Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

tvOS 18 Rumored to Be Compatible With These Apple TV Models

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,016
40,051


Just ahead of WWDC, we have another last-minute compatibility rumor to share from a proven leaker, with this one relating to the Apple TV.

apple-tv-4k-yellow-bg-feature.jpg

In a post on social media platform X today, the leaker claimed that tvOS 18 will remain compatible with the Apple TV HD, released in 2015.

If so, tvOS 18 would be compatible with all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models, meaning there would be no change compared to tvOS 17:

  • Apple TV HD (2015)
  • Apple TV 4K (2017)
  • Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation) (2021)
  • Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) (2022)
Given that HomePods run a variant of tvOS, the leaker thinks the next HomePod software update is likely to support all HomePods, including the original 2018 model.

The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.

Apple will unveil tvOS 18 and other major software updates during the WWDC keynote, which begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today.

Article Link: tvOS 18 Rumored to Be Compatible With These Apple TV Models
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/10/tvos-18-compatibility-rumor/
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Hakkond
zorinlynx said:
I'm amazed that Apple is still fully supporting the 2015 Apple TV. That has got to be the record for the longest a device has ever gotten software updates!
Click to expand...
Apple IIe received last (official Apple) ProDOS update v2.0.3 in 1993. Given that Apple IIe was released in 1983, that's 10 years of software update!

If you include unofficial ProDOS updates (by enthusiasts), lastest release being made in Dec 2023 with v2.4.3, and now it also supports Apple II from 1977, that's 46 years of software update!!!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: nt5672, Alwis, michaelnugent and 1 other person
The basic functionality of tvOS is to stream video to the TV. The resolution is limited by the model of AppleTV (HD or 4K). The chips in the AppleTV can handle their respective video rates. There really isn't a reason any of these should have to become obsolete. Hopefully Apple will continue OS support as long as possible, leaving out any new OS features that aren't necessary for the basic functionality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AppleTO, 7271936, spunkybart and 2 others
kerr said:
Drop support for the 2015 ATV HD. Release a new model. Those of us with a HD or 4K (1st Gen) will upgrade.
Click to expand...
zorinlynx said:
Why? I don't even use a 2015 ATV anymore. But I'd still rather Apple support it as long as they can.
Click to expand...
Agreed. It’s a streaming device for goodness sake, it doesn’t need that much power. Apple should support it for as long as they can. I have the latest Apple TV (2022 model) myself, but why would I want folks with the older models left out in the cold? Seems like an awful take if you ask me.

Too many dogs in the manger these days. :rolleyes:
 
  • Like
Reactions: freedomlinux, CoMoMacUser, Tim Apple’s Glasses and 2 others
MacRumors said:


Just ahead of WWDC, we have another last-minute compatibility rumor to share from a proven leaker, with this one relating to the Apple TV.

apple-tv-4k-yellow-bg-feature.jpg

In a direct message, the leaker told MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris that tvOS 18 should remain compatible with the Apple TV HD, released in 2015.

If so, tvOS 18 would be compatible with all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models, meaning there would be no change compared to tvOS 17:

  • Apple TV HD (2015)
  • Apple TV 4K (2017)
  • Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation) (2021)
  • Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) (2022)
Given that HomePods run a variant of tvOS, the leaker thinks the next HomePod software update is likely to support all HomePods, including the original 2018 model.

The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.

Apple will unveil tvOS 18 and other major software updates during the WWDC keynote, which begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today.

Article Link: tvOS 18 Rumored to Be Compatible With These Apple TV Models
Click to expand...


I think we are still rocking an Apple TV with 4K (maybe an early one when 4K was first added - maybe 2017?). Maybe we should be upgrading. It still works fine enough I guess. Pretty solid hardware - trouble free.
 
This is far better than the Apple Watch, where a device just 4 years old will not get functional updates, according to this site
 
It seems people like to hang on to their existing Apple TV's for as long as possible before upgrading. So good on Apple for supporting that. You would think the move would be obsolescence. Then again the changes and improvements from one model to the immediate next model are relatively minor anyway.
I have been upgrading since the second model and I must say for all that time, the newer model compared to that second model isn't that mind blowing of a change really (considering the span of time). Just a few minor updates and changes model to model.
 
You know what though - the Apple TV Remote used to have the gyroscopic tilt sensor thing that was good for some types of games on the TV. Kids really like the "idea" of playing games on the Apple TV, but since they removed the tilt sensor on the remotes, I think it's been a crapshoot to take the time to download an Apple TV "app" and screw around with playing a game. I have a dozen old apps sitting there on the Apple TV and just don't have the time to check them out because I have been disappointed too many times with the lacking tilt control.

Apple had a bit of a chance to make a TV game machine, but it's been "half-baked".

Also recently we lost our Apple TV remote somewhere in the couches and chesterfields and sofas. I thought it was crazy that "Find My" did not include Apple TV Remotes. Have they fixed that I wonder?

Great product, but it's one that we use without any desire to really get into it deeply.

I have to give them some credit for the ease of screen sharing to the Apple TV though - it does work despite me not really caring about how to do it properly. I just use it intuitively.
\
 
zorinlynx said:
I'm amazed that Apple is still fully supporting the 2015 Apple TV. That has got to be the record for the longest a device has ever gotten software updates!
Click to expand...
yeah just shows that not much computing power needed to stream tv.
 
AppleTV is a pretty boring device. I would really love to see some innovation happen in the living room.
 
I’d love it if they could create a way to use non-Apple cameras for FaceTime on Apple TV.

Maybe that would lead to the hypothetical “HomePod/Apple TV with a camera” product that’s been talked about for years.
 
kerr said:
Drop support for the 2015 ATV HD. Release a new model. Those of us with a HD or 4K (1st Gen) will upgrade.
Click to expand...
What a stupid comment. Even the HD is vastly over powered for it's actual function of being a streaming device. There is no reason for it having support dropped, the only reason would be if they went hard on gaming but gaming will never be a thing on the ATV, the OS is too bloated and the gamer userbase just too small to make any major game dev feel it makes financial sense to port a major game to the ATV

If Apple were serious about gaming they would be better doing an actual game console with a more lightweight OS and even then they would need to throw stupid amounts at gf and devs to make a number of big franchises exclusive to them
 
  • Like
Reactions: CoMoMacUser
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back