Older Apple TVs will not get tvOS 27

For the first time, older Apple TV models will not be getting the latest version of tvOS. When tvOS 27 arrives later this year, it will skip both Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K (1st Gen).

tvOS 26.6 marks the end of major updates for Apple TV HD. Since launching in 2015, the box has received the latest version of tvOS for 11 consecutive years, along with a steady stream of new features.

The same applies to Apple TV 4K (1st Gen), which will have received 9 years of tvOS updates.

 Also read: Apple announces tvOS 27 with a focus on speed

Both boxes will continue to work as before for streaming apps and more. They simply will no longer receive major updates with new features. Apple may still release smaller updates containing bug fixes or security patches.


Why now?
During WWDC 26, Apple initially listed both boxes as compatible with the tvOS 27 beta in its developer documentation, but the company has since corrected the information. Only Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen) and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) are compatible with tvOS 27, it says.


The question is why this is happening with tvOS 27 and not last year's tvOS 26, which introduced the new Liquid Glass user interface that the two older boxes could not support anyway. Could this be a prelude to additional tvOS 27 features that Apple has yet to announce?

Another aspect is that while the older boxes have continued to receive recent tvOS updates, an increasing number of features no longer work on them due to hardware limitations. The same is true with tvOS 27, where some features are exclusive to Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen).

 Also read: Guide: These features are exclusive to newer Apple TV 4K models


Upgraded hardware for Siri AI?
Rumors of an upgraded Apple TV 4K with a faster chip and other improvements have circulated for some time.

More powerful hardware will be required if Apple Intelligence and Siri AI are to come to Apple TV 4K. It will also be necessary to run the console-class games that are already available on Mac, iPad and iPhone.

 Also read: Our wishlist for the next Apple TV and tvOS