tvOS 27 arrives, but the first Apple TV 4K is left behind

Apple released tvOS 27 on September 15, 2026. According to Tom's Guide, it is available on the second and third-generation Apple TV 4K, and it is the first time an Apple TV update has not reached every generation of the product.

Who gets it

The update is not available for the first-generation Apple TV 4K, and non-4K Apple TV models are not eligible. Tom's Guide suggests the older hardware is the likely reason, though Apple's reasoning is not given in that report. To find your model, go to Settings, then General, then About. Tom's Guide lists these model numbers:

Model	Number
3rd generation, Ethernet	A2843
3rd generation	A2737
2nd generation	A2169
1st generation	A1842

What changes

Apple says tvOS 27 brings improved performance. Tom's Guide lists an updated Control Center, faster app launches, quicker AirPlay connections and a setting for text size across the whole platform. Apple Music gains Hi-Res Lossless audio and AutoMix, and the Podcasts app is redesigned and now carries video podcasts.

What it means for shoppers

If you own a first-generation box, it keeps working but will not get new features. Tom's Guide pointed to the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) as the newest and most capable model at that date, and noted price rises on it. A fourth-generation box followed on October 13, as covered in our Apple TV 4K launch story.

What is still unknown

Tom's Guide does not say how long Apple will keep updating older boxes, or whether the second-generation model will miss the next version. The performance claims are Apple's and were not tested in the report.