Apple TV gets tvOS 27 today: Here are all the new features

Highlights include a new Podcasts app with video podcasts, Hi-Res Lossless support, Thread 1.4, performance improvements and new features in Apple Music. Siri AI will have to wait.

For the first time, older Apple TV models are being cut off from the latest version of Apple's TV operating system: tvOS 27 is only available for Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen) and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen).

These two boxes get a range of new features, but tvOS 27 is a smaller update than previous releases. One reason may be that upgraded Apple TV 4K hardware is on the way, according to the rumor mill. New hardware is required for Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, as the current Apple TV 4K is powered by the aging A15 Bionic chip.


Biggest news in tvOS 27
One of Apple's highlights for iOS/tvOS 27 was up to 30% faster app launches, a more responsive Control Center on Apple TV, and faster AirPlay connections to Apple TV. However, FlatpanelsHD has not noticed much difference during the beta period.

The main updates are therefore found in the Apple Podcasts and Apple Music apps. The biggest addition is video podcasts alongside audio podcasts. Apple Music now supports Hi-Res Lossless (24-bit/192kHz), AutoMix and Crossfade.

The smart home is getting a boost with Thread 1.4 in Apple Home, ensuring that Thread border routers from all brands can now operate as a single network. Apple Home cameras can now handle 4K, while HomeKit Secure Video processing takes place on Apple TV instead of in iCloud.


All the new features in tvOS 27
Below is a list of all the new features highlighted by Apple and spotted by FlatpanelsHD during the beta period.

tvOS 27 will be released today, September 14, at 10am PST, 1pm EST and 7pm CET.

Here is what Apple previously added with tvOS 26, tvOS 18, tvOS 18, tvOS 17, tvOS 16, tvOS 15, tvOS 14, tvOS 13, tvOS 12 tvOS 11 and tvOS 10.

New features in tvOS 27 for Apple TV
Redesigned Podcasts app for tvOS with both audio and video podcasts 
Faster app launches (up to 30%, says Apple)
More responsive Control Center in tvOS
Faster AirPlay connections to Apple TV and HomePod
Hi-Res Lossless support (24-bit/192kHz) for Apple Music
AutoMix and Crossfade song transitions in Apple Music
Faster Apple Music playback start
Update Apple TV from the Home app on iPhone
Support for 4K camera recordings in Apple Home
HomeKit Secure Video recordings processed on-device (through Private Cloud Compute for descriptions, search)
Improved Thread support (Thread 1.4)
Smart downloads on Apple TV (iPhone, iPad)
AppleCare coverage details in Settings in tvOS
Improved game controller settings
Reduced app sizes with localized (languages) app packages
Apple has released a new Apple TV Remote app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
New accessibility features
The ability to adjust text size in tvOS and apps
Auto-transcription (English) to subtitles. Only works with Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen). Automatic subtitle translation (more languages) does not work in tvOS 27
Expanded support for 'Made for iPhone' hearing aids to make them pair and switch between devices more like AirPods



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