Apple has thrown open the doors to its 2026 public beta programme, and among the goodies is early access to tvOS 27. If you’re impatient for the autumn rollout, you can grab it right now — with the usual beta caveats attached.
The headline draw for audio enthusiasts is Hi-Res Lossless playback in Apple Music, finally landing on the living-room streamer. Alongside it, the update bundles a redesigned Podcasts app, a snappier Control Centre, and faster wireless links to other Apple gear over AirPlay — including HomePods pressed into service as your TV’s speakers.
But arguably the more meaningful change is what happens under the hood. The current Apple TV 4K is closing in on four years old, and Apple reckons tvOS 27 gives it a fresh lease of life: app loading times cut by 30 per cent, plus smoother animations across the board. In short, the whole interface should feel noticeably slicker and more responsive — the kind of upgrade that flatters ageing hardware without asking you to spend a penny.
Speaking of pennies, this all arrives after a recent price bump. The current-generation Apple TV 4K now starts at £199 / $199, while the version with 128GB of storage and an Ethernet socket will set you back £249 / $249.
The beta went live on 13 July 2026, but the full release for everyone isn’t due until September. If you’re a member of the Apple Beta Software Programme, enrolling is straightforward:
- Open the Settings app on your Apple TV 4K
- Head to the System tab
- Enrol and install the update from there
Not signed up yet? Enrolment is free, and Apple lets anyone trial its pre-release software and fire off feedback via the Feedback Assistant app.
A word of caution, though. Beta software is beta software — Apple’s pre-release builds are generally stable, but they’re not immune to bugs and glitches. If you happen to have a spare Apple TV 4K knocking about, that’s the smart place to test-drive tvOS 27, rather than risking your main streaming box mid-binge.
For most people, waiting until September for the polished public release is the sensible call. But if you’re itching to hear lossless Apple Music through your setup — and want that 30 per cent speed boost sooner rather than later — the beta is ready and waiting.
