Which smart TVs are compatible with AirPlay and Apple TV?

If you're wondering how to watch Apple's TV+ streaming service on the smart 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 and LG smart TVs that have the Apple TV app built in, and those 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 new game consoles Xbox Series X and Series S that launched in November 2020 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 content from other TV subscription packages, via Apple's TV app. We have a separate guide to what's on Apple TV+.

If you subscribe (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.

Which smart TVs work with Apple TV?

There are lots of options that will allow you to stream Apple's content to your TV screen without buying Apple hardware. The list of TVs that offer support for Apple TV is ever growing.

For example, in August 2020 LG added the Apple's TV app to more of its models, including TV sets from 2018, which join the 2019 models that already supported the app. LG has also promised to add support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit by October 2020, so there may be more coming in an update to the built-in software.

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 £149/$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):

The TV app is also available on streaming players from:

The TV app is also available on the new Xbox consoles and the PlayStation 5:

• Xbox Series X
• Xbox Series S
• PlayStation 5

We'll run through the various TV sets and streaming sticks that offer the TV app in more detail below.

Which smart 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. In that case TVs from the following manufacturers are included:

The arrival of the TV app and AirPlay on these devices suggests that Apple has accepted that the only way it can get its content on to people's TVs is to partner with TV manufacturers. Most TVs come with Netflix and Amazon Prime installed so Apple's TV+ subscription service would struggle to compete if it required an extra box.

And with the Apple TV trailing behind the Roku, Fire TV and Chromecast in terms of sales, it seems that Apple concluded that it was better to be on those devices than competing with them.

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 Smart Soundbar 9101X
• Roku onn Sound Smart Soundbar 9100X
• Roku Express 3900X, 3930X
• Roku Express + 3910X, 3931X
• Roku HD 3932X
• Roku Streaming Stick 3600X, 3800X
• Roku Streaming Stick + 3810X, 3811X
• Roku Premiere 3920X, 4620X
• Roku Premiere + 3921X, 4630X
• Roku Ultra 4640X, 4660X, 4661X, 4670X
• Roku Ultra LT 4662X
• Roku 2 4210X, 4205X
• Roku 3 4200X, 4230X

Note that the app isn't available on some older Roku models.

Roku Deals

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 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 Edition - Insignia HD (2018)
• Fire TV Edition - Insignia 4K (2018)
• Fire TV Edition - Toshiba 4K (2018)
• Fire TV Edition - Toshiba HD (2018)

Buy a Fire TV stick here.

Fire TV deals:

Our sister site Tech Advisor has more Fire TV deals.

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:

And these Samsung TVs offer AirPlay 2:

Samsung TV deals

LG has also confirmed that the Apple TV app will be offered on the following new TVs:

In addition these LG TVs offer AirPlay support:

LG TV deals

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:

Read our sister site Tech Advisor's roundup of the best TVs, including the best prices currently available.

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 Z8H Series (2020)
• Sony A9S Series (2020)
• Sony A8H Series (2020)
• Sony X95H Series (2020)
• Sony X90H Series (2020)
• Sony X85H Series (2020)
• Sony X80H Series (2020)
• Sony Z9G Series (2019)
• Sony A9G Series (2019)
• Sony X950G Series (2019)
• Sony X850G Series (2019 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in models)
• Sony Z9F Series (2018)
• Sony A9F Series (2018)

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.

Vizio has also confirmed that its TVs will support AirPlay 2.

The following Vizio TVs will offer support: D-, E-, M-, and P-Series (2017) and Vizioi P-Series Quantum models (2018 and 2019).

• 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)

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 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.

The 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.

Apple TV set-top box

As long as your Apple TV box features the App Store (that's either an Apple TV 4 or Apple TV 4K), 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).

Once the service launches, Apple TV owners who subscribe to TV+ will be able to watch all the new content on their TV screen.