- Apple TV is getting a new recommendation tool called ‘Genius Browse’
- It’s coming to the Apple TV app and will suggest content across streaming platforms
- Genius Browse is coming soon to tvOS 26.4, but unfortunately doesn’t cover Netflix
Picking a movie or TV show to stream on the best streaming services is a near-impossible task these days, given the plethora of new titles being pumped out every month — but Apple TV’s new search tool aims to cure your indecision.
As spotted by 9to5Mac, ‘Genius Browse’ is the Apple TV’s latest content discovery feature, which is now available in beta (albeit not for us in the UK) but will soon be rolled 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 the dedicated iTunes and TV show apps.
With Genius Browse, Apple’s goal is very simple; to reduce the time you spend scrolling for something to watch. Located on the Home tab of the Apple TV app, Genius Browse consists of a row with a number of content categories to choose from.
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It not only gives you recommendations based on genre, but groups movies and TV shows based on ‘vibe’ so you can pick a title that suits your mood at the time.
For example, you can choose from categories such as ‘Fun for the whole family’, ‘Exciting blockbusters’ or ‘Good for a pick-me-up’ when you need a little boost of energy. Categories in Genius Browse vary for each user profile and are based on personal taste and are updated regularly to keep new suggestions coming – but it’s not the best.
When you select a category to see its list of recommendations, hovering over each title will present a different set of recommendations based on that movie or TV show, adding an extra layer to how you discover new content on Apple TV — which even Amazon’s monster Fire TV upgrade doesn’t have. That said, it doesn’t end there.
As you browse through Genius Browse, it not only collects recommended titles from the company’s flagship streaming platform Apple TV, it also suggests titles spanning HBO Max, Prime Video, and Disney+. Unfortunately, the entire world of streaming isn’t covered – Netflix isn’t included in the feature, which makes sense since it’s denied any integration with the Apple TV app.
Apple TV needs to repair other cracks first
Genius Browse looks like a promising movie and TV recommendation tool, and Amazon’s Fire TV should take note. However, not all Apple TV users are excited about the new feature, because according to them Apple needs to prioritize other improvements.
Aside from the disappointment that Genius Browse is absent from the iOS and iPadOS apps, the comments in the Reddit thread above point to two tools in particular that users would rather see than Genius Browse. The first is the ability to disable trailer previews at the start of TV shows, and the second is a playlist tool that allows you to group your favorite episodes in one place.
As it stands, trailers are what viewers are most annoyed by. According to users in the thread, many are constantly confronted with trailers before each episode of a show (one account gave Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as an example), and more often than not, it advertises the show that they’re already streaming – which user compares to the ‘luxury car’ theory, and insinuates that Apple is targeting existing customers to reassure them that they’ve subscribed to the right streaming platform.
Want to take advantage of Apple TV’s Genius Browse feature when it lands in tvOS 26.4? Tell us in the comments.
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