- Apple TV gets a new recommendations tool called “Genius Browse”
- It’s coming to the Apple TV app and will suggest content on streaming platforms
- Genius Browse is coming soon to tvOS 26.4, but unfortunately doesn’t cover Netflix
Choosing a movie or TV show to stream on the best streaming services is a near-impossible task these days, given the sheer number of new titles released every month – but Apple TV’s new search tool aims to cure your indecision.
As spotted by 9to5Mac, ‘Genius Browse’ is Apple TV’s latest content discovery feature which is now available in beta (but not for us in the UK), but will soon be rolling out widely with the final release of tvOS 26.4. In addition to Genius Browse, the tvOS 26.4 update will see the end of apps dedicated to iTunes and TV shows.
With Genius Browse, Apple’s goal is very simple; to reduce the time you spend scrolling to find something to watch. Located in the Home tab of the Apple TV app, Genius Browse consists of a row featuring a multitude of content categories to choose from.
Article continues below
It not only gives you recommendations based on genre, but also groups movies and TV shows based on “mood,” allowing you to select a title that matches your current mood.
For example, you can choose from categories like “Fun for the whole family,” “Exciting blockbusters,” or “Good for a pick-me-up” when you need a little boost of energy. The categories in Genius Browse vary according to each user profile and are based on personal taste, updated regularly to keep new suggestions coming to you – but it’s not the best.
When you select a category to view its list of recommendations, hovering over each title will present another row of recommendations based on that movie or TV show, adding an extra layer to how you discover new content in Apple TV – something even Amazon’s monster Fire TV upgrade doesn’t have. That said, it doesn’t stop there.
When you browse Genius Browse, it not only rounds up recommended titles from the company’s flagship streaming platform, Apple TV, it also suggests titles spanning HBO Max, Prime Video, as well as Disney+. Unfortunately, the whole streaming world isn’t covered: Netflix isn’t included in the feature, which makes sense since it denies any integration with the Apple TV app.
Apple TV needs to fix other cracks first
Genius Browse looks to be a promising tool for movie and TV recommendations, and Amazon’s Fire TV should take notes. However, not all Apple TV users are excited about this new feature because, according to them, Apple needs to prioritize other improvements.
Aside from the disappointment of the absence of Genius Browse in the iOS and iPadOS apps, comments in the Reddit thread above point to two tools in particular that users would prefer to see over Genius Browse. The first is the option to turn off trailer previews at the start of TV shows, and the second is a playlist tool that lets you group your favorite episodes in one space.
As it stands, the trailers are what irritates viewers the most. According to users of the thread, many are constantly faced with trailers before each episode of a show (one account gave Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as an example), and more often than not, it’s to advertise the show they’re already streaming – which one user likened to the “luxury car” theory, insinuating that Apple is targeting existing customers to ensure they’re subscribed to the right streaming platform.
Will you take advantage of Apple TV’s Genius Browse feature when it arrives in tvOS 26.4? Let us know in the comments.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube And TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
