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, a transparent, dynamic material that reacts to the environment in real time. It looks great and works smoothly – but only on the second generation Apple TV 4K. 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 apps – such as Apple TV or Control Center – have gained a new dimension, resembling more of an operating system from a high-end VR set rather than a classic TV menu.
AirPlay has finally made sense – any 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 or Samsung soundbars – which can be set as a permanent, wireless audio option for Apple TV. Finally, you don’t have to manually select them every time. However, there is one limitation – for now, the audio system and game sound do not use this setting, so it's not yet full independence from TV speakers. The changes also include the system startup – there is now the option to select a user profile upon waking, which provides immediate access to personal recommendations, playlists, or saved game states. It’s a small detail that improves daily convenience.
Apple Music Sing and the new FaceTime elevate home entertainment to a higher level
tvOS 26 brings a new karaoke feature – Apple Music Sing, where the iPhone turns into a microphone for the Apple TV. It only works on the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K and iPhone 11 or newer, but the effect is truly engaging. Other users can use the iPhone as a remote for the queue of songs. At the same time, FaceTime is evolving – contact photos and names appear, and real-time conversation transcripts are now available in multiple languages (including Japanese, Mandarin, German, French, and Spanish). Notifications for audio and phone calls now appear on the Apple TV screen assigned to a specific profile – they can be answered on the HomePod or iPhone without the need 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 works 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 advanced Dolby Atmos configurations beyond 7.1.4 – for example, 9.1.6 with height and width channels at the front. There are also rumors about upcoming support for audio passthrough, but Apple has not officially confirmed this yet. If confirmed – ChooseTV will become a much more interesting option for people with an elaborate home theater system.
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 Matter protocol support to version 1.4 and strengthens integration with Thread. The latest version allows extending the Thread network over Wi-Fi and Ethernet, which means better range and internet access for every smart home device. Apple TV 4K 2nd and 3rd generations (128 GB) can act as a Thread Border Router – the command center for the smart home. In practice: the blind can lower itself when the weather turns rainy, and the user doesn’t even have to lift a finger.
New screensavers, App Store with accessibility, and… no Games app
tvOS 26 introduces new screensavers from India (Goa, Kerala), but also allows users to choose which landscapes should appear and which to hide. A new section appears in the App Store with information about accessibility features in games and applications – 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, presented by Apple at WWDC, will not be coming to Apple TV yet. Most likely because the current hardware cannot handle more demanding games, although integration with Game Center is already in place. However, there is a rumor about a new Apple TV model coming this year – perhaps then Apple will take gaming seriously.
