Apple has started testing tvOS 26, and one of the biggest updates is support for Thread 1.4, a new version of the smart home networking protocol. Thread 1.4 brings better security, easier device setup, and smoother connections between smart home gadgets. This means your Apple TV can now work even better as a hub for smart devices around your house.
With Thread 1.4, Apple TV can connect to more types of smart home products, like lights, locks, and sensors, and help them talk to each other more reliably. The update also makes it easier to add new devices to your home network, so you can set up your smart home faster and with fewer problems.
This change is important because Thread is a key part of Matter, the new universal smart home standard. By supporting Thread 1.4, Apple TV will work better with smart devices from many different brands, not just Apple. This should make it simpler for people to mix and match smart home gadgets and control them all from one place.
The tvOS 26 beta is available now for developers, and the final version should come out later this year. If you use Apple TV as your smart home hub, this update will help your devices work together more smoothly and securely.