The Apple TV 4K now helps the most recent model of Thread
Good residence gadgets that join over Thread ought to have a way more steady community because of Thread 1.4 help in tvOS 26.
Thread is an IP-based wi-fi protocol that connects primarily sensible residence gadgets across the residence. The gadgets create a self-healing mesh community that may be extra dependable within the outskirts of your property than Wi-Fi.
The protocol is far improved with Thread 1.4, which was adopted by Apple in tvOS 26. The change was noticed by Matter Alpha by analyzing the Apple TV community particulars.
With iOS 18, Apple allowed direct management of Thread equipment from iPhone, eradicating the necessity to undergo a Thread border router for even sooner actions. Now it ought to enhance additional because of the adoption of Thread 1.4.
Apple has been using Thread in its Dwelling merchandise for years, together with it within the HomePod mini, HomePod, and Apple TV 4K, which act as Thread border routers that bridge your Thread community along with your Dwelling community. The iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 16 Professional, and iPhone 16 Professional Max additionally include Thread radios.
Apple TV’s community take a look at outcomes displaying Thread 1.4. Picture supply: Matter Alpha
One benefit of Thread is its low energy consumption, giving it extra advantages over Bluetooth-based equipment when operating on battery energy. It is generally used now in sensors, sensible locks, shades, and different sensible residence merchandise.
What the Thread 1.4 replace provides
Thread 1.4, first launched in September of 2024, included many quality-of-life upgrades for the burgeoning customary.
A Nanoleaf sensible bulb that connects by way of Thread
To begin, Thread 1.4 suitable gadgets will create a single mesh community in your house, somewhat than every sensible residence platform or OS making an attempt to create their very own. It will lead to a extra steady community that can be bigger as a result of they will see extra gadgets.
Thread 1.4 node gadgets all get a definite path to the web, permitting equipment to supply extra options which can be pulled from on-line sources. An instance may very well be sensible shades that mechanically transfer their place primarily based on present climate situations or a lightweight that adjustments colour primarily based on soccer scores.
Mainly, Thread 1.4 makes it far simpler to check and deploy Thread gadgets for producers. It gives simpler testing and troubleshooting in addition to extra perception into the Thread community as an entire.
In the end, this replace ought to enhance the person expertise for Thread gadgets, particularly as accent makers additionally replace their merchandise as nicely. Thread 1.4 shall be out there to Apple customers as soon as they replace to tvOS 26 after it releases in September.
