Apple spent most of WWDC 2026 revealing the upgraded Siri AI, which left several Apple platforms, including tvOS, seemingly ignored. But there is an update coming, and it may indicate that new hardware is finally coming.
The new tvOS 27 is the first update in years that actually ends support for some older Apple TV streaming boxes. Specifically, the Apple TV HD, launched in 2015, and the first-generation Apple TV 4K, released in 2017, will not be compatible with the update.
That ends a decade and eight years of support, respectively. To be fair, the Apple TV HD hasn't been available for the last four years.
Instead, the update will only be eligible for the second-generation Apple TV 4K, from 2021, and the third-generation models released in 2022.
Since at least 2024, rumors have continuously suggested that Apple was on the precipice of releasing a new Apple TV streaming device.
Clearly, that has not happened. And yet, here we are.
Apple's push into smart home
As long as rumors about a new Apple TV device have surfaced, it's also been expected that Apple will release a suite of smart home devices centered around an AI-powered rebuilt Siri. Apple TV devices are supposed to be part of that program.
That new Siri is finally arriving with iOS 27, which could power how a new Apple TV connects to your smart home.
It's been suggested that Siri and Thread connectivity would allow you to use the new Apple TV as a sort of hub for smart devices. This connects with rumors that Apple might release a set-top box with a camera that would allow for FaceTime calls and gesture-based controls. As far back as 2022, it was rumored that Apple might combine the streaming device with a HomePod.
Unlike the rumored HomePod, it's never been clear if Apple is delaying a refresh because of Siri or for some other reason, despite the growing gap between updates.
What is coming with tvOS 27?
The tvOS 27 update isn't bereft of new features. Here's what we know is coming.
- More responsive Control Center
- Faster AirPlay connectivity
- Improved app launches, animations
- Smarter downloads
- New, larger text accessibility options
- Apple Care details in the Settings app
It is minimal, and Apple hasn't even put up a preview page as it's done with the other 27 OS updates. Even the tvOS 27 release notes that I found on the Apple Developer site mostly feature fixes that Apple is applying to tvOS.
The notes do mention the new HomeKit video recordings, which should improve Apple's just-announced smart home security camera capabilities.
The first tvOS 27 developer beta is available now, and the public beta will launch in July. The full update will most likely be released later this year, in September.
