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If this happens, any thoughts on if it will be available to existing ATVs or will there need to be hardware changes that might be present in a new ATV model?
 
If this happens, any thoughts on if it will be available to existing ATVs or will there need to be hardware changes that might be present in a new ATV model?
I’m guessing it’s a hardware change, and even if it isn’t Apple will force you to upgrade to get it.
 
Figured it wouldn't be through a software/firmware update, but I guess we shall see.
 
I hope this rumor is accurate. It will make the ATV #1 for me. Right now I use a Shield to pass thru Dolby Atmost TruHD and DTS HD audio. So annoying that this can't be done of the ATV. I have been waiting a decade for this feature.
 
If I had to guess, I would think the minimum requirement would be a 4K model. 🤷‍♂️
It will probably be Gen 2 and on i'm guessing.

For Gen 1 owners of the 4K that might be the final strike THREE to get them to upgrade.

Strike one-Lack of Snoopy wallpaper
Strike two-Lack of Liquid Glass support
Strike Three-Lack of Passthrough.
 
It will probably be Gen 2 and on i'm guessing.

For Gen 1 owners of the 4K that might be the final strike THREE to get them to upgrade.

Strike one-Lack of Snoopy wallpaper
Strike two-Lack of Liquid Glass support
Strike Three-Lack of Passthrough.
Oh well. Pass the older model on to the kid's room or wherever. No TV should be without one! 😁
 
Unsure if this is of useful information to anyone. Prior to installing tvOS 26 my Samsung TV 2018 model didn't have pass-through available as an option in my TV's speaker settings. Since installing tvOS 26 pass-through is now selectable and the sound quality when watching content is much better.
 
Unsure if this is of useful information to anyone. Prior to installing tvOS 26 my Samsung TV 2018 model didn't have pass-through available as an option in my TV's speaker settings. Since installing tvOS 26 pass-through is now selectable and the sound quality when watching content is much better.
Got a screenshot of that to hand?
 
A minor strike for me is the lack of DV or HDR for content from PeacockTV.

I know 3 people with the 1st Gen 4k connected to OLED and LED TVs and all of the PeacockTV content plays in SDR.

I have a 1st and 2nd Gen 4k. Tried both units on a LG OLED with DV and HiSense with HDR. While connected directly to the TVs, only the 2nd Gen triggered DV and HDR on the TVs. Tried different HDMI cables with no luck getting DV/HDR on the 1st Gen.
 
Just updated my AppleTV 4K 1st gen to iOS 26 Dev Beta
- No pass-through option
- No Liquid Glass
- Apple still hoses native Atmos and outputs PCM

nVidia Shield TV Pro 2019 still wins in every category for me, which is why I have 3 of them also.
 
Seriously Apple. Just give us lossless audio and DTS in your movie catalog and the hardware to go with it. Not everyone will be able to enjoy it, but not everyone can enjoy 4k either. For those of us with the bandwidth it would be amazing.
 
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