Craig HockenberrySep 26, 2025

This is confusing: the Apple TV simulator running tvOS 26 shows Liquid Glass even when the device does not support it.

Only the Apple TV 4K 2nd & 3rd generation has a processor/GPU fast enough to show the new UI.

But if you create a simulator device for older hardware, you don't see the older UI elements. A rare case of the simulator being wildly different than the device itself.

I thought something was wrong with my build until I investigated device support.

Show threadCraig HockenberrySep 26, 2025
On left, the device. On right, the simulator.
Show threadCraig Hockenberry

This wasn't clear at all in Apple's announcement. And customers are likely to be as confused as I was.

I'd also guess that there are A LOT of Apple TV 4K 1st generation out there.

There was a huge reason to upgrade from HD to 4K: screen resolution.

The 2nd and 3rd generation brought a new remote and slightly better HDMI support. And it was a lot cheaper to just buy a new remote.

Sep 26, 2025 at 6:09pmIvory for Mac
Show threadMichael HanscomSep 26, 2025
@chockenberry I was one of the confused ones, especially as the splash screen after upgrading touts the new Liquid Glass interface, but I wasn't seeing it. Honestly had forgotten which generation Apple TV device I had, and it took a little digging to figure out that it was a 1st gen and that it didn't support the new UI. Not exactly a deal breaker, it still works just fine, but definitely confusing.
Show threadTom RossSep 27, 2025
@chockenberry They did mention it in June, but, like you, I didn’t see it in the simulator and therefore assumed that glass would be on all tvOS 26 devices. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/tvos-26-liquid-glass-redesign-older-models/
tvOS 26 Liquid Glass Redesign Excludes Older Apple TV Models

Apple's tvOS 26 announced at WWDC requires second-generation Apple TV 4K devices and later, which means the company is excluding older hardware...

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