LG Expands AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Rollout to United States, Remaining 4K UHD TVs Will Receive Update in October

LG today announced that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are now available through a firmware update on select 2019 OLED and NanoCell 4K UHD smart TVs with ThinQ AI capability in the United States. The remaining 4K UHD TV series in LG's 2019 lineup are expected to receive these features in October.

lgtvsairplay2
LG began rolling out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit on July 25, but the firmware update was not available in the United States until July 29.

AirPlay 2 support enables users to stream videos, music, podcasts, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to a compatible LG smart TV, with no Apple TV necessary. And with HomeKit, users can easily control the TV's power, volume, source, and more using Siri or the Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are also available in beta on select Vizio smart TVs, and both features will be rolling out to select Sony models later this summer. Samsung also offers AirPlay 2, but not HomeKit, on select TVs.

Many customers have petitioned LG to offer AirPlay 2 and HomeKit on its older smart TVs, but the company has not budged so far, noting that it "cannot guarantee" that pre-2019 models "will be able to deliver a seamless user experience." LG did note that it "may be a possibility in the future."

Top Rated Comments

DTphonehome Avatar
50 months ago
Very shady of LG to tout WebOS as such a flexible and extensible system and then not update recent TVs with this feature. Many other manufacturers are bringing this functionality to recent TVs, so why can't LG? I have an AppleTV so I won't use this much anyway, but it really is anti-consumer for them to behave this way.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PatriotInvasion Avatar
50 months ago
Does this mean it's coming to all 4K UHD TV's from LG? Even 2016-2017 models?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
50 months ago
Does this mean it's coming to all 4K UHD TV's from LG? Even 2016-2017 models?
Sadly, no. I've updated my article to clarify this.

Last week, a spokesperson said that LG "cannot guarantee" that pre-2019 models "will be able to deliver a seamless user experience." LG did note that it "may be a possibility in the future," but it has "no plans" right now. Sounds bleak, but I guess there's a sliver of hope…
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DTphonehome Avatar
50 months ago
I just bought one of these 2019 Nanocell models a few weeks ago knowing the HomeKit update was coming (though the LG website STILL states coming in "June 2019"), Have been waiting for the update and now that it's available, all of a sudden my model (SM8100) isn't getting the update.

No mention of this previously as all reporting and releases before today have said 2019 models with Nanocell/AI ThinQ (which my tv has both) will receive the update. The LG product page states that this model is getting these features and this was a deciding factor when I purchased a few weeks ago.

I just enquired on LG live chat and the support lady said unfortunately my model isn't getting the update.....So angry right now, could have spent my $2000 on another TV that isn't getting HomeKit.
Maybe you're in the return window? Show them your displeasure by buying another brand. Make sure to tell them about it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Datalinks Avatar
50 months ago
C'mon LG give Airplay to the masses
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joshuargh Avatar
50 months ago
I just bought one of these 2019 Nanocell models a few weeks ago knowing the HomeKit update was coming (though the LG website STILL states coming in "June 2019"), Have been waiting for the update and now that it's available, all of a sudden my model (SM8100) isn't getting the update.

No mention of this previously as all reporting and releases before today have said 2019 models with Nanocell/AI ThinQ (which my tv has both) will receive the update. The LG product page states that this model is getting these features and this was a deciding factor when I purchased a few weeks ago.

I just enquired on LG live chat and the support lady said unfortunately my model isn't getting the update.....So angry right now, could have spent my $2000 on another TV that isn't getting HomeKit.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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