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The Best Features You're Not Using on Apple's TV Box

It's more than just a tool for streaming shows.

Headshot of Bridget Carey
Headshot of Bridget Carey
Bridget Carey Editor at Large
Bridget Carey is an award-winning reporter who helps you level-up your life -- while having a good time geeking out. Her exclusive CNET videos get you behind the scenes as she covers new trends, experiences and quirky gadgets. Her weekly video show, "One More Thing," explores what's new in the world of Apple and what's to come. She started as a reporter at The Miami Herald with syndicated newspaper columns for product reviews and social media advice. Now she's a mom who also stays on top of toy industry trends and robots. (Kids love robots.)
Expertise Consumer technology | Apple | Google | Samsung | Microsoft | Amazon | Meta | Social media | Mobile | Robots | Future tech | Immersive technology | Toys | Culture Credentials
  • Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
Bridget Carey
2 min read

The Apple TV 4K box is three years old, and yet somehow it keeps delivering new tricks. It's easy to overlook TVOS 26 updates when you just want to fire up the box to watch a show. But have you actually tried the new karaoke feature that transforms iPhones into microphones? Or have you witnessed a buttery-smooth FaceTime call on the TV when the camera locks onto a 6-year-old boy at the peak of his sugar rush?

I've been genuinely impressed by Apple TV's newest features, and I suggest spending 5 minutes getting familiar with them to spread a little whimsy and joy -- preferably before friends and family visit.

See also: These Are the Best Streaming Devices for 2025

In this week's episode of "One More Thing," which you can watch embedded above, I explain what it was like to use some of these features with my family, and I go over a few new TVOS 26 settings you'll want to poke through to improve your overall experience.

There look to be a few more perks coming later this month. Beta versions of TVOS 26.2 reveal a way to easily switch into a kid-safe mode without creating an official Apple account. That's handy for any surprise younger guests you'd rather have stream Snoopy than Die Hard, but who am I to judge your traditional Christmas movie choices.

For more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.