tvOS 18: Top five new features to expect this fall

Apple is planning to launch an upgraded version of tvOS. Apple TV software updates often don’t receive much consideration because they tend to unveil a limited number of new features.

However, it is expected that Apple is set to have some intriguing additions coming this year.

Insight

Insight is similar to Amazon X-ray, offering details about actors, characters, and music from ‌Apple TV‌+ movies and shows in real-time. If you stop a show that's playing, you can view information on the actors, the song that's playing, and more.

If you have an iPhone as a remote device for an ‌Apple TV‌, you can receive InSight information right on your phone. Additionally, it is to be noted this feature only works with ‌Apple TV‌+ content currently.

Enhance dialogue and subtitles

Enhance dialogue is a setting that already exists, but Apple is producing it better with machine learning and computational audio advancements. It'll be better at enhancing vocal clarity over loud music, action scenes, and background noise. 

Read more: tvOS 18 set to allow Apple TV users share content as they watch, listen

In addition, Apple upgraded it so it works with High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)-connected speakers when playing content on ‌iPhone‌ and iPad when using AirPods, and with other Bluetooth audio devices. As a bonus, Apple is also enhancing subtitles, so they'll be displayed intelligently like when content is muted or when a TV show or movie is rewound.

FaceTime updates

When you utilise FaceTime with your ‌Apple TV‌ with an ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ as the camera, you can now view real-time Live Captions during the call. This works in English in the United States (US) and Canada.

There is a new option to use SharePlay so everyone can contribute songs to a party playlist by scanning a QR code.

New screen savers

Apple is integrating new screen saver options, including Portraits (displays your Portrait images), TV and Movies, and Snoopy.

Projector support

If you have a projector, you'll be thrilled to know that tvOS 18 integrated support for the 21:9 aspect ratio used by most projectors.