There’s a brand new Apple TV 4K coming later this year, and as sometimes happens, Apple’s just-announced software update for the platform—tvOS 26—seems to hint at a new hardware feature that’s on the way.
New Apple TV 4K hardware expected this fall
The last time a new Apple TV 4K released was 2022, so it’s very much time for an update—and a new model is indeed coming.
Apple will reportedly launch a new Apple TV 4K this fall.
- more powerful A18 or A17 Pro chip
- Apple Intelligence support
- Apple’s first in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modem
- and possibly even a built-in camera
This latter rumor has been the biggest wildcard for the new Apple TV 4K up until now.
[Apple] has discussed…offering a revamped Apple TV set-top box with a built-in camera for FaceTime videoconferencing and gesture-based controls. And the technology will all work seamlessly with both the iPhone and Vision Pro.
Until now, there hasn’t been another significant corroboration of this rumor.
But tvOS 26 offers plenty of hints that a built-in camera is indeed on the way.
tvOS 26 features hint at Apple TV 4K gaining a camera
Among the various software updates Apple just unveiled, tvOS 26 is easily the smallest release.
The new design with Liquid Glass is included, the TV app gets a fresh look, and there’s a fun new way to do karaoke.
Aside from those updates? There’s not much.
The small number of changes, relatively speaking, makes the new features Apple did include even more significant.
For example, Apple has several improvements to FaceTime coming in tvOS 26. They even merited a bulky paragraph in the tvOS press release:
With tvOS 26, users can enjoy a more personalized FaceTime experience that’s consistent with iOS. Contact Posters on Apple TV make it easier and more personal by displaying a contact’s customized photo and name when starting a FaceTime call on Apple TV. Live Captions expand to include French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish, enabling Apple TV to use on-device intelligence to display Live Captions for FaceTime conversations, so users can follow what’s being said in even more languages. Additionally, FaceTime audio and phone call notifications will appear onscreen for the active profile, allowing users to answer on connected HomePod speakers or their iPhone, and ensuring that communication with loved ones remains at the forefront.
That’s an awful lot of changes for a feature that’s still very niche.
Currently, FaceTime in tvOS requires using Continuity Camera on your iPhone and buying a separate accessory to mount your iPhone near the TV.
As a result, it likely doesn’t get a ton of use except from the small percentage of users willing to jump through those hoops.
But tvOS 26’s upgrades—in a year when there aren’t many changes overall—hints at a hardware change that will make FaceTime much more mainstream.
Additionally, tvOS 26 now automatically shows a profile selection screen when your Apple TV 4K boots up. This will make it easy to ensure the correct user is logged in, so that their contacts are used for FaceTime calls.
All of this hints at this fall’s new Apple TV 4K gaining a built-in camera.
Apple’s software teams prioritize features that new hardware will require. And with tvOS 26, Apple’s engineers seem to be preparing FaceTime on Apple TV to become a much bigger deal very soon.
Do you want an Apple TV 4K with a camera? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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