✨ Unified Design Language: Liquid Glass
tvOS 26 adopts Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic—a sleek, translucent interface with real-time rendering effects that reflect surroundings and dynamically adapt to light and dark modes theverge.com+15theverge.com+159to5mac.com+15cincodias.elpais.com+9theverge.com+9timesofindia.indiatimes.com+9. However, older Apple TV models (pre-2nd gen 4K) won’t support the full visual overhaul due to hardware limitations macrumors.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔊 Audio & Entertainment Enhancements
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AirPlay speaker support: You can now assign any AirPlay-enabled speaker as the permanent default audio output—ideal for setups without dedicated sound systems cincodias.elpais.com+13theverge.com+13techradar.com+13.
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Apple Music Sing Karaoke mode: Use your iPhone as a mic, follow on-screen lyrics with translation/pronunciation help, and sing with friends macrumors.com+2theverge.com+2apple.com+2.
👤 Profiles, Navigation & App Support
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Auto profile display: Every time your Apple TV wakes, it can automatically show user profiles for faster access to personalized content, watchlists, and music en.wikipedia.org+15theverge.com+15apple.com+15.
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New Apple Account login API: Makes it easier for developers to enable seamless sign-ins to streaming apps during setup techcrunch.com+2theverge.com+2bgr.com+2.
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Multiplatform Games app support: Integrates Apple Arcade and App Store titles into a unified gaming hub with leaderboards and editorial content theverge.com+19to5mac.com+1.
📱 FaceTime & Control Center Updates
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FaceTime & Contact Posters: Updated for Apple TV for richer calling experiences investors.com+4tomsguide.com+4appleinsider.com+4.
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Customizable Control Center: Features a refined Liquid Glass design that keeps video front and center while accessing controls like a sleep timer or audio settings tomsguide.com+13apple.com+13macrumors.com+13.
🗓 Availability & Compatibility
| Version | Availability | Supported Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Developer beta | June 9, 2025 | Apple TV HD (2015) & all 4K models |
| Public beta | July 2025 | Full LG design support only on 2nd‑gen 4K+ |
| Final release | Fall 2025 (Sep) | Features may vary by model techcrunch.com+15theverge.com+15apple.com+15macrumors.com+1techradar.com+1techradar.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1 |
🎯 Summary
tvOS 26 brings a polished aesthetic with Liquid Glass, enhancing setup speed, user personalization, audio flexibility, and entertainment experiences—from iPhone-powered karaoke to unified gaming. While older TVs get the upgrade, the full wave of visual enhancements requires newer 4K hardware.