Summary
- Apple updates tvOS to version 26 for better ecosystem integration.
- Liquid Glass display on Apple TV 4K enhances user experience.
- UI changes offer new features while maintaining an intuitive layout.
Apple unveiled a new tvOS, and while I had plenty of reservations about it, I can’t find much to be upset about. In a surprising move, Apple is making the jump from tvOS 18 all the way to 26, but don’t get confused because you didn’t miss anything. Apple wants to get everything within its ecosystem in line with one other, and this is the way to make it in line with iOS 26. Apple wants to have a seamless transition across all of its devices, and the idea is that an iPhone user should have the same experience navigating that and an Apple TV 4K.
After seeing the Liquid Glass display as part of Apple’s WWDC keynote, I have to say I’m a believer in what they have going on. I was hesitant early on because I’m a fan of how everything works on my Apple TV 4K as it is, and being a creature of habit, I didn’t want to see anything change. I can see now that those worries were misplaced, and I was actually surprised by what Apple cooked up.
Apple TV 4K (2022)
Brand Apple Bluetooth codecs 5.0 Wi-Fi 6 Ethernet Gigabit (128GB model only) Storage and RAM 64GB, 128GB
$130 at Best Buy $130 at Apple Expand Collapse
No need to be afraid of the update
I can embrace change after all
At its core, not a lot has changed, so thankfully, there’s not much I have to get used to. What is new is the sleek design that makes it easier to find new things to watch. The Apple TV app received the biggest overhaul, and the new posters for shows and movies make everything stand out quite well. Perhaps the biggest thing here is the new tvOS 26 feature that ties in your streaming subscription logins to your Apple account. I recently got another Roku device, and I didn’t have to sign in to anything since it was already tied to my Roku account, so it’s nice to see Apple do the same.
My favorite thing about the Liquid Glass functionality is you still get to see what’s going on in your movie or show while tweaking things like your audio or setting up a sleep timer. You don’t get interrupted for messing with any settings, so it’s a real nice touch. I don’t have anything negative to say here because the update isn’t intrusive in any way. The only downside I have is that not every Apple TV 4K gets to reap the benefits. Only people with the second generation or later get access to Liquid Glass, so those of you stuck in the first-gen aren’t seeing the changes. This has been a trend with most of the cool Apple TV 4K updates lately, so it’s not all that shocking to me.
Another underrated update is the change to Apple Music that brings your karaoke parties to life. You need a third-gen Apple TV 4K and an iPhone, but if you fit that bill you can use your phone as a mic and start singing. It looks like a lot of fun, to be fair, but since the Apple TV 4K is the only Apple device I have right now, it’s something I can’t take part in. All in all, it’s a hefty update that adds a lot of cool things without greatly overhauling the UI. I was scared, but now I’m a believer in what Apple has going on.
Apple did things the right way
This is how you update a UI
Far too many times, interface changes lead to a lot of backlash, so it’s nice to see Apple do something more low-key for a change. Reddit’s redesign is several years old at this point, but there are still people who like the old option better, and luckily for them, there’s a way to do that without much hassle. Apple won’t have that same functionality unless you pick up a first-gen Apple TV 4K.
Coming into this event, I couldn’t think of anything I’d like to change because the UI of the Apple TV 4K is my favorite of all streaming platforms. Both Roku and Amazon devices feel like they’re bogged down by ads, but the Apple TV 4K doesn’t have any of that going on. It’s not even limited ads I’m talking about — there are no ads whatsoever to be found on the Apple TV 4K. The result is a simple, yet effective interface that I didn’t want to see changed.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t still some problems I have. I have talked a lot about how I want to see Apple Intelligence make its way to the Apple TV 4K at some point, and it’s still tough to tell if that’s ever going to happen. Apple Intelligence was a big talking point for Apple yet again, so it’s surprising not to see any movement on it possibly coming to the Apple TV platform. It might be a hardware problem that even the third-generation Apple TV 4K isn’t capable of pulling off. Apple is no stranger to locking features behind certain models, as evidenced by the aforementioned Liquid Glass and Apple Music updates, so I have to wonder if the third-gen model simply isn’t strong enough to make it happen.
I still want a new Apple TV 4K in the future
I'm not sure when that's coming
This does lead me to wonder what the future of the Apple TV brand looks like. I thought this was a perfect time to announce a new generation, but it doesn’t look like Apple agreed with me. It’s obvious the third-generation model is more than up to the task of being a powerhouse streamer, so there isn’t much reason to offer a refresh since it’s already the most powerful device. There’s no sense competing with yourself, which is why it’d be nice to see Roku or Google raise the bar higher. Apple Intelligence is the only major thing missing, and Apple must not think that’s a big deal.
