HomeKit and AirPlay 2 Rolling Out to 2019 LG ThinQ TVs Starting Tomorrow [Updated]

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.

lgtvsairplay2
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.

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
Apple TV Plus Feature 2 Magenta and Blue

Apple TV+ Available at Significantly Lower Price Until Next Week

Friday April 18, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
Apple TV+ is currently available at a much lower price than usual, but time is running out if you want to take advantage of the offer. In the U.S., new and qualified returning customers can subscribe to Apple TV+ for just $2.99 per month, for three months. Afterwards, regular pricing of $9.99 per month applies. The offer is available in the Apple TV app, and at tv.apple.com, through April...

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
75 months ago
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.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
75 months ago
ummmm. google.com
[doublepost=1563996436][/doublepost]

Maybe, But Mr. Spock ThinQ sound blows away Vizio
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
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SoN1NjA Avatar
75 months ago
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.
Agreed, can't wait to see what a laggy mess they become 2 years from now when they're no longer updated

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
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
75 months ago
Thanks but no thanks LG, Vizio does what LG won’t.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
75 months ago
I am saying this for years.
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.
Even an Apple Smart TV would be pointless in the long run.

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.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
konqerror Avatar
75 months ago
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.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)