With the tvOS 27.2 and HomePod Software 27.2 release candidates, Apple has added support for surround sound on the 2026 Apple TV 4K and for Sound Glow on select HomePods.
On October 13, as part of its "Welcome Home" event, Apple's streaming box and smallest smart speaker received meaningful hardware upgrades. A new surround sound option is also available when you pair the latest Apple TV 4K with four HomePod mini 2 units.
Alternatively, it's also possible to use four HomePod 2 speakers, or two HomePod mini 2 units and a pair of HomePod 2 speakers for the surround sound experience. Owners of the original HomePod mini and HomePod are out of luck, though cheaper, better-sounding surround sound alternatives are available.
With the tvOS 27.2 release candidate build, deployed on Monday, Apple included code related to its new surround sound feature. The company did so even though the new-and-improved Apple TV 4K won't be in users' hands before November 13.
Priced at $300, the 2026 Apple TV 4K offers a more powerful A18 chip, support for Siri AI, and far-field microphones for echo cancellation. At its core, though, the device is just a streaming box, and it's increasingly difficult to justify buying one.
Meanwhile, the HomePod Software 27.2 release candidate extends Apple's new Sound Glow feature to the HomePod 2 and original HomePod mini. With Sound Glow, the top of compatible HomePod models pulses colors that match the audio being played.
It's a neat visual detail, but nothing groundbreaking. The key selling points of HomePod mini 2 include Siri AI support and the new surround sound feature for Apple TV.