Every year at WWDC, Apple unveils exciting new features for its various operating systems. This year, however, there was a notable absence: any substantive mention of tvOS 27. With features taking centre stage over OS updates, the living room’s favourite OS barely made an appearance.

The keynote focussed on macOS 27, iOS 27, and iPadOS 27, all of which received significant announcements including new child safety features and customizable transparency options. Even visionOS got a boost with Siri AI. The omission of tvOS was palpable, reflecting the hardware limitations that continue to hold it back.

Apple’s recent announcement hinted at upcoming accessibility features for tvOS, such as larger text support, but the absence during WWDC felt like a letdown. My hope was for an integrated Apple Home experience with the Apple TV 4K, acting as a hub for smart home devices. Currently, this functionality is limited compared to what can be achieved on iPads or iPhones.

The main hurdle? The hardware. A new Apple TV has been long-rumoured and could be the key to running the latest features highlighted during WWDC. With the current Apple TV 4K using an A15 Bionic chip that’s nearly five years old, a more powerful device is desperately needed. Until then, we’ll have to wait for significant updates in the coming months.