 26 supports expanded Dolby Atmos configurations beyond 7.1.4 – for instance, 9.1.6 with height and width channels at the front. There are also rumours of upcoming support for audio passthrough, but Apple has not officially confirmed this yet. If confirmed, ChooseTV will become a much more intriguing option for those with an extensive home theatre setup.
Smart home gains stability: new HomeKit, Matter 1.4 and Thread over Ethernet
Apple is ending support for the old HomeKit architecture – if you haven't switched to the new system in the Home app yet, it will now be mandatory. Additionally, tvOS 26 updates support for the Matter protocol to version 1.4 and strengthens integration with Thread. The latest version allows the Thread network to extend over Wi-Fi and Ethernet, which means better range and internet access for every smart home device. Apple TV 4K 2nd and 3rd generation (128 GB) can function as a Thread Border Router – the command centre for your smart home. In practice: a blind can automatically close itself when the weather turns rainy, and the user doesn’t even have to lift a finger.
New screen savers, App Store with accessibility features and… no Games app
tvOS 26 introduces new screen savers from India (Goa, Kerala), but also allows you to choose which landscapes to display and which to hide. A new section in the App Store provides information about accessibility features in games and apps – useful if you want to know whether a given title offers, for example, subtitles or voice control. On the other hand, the new Games app, showcased by Apple at WWDC, will not yet be available on Apple TV. Most likely because the current hardware can't handle more demanding games, although integration with Game Center is already in place. However, there have been rumours of a new Apple TV model coming this year – perhaps then Apple will take gaming seriously.
