Apple just dropped tvOS 26, and I’m curious about what’s actually changed. I’m downloading it now and will be testing it over the coming days, but looking at the feature list, there are some things that caught my attention.

I hate the spyware-riddled smart TV apps, so I use Apple TVs on all my TVs instead. This means I’m always interested in improvements to the Apple TV experience, since it’s my primary way of accessing streaming content.

I’m not going to tell you what’s “useful” or what you “should” care about. Usefulness is subjective, and what matters to me might not matter to you. But here’s what I’m noticing from the feature list.

Liquid Glass design

The new Liquid Glass design is the big visual change. It’s a material that behaves like glass—reflecting light, showing what’s behind it, and creating depth. It affects the interface elements and overall navigation.

I’m curious about this. The design changes are usually subtle, but they can make the interface feel more modern. I’ll have to see how it looks in practice.

Enhanced profiles

Profiles now automatically appear when the Apple TV wakes up. This makes it easier to select your personalized settings and recommendations without having to navigate through menus.

This could be useful for households with multiple users. I live alone, so this doesn’t affect me much, but I can see how it would be helpful for families.

Aerial screensavers

New Aerial screensavers featuring scenes from India have been added. You can now personalize your screensavers by selecting specific categories.

I’m curious about the new screensavers. The Aerial screensavers are usually beautiful, and having more variety is always nice.

Permanent AirPlay speaker option

You can now designate any AirPlay-compatible speaker as a permanent audio output for the Apple TV. This provides flexibility in setting up your home audio system.

This could be useful for audio setup. Being able to set a permanent speaker output could simplify the audio configuration process.

Captive Wi-Fi network sync

There’s a new feature for captive Wi-Fi network sync. When networks require a login screen to connect, you only need to perform that process on one device before gaining access across all devices, including the Apple TV.

I don’t take my Apple TV when I travel, but this could be useful for someone who does. Having to log into hotel or public Wi-Fi networks on multiple devices is annoying, so this could streamline the process.

Gaming enhancements

There’s a new Games app that serves as a hub for launching installed games, discovering new ones, and tracking achievements. It includes social features like leaderboards.

There’s also support for pairing Sony DualSense controllers with the Apple TV 4K for a more immersive gaming experience.

I occasionally use Steam Link to game on the Apple TV, but almost never use other games. The controller support is interesting, but I’m not sure if it would work with Steam Link.

Enhanced Apple TV app

The Apple TV app has been updated with new poster art and an interface that displays more movies and shows at once. This redesign aims to make content discovery more efficient and visually appealing.

I’m curious about the interface changes. The Apple TV app is my main way of discovering content, so any improvements to the interface could be helpful.

HomePod software update

There’s also a HomePod software update that accompanies tvOS 26. While specific details are limited, it typically includes performance improvements and new features that enhance integration with Apple TV.

I’m curious about what’s new in the HomePod update. The HomePod and Apple TV integration is usually pretty solid, so any improvements could be welcome.

Regional availability

Some features may not be available in all regions. Apple Intelligence features, Live Translations, and some other capabilities have regional restrictions. It’s worth checking Apple’s documentation to see what’s available in your area.

What I’m curious about

I’m not sure what will actually matter for my workflow. The Liquid Glass design changes seem interesting, but I’ll have to see how they look in practice.

The captive Wi-Fi network sync could be genuinely useful. Having to log into networks on multiple devices is always annoying, so this could streamline the process.

The enhanced profiles feature doesn’t affect me much since I live alone, but I can see how it would be helpful for families.

It seems like mostly incremental improvements rather than major changes. No complicated setup, no major learning curve. Apple’s approach here is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, which makes sense for a mature operating system.

I’ll be testing it over the next few days to see what actually makes a difference in daily use.