Shop E Store Apple TV 4K improves every year with regular software updates and, in some cases, hardware improvements. But it really shines when paired with other Apple devices. Here are four features you get when you use Apple TV 4K with other Apple products.
Hands-free playback control with HomePod
One of my favorite demonstrations of Apple’s ecosystem “magic moments” involves Apple TV 4K and HomePod.
If HomePod and Apple TV 4K are in the same house, you can control playback on Apple TV just by talking to HomePod.
Just ask Siri on HomePod to play, pause, skip forward or back, or other standard playback controls. You don’t need to press the Siri button on your Siri remote.
Siri knows when you’re pointing at what you’re playing on your Apple TV and acts accordingly.
Remote app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
Another convenient way to control your Apple TV 4K via another Apple device is to use the Remote app.
Apple’s Remote app is available on iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch.
It provides the same basic functionality as a physical Siri remote, but uses one of your other devices.
However, the Remote app can go even further. For example, using this app on your iPhone will allow you to track the playback of what you’re watching from your iPhone’s lock screen. This is especially great on modern devices with always-on displays.
I love being able to glance at my iPhone and instantly see how much time I have left on a particular show or movie. This is an easy way to track runtime without messing with your Apple TV 4K itself.
Put InSight on your iPhone where you need it
InSight is a new feature in tvOS 18 that works especially well when used from an iPhone.
InSight provides functionality similar to Prime Video’s X-Ray functionality. You’ll see information about the actors on screen at any time, as well as the music being played.
InSight can be used on the Apple TV 4K itself, but I find it much more convenient and less distracting on the iPhone. InSight is available when you use the Remote app on your iPhone to see relevant information without covering your TV screen with an InSight overlay.
HomePod speaker experience
Finally, Apple TV 4K can not only be controlled through HomePod requests. You can also make HomePod your designated speaker, which gives you bonus features.
On your Apple TV 4K, open the Settings app, go to (Video & Audio) ⇾ (Audio Output), and select HomePod or HomePod stereo pair as the default audio output.
This way you can get Dolby Atmos support and also benefit from the new tvOS 18.2 features.
Enhance Dialogue on HomePod (2nd generation), when combined with Apple TV 4K, uses real-time audio processing and machine learning to help you hear voices more clearly than background sounds.
I like the standard Enhance Dialogue feature offered in tvOS 18, but the HomePod 2nd generation makes it even better with tvOS 18.2.
Apple TV 4K features: Summary
Apple’s hardware and software ecosystem has long been central to the company’s success. And Apple TV 4K is a great demonstration of why that ecosystem is so appealing. It’s a great product on its own, but it really shines when combined with other Apple devices.
Which feature of the Apple TV 4K ecosystem is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
