Apple’s latest operating system for Apple TV, tvOS 26, introduces a refined aesthetic and a handful of new features. While the update enhances the visual experience, it offers limited functional advancements.
Liquid Glass Design
A standout feature of tvOS 26 is the adoption of Apple’s Liquid Glass design language. This design introduces a translucent, glass-like appearance to the user interface, providing a dynamic and immersive experience. Menus, system overlays, and app backgrounds now exhibit a fluid translucency that responds to the content behind them, creating a more tactile and responsive interface.
Control Center Enhancements
The Control Center has been redesigned to align with the Liquid Glass aesthetic. It remains organized into four distinct tabs: profiles, controls, Apple Home, and VPN. This redesign aims to streamline user interactions and provide quicker access to essential settings.
Apple Music Sing with iPhone Integration
A notable addition is the enhancement of Apple Music’s Sing feature. Users can now transform their iPhones into microphones for a karaoke-like experience. By scanning a QR code, the iPhone connects to the Apple TV, allowing users to sing along with real-time lyrics and visual effects displayed on the big screen. This feature also includes group controls, enabling multiple users to participate simultaneously.
FaceTime Updates
FaceTime on Apple TV has received several updates:
– Contact Posters: Personalized visuals for contacts during calls.
– Multilingual Live Captions: Real-time translation of conversations into languages such as French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean.
– Smart Call Notifications: Notifications tied to user profiles, enhancing the personalization of incoming calls.
Aerial Screensavers and AirPlay Speaker Assignment
tvOS 26 introduces new Aerial screensavers featuring scenes from India. Additionally, users can now designate any AirPlay speaker as a permanent audio output for their Apple TV, providing more flexibility in audio management.
Developer APIs and App Logins
The update includes new developer APIs that simplify app logins through Apple Accounts. This integration aims to streamline the setup process for new Apple TV devices by automatically logging users into their apps, reducing the need for manual credentials entry.
Compatibility and Availability
tvOS 26 is compatible with the following Apple TV models:
– Apple TV HD (2015)
– Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017)
– Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021)
– Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022)
It’s important to note that the Liquid Glass design is available only on the 2nd- and 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K models. Older models will retain the previous user interface design.
Conclusion
While tvOS 26 brings a polished design and a few new features, it doesn’t introduce significant functional changes to the Apple TV experience. The update focuses on enhancing the visual appeal and streamlining certain interactions, making it a welcome but modest improvement for users.
