Apple tvOS 18 is here: Release date, features, and what you need to know

My household is almost exclusively a Google TV family, , though I do have a Roku, Fire Stick, and an Apple TV device for moments I want to mess around with another platform. Of these, Apple TV is one of my favorite alternatives. I also appreciate that Apple seems to be a bit more frequent with updates and major new features than most other streaming devices. With tvOS 18, the Apple TV experience gets even better. Here’s everything we know about tvOS 18.

What is the most likely Apple tvOS 18 release date?

• tvOS 17 — September 18, 2023
• tvOS 16 — September 12, 2022
• tvOS 15 — September 20, 2021

Apple formally announced tvOS 18 at WWDC in mid-June. It has yet to set a specific release date for tvOS 18, though you can expect it to arrive sometime this fall. More than likely, it’ll be around September as this is historically when new iterations of the Apple TV’s software have arrived.

Is there an Apple tvOS 18 beta?

There’s already a closed beta for developers, but Apple tvOS 18 will also see a public beta release this July. There’s no word on the exact date the update will arrive, though we’re already at the beginning of the month, so it should arrive in short order.

tvOS 18 features

Apple formally unveiled tvOS 18 at WWDC. While it’s not a major upgrade compared to iOS 18, it certainly isn’t without a fair share of new features.

Audio and visual tweaks

First up, tvOS 18 now supports 21:9 projectors. There’s also a new feature that will enhance dialogue, making it easier to hear on TV speakers, receivers, and AirPods. The feature works by improving vocal clarity and crispness via machine learning.

Automatic subtitles are also new to tvOS 18. This ensures the correct subtitles for shows and movies even if the language of the show does not match the user’s default language. The feature can also be enabled so you’ll see subtitles when you mute your show or movie temporarily.

Facetime gets LiveCaptions

Those who use FaceTime with a Continuity Camera will soon see Live Captions for English in the US and Canada, so users can read what others are saying in a call right from the TV.

Apple Fitness+ gets a redesign

There are also new fitness features, as Apple Fitness+ has been redesigned to help make it a bit more useful with personalized spaces, enhanced awards, and more.

There’s now a guest mode for Home-compatible smart devices

The Home App has introduced a new guest access mode. This allows authorized users to grant guests control over locks and security systems, and can even set individualized or time-based access.

Photos app gets an overhaul and a few other improvements

Apple has also redesigned its Photos app. You now have new collections that help you better organize your content, making it easier to relive and find photos that matter to you. There’s even a new carousel view that updates every day with new highlights detailing pictures of favorite pets, places, people, and much more.

Other improvements, including features that aren’t ready yet

As you can see, there are several changes here, but that’s far from all. Other improvements include new screensavers and a new InSight mode for Apple TV Plus subscribers, which works similarly to Prime X-Ray, showing you information about the actors onscreen and more. There’s also a new Apple Music SharePlay feature, which lets you share control of the music playing from the HomePod and HomePod Mini using SharePlay and Apple Music.

Lastly, there are two features that have been announced but won’t arrive initially with the stable release of tvOS 18. That’s support for Spatial Audio in AirPlay, and the ability to control robot vacuum cleaners right from the Home app or via Siri.

tvOS 18 compatibility

Apple has been pretty good about long-term support for its Apple TV hardware. Both tvOS 16 and tvOS 17 supported any Apple TV HD model released on or after 2015, as well as every Apple TV 4K unit. Shockingly, this trend continues when it comes to tvOS 18 compatibility, which means that even Apple TV hardware that is close to a decade old is still getting this update. Not bad!