tvOS 18 is Apple’s upcoming new operating system for the Apple TV streaming media player and HomePod speakers. After a packed tvOS 17 update, tvOS 18 adds nice-to-have features. While iOS 18 is full of AI features, here’s what Apple promised for its set-top-boxes.
tvOS 18 features
These are all the features coming with tvOS 18.
Apple TV app gets several improvements
To improve the Apple TV experience, Apple has added to tvOS 18 a few tweaks to the TV app, including:
- InSight: An Amazon Prime Video-like feature that displays timely information about actors, characters, and music from Apple TV+ movies and shows onscreen in real-time. Users can select an actor to view their background and filmography page or quickly view the song that is playing in a scene and add it to an Apple Music playlist.
- Enhance Dialogue: This feature is getting smarter, leveraging machine learning and computation audio to deliver greater vocal clarity over music, action, and background noise on Apple TV 4K. In addition to HomePod speakers, users can now enjoy Enhance Dialogue when listening through built-in TV or HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth-connected devices, and when playing supported content on iPhone and iPad;
- Automatic subtitles: Subtitles now automatically appear at just the right moments with tvOS 18, including when the language in a show or film does not match the device language when users mute, or when they skip back while watching something.
New video formats, screen savers, and more
tvOS 18 brings 21:9 support for those connecting an Apple TV to a projector for playing movies and shows. In addition, the company has introduced new screen savers, such as:
- Portraits;
- TVs and Movies (with Snoopy and Foundation)
For FaceTime with Continuity Camera, Apple is adding Live Captions for English in the US and Canada, so users can read what others are saying on a FaceTime call from the TV.
Apple Services and Home features
Apple Fitness+ has been redesigned in tvOS 18 to help users make the most of its library, stay motivated, and keep consistent with their fitness routine. Updates include a personalized For You space, Explore and Library spaces, search features, and enhanced awards.
In partnership with leading utilities, beginning with Pacific Gas & Electric Company in California, eligible users can easily view their electricity usage in the Home app’s Energy category when they connect their utility account.
The Home app also introduces guest access, providing users with convenient ways to grant guests control of locks, garage doors, and security systems; schedule individualized or time-based access to the home with smart locks; and view Activity History for guests
Photos app gets the biggest update to date
Apple has an ambitious plan for tvOS 18’s Photos app. With its redesign, Apple wants to make it easier for users to find and relive special moments. With a single-view display, it offers new collections to help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums.
Collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. A new carousel view presents highlights that update each day and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more. Apple says that auto-playing content throughout the app brings libraries to life “so past moments can be enjoyed while browsing.”
Apple Music SharePlay
During tvOS 17.4 beta testing, Apple planned to add Apple Music SharePlay to Apple TV. Users would be able to add songs to a queue by scanning a QR Code. Unfortunately, Apple removed this feature, and even with tvOS 17.5, it didn’t bring it back.
For tvOS 18, Apple will reintroduce this feature, so anyone can share control of music playing from HomePod and HomePod mini using SharePlay and Apple Music. Apple explains: “To join a SharePlay session, users can simply bring an iPhone close to another iPhone — or scan the QR code in the Apple Music SharePlay window on another iPhone — to add songs to the playlist and control playback, even if they do not have an Apple Music subscription.”
Delayed features
tvOS 18 isn’t even here yet, but Apple has already announced that two features will come at a later date:
- Robot vacuum cleaners are now compatible with the Home app, so they can participate in automations and scenes, and can be activated by a user’s voice using Siri.
- AirPlay adds Spatial Audio so users can get an immersive audio experience, including support for Dolby Atmos, when using AirPlay to stream audio from iPhone and iPad to HomePod and compatible third-party audio equipment.
tvOS 18 release date
After Apple unveiled tvOS 18 during the WWDC 2024 keynote, it released a beta for this upcoming operating system update.
By July, a public beta will be made available, with the official release date expected to be September, around the iPhone 16 announcement. Since the company offered a public beta for HomePod owners last year, Apple could also do the same for the upcoming software this year.
tvOS 18 beta and public beta
tvOS 18 beta is available to Apple TV users. Just follow the steps below:
- Open Settings
- Tap System, then Software Updates
- Select Get Beta Updates, agree with the terms, and select tvOS 18 Beta Developer or tvOS 18 Public Beta
- Update your TV to the latest version available
Compatible Apple TV and HomePod models
Since Apple introduced tvOS, the company has supported all Apple TV models, starting with the 2015 HD version. The same is true for tvOS 18 and all previously supported devices are here:
- Apple TV HD (2015)
- Apple TV 4K (1st gen)
- Apple TV 4K (2nd gen)
- Apple TV 4K (3rd gen)
- HomePod (2018)
- HomePod mini (2020)
- HomePod 2 (2023)
