tvOS 27 officially ends software support for two Apple TV models, and if you are still running an Apple TV HD, the clock has run out. Announced at WWDC 2026, tvOS 27 drops the Apple TV HD (2015) and the Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017), leaving only the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV 4K boxes in the supported lineup. The cut was expected given the age of both devices, but it lands harder for Apple TV HD owners who also learned earlier this year that their hardware is already considered obsolete.
Apple added the Apple TV HD (32GB) to its official obsolete products list on March 31, 2026. Obsolete status means Apple and its service providers are no longer obligated to repair the device, and combined with the tvOS 27 cutoff, Apple TV HD owners are now looking at hardware that will receive no security patches, no new features, and no service going forward. The Apple TV HD shipped with an A8 chip and topped out at 1080p at 60fps, so the gap between it and current hardware is substantial.
What tvOS 27 actually adds
For anyone moving to a supported Apple TV 4K, tvOS 27 brings a meaningful set of updates. If you want to try the new features ahead of the public release, the tvOS 27 developer beta is already available to install. The confirmed feature list so far includes:
- A redesigned Podcasts app with smart downloads
- Faster app launches and quicker Control Center loading
- Larger text size options across the interface for accessibility
- Hi-Res Lossless audio support in Apple Music, available through compatible external speaker outputs
- On-device processing for HomeKit Secure Video
The Hi-Res Lossless addition is notable for anyone using an Apple TV as the audio hub of a home theater setup, since it moves the platform closer to what dedicated streamers offer audiophiles. On-device HomeKit Secure Video processing is useful for smart home users who rely on their Apple TV as a hub, reducing dependence on iCloud for camera footage analysis.
What tvOS 27 does not include is Apple Intelligence. Interestingly, Apple barely addressed tvOS at WWDC, and the absence of AI features appears to be a deliberate hold tied to hardware. The current Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) uses an A15 Bionic chip, which falls short of the A17 Pro, the oldest chip Apple makes that supports Apple Intelligence.
The case for waiting until September
A 4th-generation Apple TV 4K is expected to arrive in September 2026 alongside the tvOS 27 release, and the rumored specs point toward patience being worthwhile. The new model is reported to carry the A17 Pro chip, built on a 3-nanometer process with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and full Apple Intelligence support, along with Wi-Fi 7 and an Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip aimed at improving smart home device compatibility.
The current Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) has been on sale since October 2022, three and a half years without a hardware update. It is priced at $129 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and $149 for the 128GB version with Gigabit Ethernet and Thread support. Note that a known bug once locked the 128GB Apple TV 4K storage at 64GB, though that has long since been patched. Those are reasonable prices for a capable streamer, but buying now means paying for hardware that is about to be superseded, and potentially missing out on Apple Intelligence entirely depending on how Apple structures that rollout.
For Apple TV HD owners who cannot wait, the 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K is a significant jump in every meaningful category and runs tvOS 27 without issue. For anyone with even moderate flexibility on timing, though, waiting until September makes more sense, since the 4th-generation model is shaping up to be the most capable Apple TV released to date and will be the first to bring Apple Intelligence to the living room.
