Update: An LG spokesperson now says that the information shared by its UK PR team is inaccurate and there are no current plans to bring AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to LG TVs that were released earlier than 2019. From LG:
"LG cannot guarantee that TV models prior to 2019 will be able to deliver a seamless user experience. Therefore, while this may be a possibility in the future, at the moment, LG has no plans to update its pre-2019 TVs with Airplay 2 or HomeKit."
LG still plans to bring AirPlay 2 to its 2019 TVs this week, and did not rule out the possibility of support for older TVs in the future.
Original article: LG today announced that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit compatibility are rolling out to 2019 AI ThinQ TVs starting on Thursday, July 25.
While the 2019 LG AI ThinQ TVs will be the first to get the firmware update that will enable HomeKit and AirPlay 2, new information shared today by Screen Times suggests AirPlay 2 and HomeKit will eventually be coming to all LG TV models with AI ThinQ in the future.
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The information comes from Piers Le Moignan from LG's UK press team, who told Screen Times that "All LG TV models with AI ThinQ from past to present" will support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit eventually.
It's not clear when older LG TV models will receive a firmware update to add AirPlay 2 and HomeKit compatibility, but starting this week, all 2019 LG OLED TVs, NanoCell TVs, and UHD TVs with ThinQ AI capabilities will get the update.
With AirPlay 2, LG TV users can stream TV shows and movies from an iOS or macOS device directly to the television, with no Apple TV set-top box required. A movie can be started on an iPhone and AirPlayed right to a TV, as an example.
Mirroring a Mac or iOS device's screen to the TV is also possible, letting photos, spreadsheets, webpages, documents, games, and more be displayed on the larger screen of a TV set.
AirPlay 2 allows multiple audio sources to play the same content, so a song can be played on a single television set, multiple television sets, or a TV and other AirPlay 2 devices such as speakers for whole home audio.
The AirPlay 2 functionality in LG TVs is linked to HomeKit, so LG TV sets with the new firmware will show up in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In the Home app, LG TV users can do things like switch inputs, turn the television on and off, and adjust the volume. Siri can also be used for these commands, so a simple "Hey Siri" voice request on an iOS or macOS device can adjust the volume or turn the TV on or off, much like other HomeKit products.
Siri is also able to AirPlay content from an iOS device or Mac to the TV, which means a command like "Hey Siri, play Big Little Lies on the living room TV" will work as a quick way to play a TV show or movie without having to search for it directly.
LG says AirPlay 2 and HomeKit will roll out to 2019 TVs in more than 140 countries this week, with the update "continuing over the weeks to follow."
LG will be the third TV manufacturer to begin offering HomeKit and/or AirPlay 2 support. Samsung rolled out AirPlay 2 and an Apple TV app back in May (Samsung TVs don't support HomeKit) and Vizio has been beta testing its implementation of AirPlay 2 and HomeKit since April.
Along with LG, Vizio, and Samsung, Sony also has plans to introduce AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support later this year.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Update: An LG spokesperson now says ('https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/24/lg-homekit-airplay-2-2018/') that the information shared by its UK PR team is inaccurate and there are no current plans to bring AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to LG TVs that were released earlier than 2019.
And this, my friends, is why Smart TVs are such bull****. Your three year old TV, which still has a beautifully capable display panel, can't be upgraded to support current standards.I wish it were still possible to buy a truly dumb TV. HDMI inputs are all I need. Plug in my Apple TV and it's done. When the Apple TV becomes obsolete, I upgrade it instead of replacing the whole TV.
Smart TVs also have security and privacy concerns. Complete, total fail.
ummmm. google.com
I’m sure it does, I just think it’s messed up to restrict the feature to 2019 tv’s unlike Vizio adding the feature to older TVs[doublepost=1563996436][/doublepost]
Maybe, But Mr. Spock ThinQ sound blows away Vizio
And this, my friends, is why Smart TVs are such bull****. Your three year old TV, which still has a beautifully capable display panel, can't be upgraded to support current standards.
Agreed, can't wait to see what a laggy mess they become 2 years from now when they're no longer updatedI wish it were still possible to buy a truly dumb TV. HDMI inputs are all I need. Plug in my Apple TV and it's done. When the Apple TV becomes obsolete, I upgrade it instead of replacing the whole TV.
Smart TVs also have security and privacy concerns. Complete, total fail.
Not to mention I don't need the smart in the TV so we're paying for features we won't use
Things I need my TV to do:
* Turn on
* Use the HDMI ports
* Have picture viewing modes
I am saying this for years.
Even an Apple Smart TV would be pointless in the long run.Finally, people sees this.
I don't want smart things made by companies other than Apple.
They dont have the expertise to be on the same level as Apple got me used to.
TV brands, please, concentrate in what YOU are good: making good panels, NOTHING MORE.
TVs last a VERY LONG TIME. I'm still using a Sony Bravia from 2009 in my office at home. Think about a 2009 Apple TV. It's pretty much completely useless today.
Keep the smarts outside of the TV, so we can keep upgrading the smarts and keep using the TV.
I wish more people had experienced what tvs used to be like.. and could actually appreciate how great they have become, instead of whining about them including some features they don't personally need and could completely ignore if they don't need it. But heck, we now live in the "me" generation.
It's hard to appreciate the Netflix and Amazon ads that are permanently a part of the remotes, the large ads in the user interfaces, and the built-in spyware that sends images of what you're watching to advertisers to associate with your IP address and send your family targeted ads.