Apple Releases tvOS 15 With Spatial Audio, Stereo Support Using Two HomePod Minis, Hey Siri Improvements and More

Monday September 20, 2021 10:01 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released tvOS 15, the newest version of the tvOS operating system designed for the Apple TV 4K and the ‌Apple TV‌ HD.

Apple TV tvOS 15 Feature
The tvOS 15 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌ by going to System -> Software Update. ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to ‌tvOS 15 automatically.

Apple's tvOS updates are never as grand as its iOS updates, but tvOS 15 does introduce a few notable new features.

A new "Shared With You" section in tvOS will aggregate any content that people have recommended to you through the Messages app so you can check them out at your convenience.

When you use the ‌Apple TV‌ with your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, there's now support for spatial audio for a theater-like surround sound experience. There's also a new feature for automatically connecting your AirPods through Smart AirPods routing.

Using Hey Siri commands, you can launch ‌Apple TV‌+ shows in tvOS 15, and two HomePod mini speakers can now be paired with an ‌Apple TV‌ 4K for surround sound. Those with HomeKit cameras can view multiple cameras at the same time on the ‌Apple TV‌.

When the SharePlay FaceTime feature launches later this year, the option that allows multiple people to watch TV shows or movies together will integrate with tvOS. There's even a new "For All of You" recommendation engine that will suggest content everyone might enjoy.

For more on tvOS 15 and the ‌Apple TV‌, we have a dedicated roundup that outlines the new features. Apple has also released a 8.4.6 update for older ‌Apple TV‌ devices.

Related Roundup: Apple TV

Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)

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Top Rated Comments

decypher44

67 months ago

First time Apple TV owner here. Do I just wait for the update or do I need to hunt it down in the settings?

Settings>System>Software Updates. Easy-peasy-chicken-cheesy!

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

JoeShades

67 months ago

Lets hope it fixed my remotes dying so fast. A few updates ago the battery on all of my Appletvs has sucked. Like only lasting a week or two at most. It is just odd all of them would do it over and over. I have old 1080p, first 4k, and new model and all of them have done it. New has been charged twice since I got it a month ago.

Before they all lasted months before charges.

Very strange, I get around 3 months on 1 charge

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Gator5000e

67 months ago

I am very curious to test the Spatial Audio with my Air Pod Pros to see if I can actually hear a difference.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Powerbooky

67 months ago

So I use my Samsung SmartTV apps to stream most of my services. I have a Samsung sound bar with a sub as well. I am thinking to switching fully to my appleTV to take advantage of the stereo homepod minis but still have some questions. Can you get an Xbox to play through them somehow or will that still need to be hooked to the sound bar? Just trying to consolidate the devices and remove the Sound bar. I am not in love with the way this one sounds.

What would be the benefit of switching to using my Apple TV full time over the Smart TV apps? If any.

You'll find that the ATV is way more smooth and responsive in use than on any Samsung TV. IMHO almost all "smart systems" on current TV's is slow and sluggish. Samsung doesn't excel in this deparment. They can make good electronics, but software integration is just crap.

On the ATV 4K (2021) you can enable the Audio Return Channel option. According to the AppleTV Support page ('https://support.apple.com/HT207117'), that should make it possible to play audio from the TV (Xbox on another input) via the ATV 4K to the HomePod minis. Not sure if there's a significant delay in this use. It probably depends on what the TV itself supports on all of its HDMI connectors.

Our benefit of getting the AppleTV 4K, less cables, less devices and portability. It replaced a big cable box and a DVD player. It is so small that it can be mounted on the back of the screen too.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Thebrochure

67 months ago

Homepods lol.

A couple years back, I found a vintage, audiophile stereo receiver and CD player for about $200.00 combined. I then purchased two brand new audiophile floor speakers (separate tweeter, midrange speaker and 12in woofer) for about $700.00 to go with them. The receiver can push 400 Watts of power, and the speakers can handle 300 watts each--per channel. I also have a turntable as well round it all out.

So when I saw people spending nearly $700.00 on just two Homepods alone, which can barely output 40 watters per channel, I was literally laughing out loud. Literally.

These tech companies have pulled the wool over everyone's eyes. Progress can be good, but it's not always good. And the fact that we're all listening to music through crappy headphones (yes, even the best ones pale in comparison to a great home audio system) and tiny Homepods is proof that we're now getting far less than we use to for the same amount of money.

Far less.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

HenryAH

67 months ago

Which show did you watch to test them on?

An old Disney movie, Tomorrowland (I was part ways through, so just continued it), as soon as I took the AirPods Pro out of the case, the Apple TV recognized it, I had to push the TV screen button on the remote to connect. I was watching on a 60" Panasonic plasma TV, you do not get the total sensation of rear speakers, but the rest was well done for spatial audio

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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Apple Releases tvOS 15 With Spatial Audio, Stereo Support Using Two HomePod Minis, Hey Siri Improvements and More

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