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 HockenberrySep 26, 2025

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.

Show threadTom Ross
@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...

MacRumors
Sep 27 at 11:44amMastodon for iOS