If you’re wondering how to watch Apple’s TV+ streaming service on the TV in your living room, or looking for a way to stream from your iPhone or iPad to the big screen, look no further. In this article we run through all the Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio TVs that have the Apple TV app built in, as well as the TVs that are compatible with AirPlay and AirPlay 2 – the proprietary wireless standards for sharing videos, photos and music from an Apple device to a TV screen or speaker.
We’ll also discuss how you can now use a Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Google Chromecast to access Apple TV+ content. And the game consoles Xbox Series X and Series S that launched in November 2020 also include the Apple TV app, as does the PlayStation 5.
Apple’s TV+ streaming service features shows from the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams, and the content is available (along with paid-for content from Apple’s iTunes store and various other services) via Apple’s TV app. We have a separate guide to what’s on Apple TV+. We also look into what you can watch for free on Apple TV.
If you subscribe to Apple TV+ (which costs £4.99/$4.99 a month) you will be able to watch the new Apple shows on Apple devices or on a TV if you have an Apple TV set-top box, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, or one of the following smart TVs. Read How to get Apple TV for free.
Which TVs have Apple TV built in?
There are lots of options that will allow you to stream Apple’s content to your TV screen without buying the Apple TV hardware. The list of TVs that offer support for the Apple TV app is ever growing.
Previously, if you wanted to watch content streamed from your iPhone, iPad or Mac, or films and TV shows rented or purchased from Apple’s iTunes Store, on your television you needed an Apple TV set-top box plugged in.
With the price of an Apple TV starting at £139/$149, that was a high price to pay. Luckily you no longer need to have an Apple TV plugged into your set to be able to watch TV shows and movies from Apple or stream TV+ content.
Apple now allow its TV app to be offered on certain brands of smart TV and streaming sticks. So far the list includes smart TVs from the following manufacturers (click on the link to jump to a list of supported TVs):
There are also a number of TVs that include the Apple TV app because they use an operating system that supports the Apple TV app. For example, you will also find the Apple TV app on the following operating systems for TVs and streaming devices:
- Android TV (with options from Philips, TCL, Sony and Panasonic)
- Google TV (which features on Sony and TCL TVs)
- Amazon Fire TV (including options from Insignia, Toshiba, JVC, Grundig, JVC, Technika, and even Amazon Basics.)
There are also some Roku-branded TVs that support Apple TV. Such as the TCL Roku TV 32in, the Hisense Roku TV 43in 4K Ultra HD with HDR.
We’ll run through the various TV sets and streaming sticks that offer the TV app in more detail below, but first we’ll look at some other, cheaper, options.
Which streaming devices include the Apple TV app?
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a smart TV or an Apple TV set top box though. You could choose from one of the cheaper streaming sticks available from Roku, Amazon or Google.
The TV app is also available on streaming players from:
Which games consoles include the Apple TV app?
The TV app is also available on the new Xbox consoles and the PlayStation 5:
- Xbox One (app is available in the Xbox Store)
- Xbox Series X (app is available in the Xbox Store)
- Xbox Series S (app is available in the Xbox Store)
- PlayStation 4 (in TV & Video)
- PlayStation 5 (in the Media Hub)
Which TVs are compatible with AirPlay?
In addition to TVs with the Apple TV app installed, many smart TVs now work with AirPlay 2 – which will enable you to stream content from your iPhone, iPad or Mac to the TV screen without needing the Apple TV app. In that case TVs from the following manufacturers are included:
Which Rokus have Apple TV?
The Apple TV app arrived on Roku devices in October 2019. The TV app is available to download for free from Roku’s Channel Store. As well as access to Apple’s streaming service, the app also offers access to the iTunes Store and any Channels you might want to subscribe to via the app.
- Roku 4K TV A000X
- Roku TV 7000X, C000X, 8000X
- Roku Express 3900, 3930
- Roku Express + 3910, 3931
- Roku Streaming Stick 3600, 3800
- Roku Streaming Stick+ 3810, 3811
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K 3820
- Roku Premiere 3920, 4620
- Roku Premiere+ 3921, 4630
- Roku 2 4210, 4205
- Roku 3 4200, 4230
- Roku Smart Soundbar 9101X
- Roku on Sound Smart Soundbar 9100X
- Roku HD 3932X
- Roku Ultra 4640X, 4660X, 4661X, 4670X
- Roku Ultra LT 4662X
Note that the app isn’t available on some older Roku models.
Roku Deals
- You can get a Roku Streaming Stick+ for £49.99 from Argos.
- The Roku Premiere HD is £39.99 from Argos.
- You can also buy a new Roku stick from Amazon.
The 4K model is normally £49.99 and available from the likes of Currys PC World, but you may find a bigger discount on Amazon
Which Google Chromecasts have Apple TV?
The Apple TV app is available on the £59/$50 Chromecast that includes Google TV.
Chromecast deals
- You can buy the Chromecast with Google TV from Google for £59/$50 from Google.
- You can also get the Chromecast with Google TV from Argos.
Which Amazon Fire TVs have Apple TV?
Amazon might be a competitor when it comes to content streaming, but Apple is putting the Apple TV app on Fire TV sticks. That’s probably a good move on Apple’s part.
If you already own a Fire TV, or if you were thinking of buying one, you will find the Apple TV app available as a download from the Amazon’s Apps and Games store.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2018)
- Amazon Fire TV Stick – Gen 2 (2016)
- Amazon Fire TV Stick – Basic Edition (2017)
- Fire TV Cube (Gen 2)
- Fire TV Cube (Gen 1)
- Fire TV – Gen 3 (2017)
- Nebula Soundbar – Fire TV Edition
- Fire TV Stick Lite (2020)
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2021)
- Fire TV – gen 3 (2020)
Fire TV deals:
- The Fire TV Stick 4K is normally £49.99 from Amazon. But look out for deals – Amazon cut the price to £29.99 on Black Friday and did so again during the coronavirus lockdown.
- Alternately the older Fire TV stick is normally £39.99 from Amazon. It went as low as £19.99 for Black Friday 2019.
- The Fire TV stick is £39.95 from Argos.
Our sister site Tech Advisor has more Fire TV deals.
Which Samsung TVs have Apple TV?
At the beginning of January 2019 Samsung announced that it would start offering “Apple iTunes Movies and TV Shows” on its new TVs and some 2018 Samsung TVs (via a firmware update). In addition, Samsung announced support for AirPlay 2.
Then, in May 2019 Samsung announced that it had added the TV app to select 2018 and 2019 TVs.
The following Samsung TVs feature the TV app and work with AirPlay 2:
- Samsung QLED 8K Q9, Q8 Series (2019, 2020)
- Samsung QLED 4K Q9, Q8, Q7, Qx Series (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- Samsung UHD 8, 7, 6 Series (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- Samsung FHD / HD 5.4 Series (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Samsung Serif Series (2019, 2020)
- Samsung The Frame Series (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- Samsung The Sero Series (2019, 2020)
And these Samsung TVs offer AirPlay 2:
- Samsung FHD / HD 4, 5 Series (2018)
- Samsung UHD 6, 7, 8 Series (2018, 2019)
- Samsung QLED 4K Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9 Series (2018, 2019)
- Samsung QLED 8K Q9 Series (2019)
- Samsung The Frame Series (2018, 2019)
- Samsung Serif Series (2019)
Samsung TV deals
Samsung The Frame (2021), from £599
Which LG TVs work with Apple TV?
LG has confirmed that the Apple TV app is offered on the following TVs:
- LG OLED – C1, G1 (2021)
- LG OLED – RX, ZX, WX, GX, CX, BX series (2020)
- LG OLED – R9, Z9, W9, E9, C9, B9 series (2019)
- LG OLED – B8, C8, G8, E8 Series (2018)
- LG OLED – W7, G7, E7, C7, B7 series (2017)
- LG OLED – G6, E6, C6, B6 series (2016)
- LG NanoCell – Nano 99, 97, 95, 90, 85, 80 series (2020)
- LG NanoCell – SM99, SM95, SM90, SM86, SM81 series (2019)
- LG UHD TV – UN85, UN73, UN71, UN70, UN69 series (2020)
- LG UHD TV – UM80, UM75, UM73, UM71, UM69 series (2019)
- LG UHD TV – UK62 and above, UK7 series (2018)
- LG UHD TV – UJ77, UJ65, UJ64, UJ63, UJ62, UJ60 series (2017)
- LG UHD TV – UH65, UH63, UH61, UH60, UH55 series (2016)
- LG Super UHD TV – SK9, SK8 series (2018)
- LG Super UHD TV – SJ95, SJ85, SJ80 series (2017)
- LG Super UHD TV – UH95, UH85, UH77, UH76 series (2016)
In addition these LG TVs offer AirPlay support:
- LG OLED – RX, ZX, WX, GX, CX, BX series (2020)
- LG OLED – R9, Z9, W9, E9, C9, B9 series (2019)
- LG OLED – B8, C8, G8, E8 Series (2018)
- LG NanoCell – Nano 99, 97, 95, 90, 85, 80 series (2020)
- LG NanoCell – SM99, SM95, SM90, SM86, SM81 series (2019)
- LG UHD TV – UN85, UN73, UN71, UN70, UN69 series (2020)
- LG UHD TV – UM80, UM75, UM73, UM71, UM69 series (2019)
- LG SuperUHD SK 9, 8 series (2018)
- LG UHD UK 62 series or above, UK 7 series (2018)
LG TV deals
LG C1, from £1,299
LG G1, from £1,999
Which Sony TVs work with Apple TV?
On Monday 7 January 2019, Sony announced that it would be offering AirPlay 2 on some of its TVs launching later in 2019. When the company made its announcement that January wasn’t clear whether Sony was planning to only add AirPlay 2 support for streaming from Apple devices, rather than offer a shortcut to iTunes (this was before Apple TV+ launched).
Apple later indicated at its 25 March 2019 event that the Apple TV app would be available on Sony platforms “Later this year”, and yet, it took until November 2020 before any Sony TVs offered the TV App. It certainly seemed that Sony favoured Android TV.
In November 2020 Sony finally added the Apple TV app to TVs from 2018, 2019, 2020. There’s a complete list of supported TVs below. (It’s a long list!)
These are the supported Sony TVs:
- Sony A9S series (2020)
- Sony A9F series (2018)
- Sony A9G series (2019)
- Sony X85G series (2019 55”, 65”, 75” and 85” models)
- Sony X95G series (2019)
- Sony X80H series (2020)
- Sony X85H series (2020)
- Sony X90H series (2020)
- Sony X95H series (2020)
- Sony X80J series (2021)
- Sony X85J series (2021)
- Sony X90J series (2021)
- Sony X91J series (2021)
- Sony X95J series (2021)
- Sony Z8H series (2020)
- Sony Z9G series (2019)
- Sony Z9F series (2018)
- Sony Z9J series (2021)
Even more Sony TVs work with AirPlay 2 – so you’ll be able to stream the content from your iPhone, iPad or Mac to one of these Sony TVs.
- Sony A8H series (2020)
- Sony A9F series (2018)
- Sony A9G series (2019)
- Sony A9S series (2020)
- Sony X85G series (2019 55”, 65”, 75” and 85” models)
- Sony X95G series (2019)
- Sony X80H series (2020)
- Sony X85H series (2020)
- Sony X90H series (2020)
- Sony X95H series (2020)
- Sony X80J series (2021)
- Sony X85J series (2021)
- Sony X90J series (2021)
- Sony X91J series (2021)
- Sony X95J series (2021)
- Sony Z9F series (2018)
- Sony Z9G series (2019)
- Sony Z8H series (2020)
- Sony Z9J series (2021)
If your Sony TV has AirPlay 2 support you will be able to stream content from your Apple device to the TV, without requiring an Apple TV.
Sony also announced that its TVs work with HomeKit.
Sony TV deals
Sony A80J BRAVIA XR 55 Inch OLED 4K HDR TV
Vizio
Vizio (a US brand) has also confirmed that its TVs will support AirPlay 2.
The following Vizio TVs will offer support:
- VIZIO OLED (2020)
- VIZIO P-Series Quantum X (2020, 2019)
- VIZIO P-Series Quantum (2020, 2019 and 2018)
- VIZIO P-Series (2018, 2017 and 2016)
- VIZIO M-Series Quantum (2020, 2019)
- VIZIO M-Series (2018, 2017 and 2016)
- VIZIO E-Series (2018, 2017 and 2016 UHD models)
- VIZIO V-Series (2020, 2019)
- VIZIO D-Series (2019, 2018)
The same TVs offer AirPlay 2 support.
If you’re wondering whether you can buy a Vizio TV in the UK, though, the answer is probably not, since they only sell in the US and aren’t designed for our market.
Apple has a web page detailing the TVs that support Apple’s services.
Our colleagues at Tech Advisor have reviews of the best smart TVs.
What Apple products can you watch Apple TV+ on?
The TV sets and streaming sticks above join the following Apple products that include the Apple TV app.
iPhone
You can use the TV app on your iPhone to search for content, see recommendations, and jump straight to your Up Next list. However, when you choose what you want to watch you will usually be sent to the corresponding app to watch it, be it Netflix, Prime, iPlayer and so on. However, some third-party subscription content might be integrated into the Apple TV app so you won’t have to leave the app to watch it.
In addition, if you subscribe to Apple’s TV+ service, you will be able to watch and download all of Apple’s original content on to your iPhone.
iPad
The situation with the iPad is identical to the iPhone. You are able to watch all the content available in the Apple TV app, and if you subscribe to the TV+ service you will be able to watch all of Apple’s own content as well.
Macs
It always struck us as odd that the TV app wasn’t available on Mac. Especially since many years ago the Mac specific Front Row software was a precursor to the TV app we know today.
Apple’s TV app finally arrived on the Mac with macOS Catalina in October 2019. With Catalina installed, you can watch any content available via the TV app on a Mac, including TV+ shows and movies.
One of the new features coming in iOS 15, PadOS 15 and Monterey will allow you to use AirPlay to send content to your Mac from an iPhone, iPad, or another Mac.
Apple TV set-top box
As long as your Apple TV box features the App Store (that’s either an Apple TV 4, Apple TV HD, or Apple TV 4K gen 1 or gen 2), you can use the TV app to search for content to watch. As with the iPhone and iPad, you are then kicked out of the TV app to watch content in the relevant On Demand app (which you need to find on the Apple TV App Store).
Apple TV owners who subscribe to TV+ are able to watch all the new content on their TV screen.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.