Apple Restricts New Liquid Glass tvOS 26 Redesign to Recent Apple TV 4K Models

Apple has announced tvOS 26, the latest operating system for Apple TV, introducing a major redesign called ‘Liquid Glass.’ This new user interface utilizes real-time rendering to create a translucent, dynamic effect that reacts to its environment, marking a significant visual update for the platform. However, the Liquid Glass redesign will only be available on second-generation Apple TV 4K models and later, which were first released in 2021. Older Apple TV models, including the Apple TV HD and first-generation Apple TV 4K, will still receive the tvOS 26 update but without the new UI. The likely reason for this restriction is the increased processing power required by the Liquid Glass interface, which older hardware cannot support. In addition to the new design, tvOS 26 brings improved profile switching, enhancements to FaceTime and Contact Posters, and an upgraded Apple Music Sing experience with iPhone microphone support. The developer beta for tvOS 26 became available on June 9, but both Apple and AppleInsider strongly advise against installing beta software on primary or mission-critical devices due to potential incompatibilities and the risk of data loss. Users are encouraged to use secondary devices for testing and to back up important data before updating.