Roku in Talks With Apple About AirPlay 2 Support

Monday February 4, 2019 11:45 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Roku is in talks with Apple about supporting AirPlay 2, with the two companies currently working out details surrounding the partnership, according to a source familiar with the matter. The plans are not finalized and are subject to change.

roku airplay 2
We're told that ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support is likely to arrive in the form of a Roku OS software update for Roku media players, which can be used with virtually any smart TV. The update would likely extend to smart TVs with Roku OS preinstalled, including select models from Sharp, TCL, Insignia, Hisense, Sanyo, and RCA.

It's unclear when the software update might be released or if it will be limited to select Roku players and TVs. We're told the partnership may extend to Apple Music, suggesting that Roku OS could gain an app to access the streaming music service alongside existing apps for Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Last month, we asked Roku if it was willing to work with Apple on ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support and a spokesperson said "we don't have anything to share regarding this now." Roku did not immediately respond to our follow-up request for comment today, while Apple rarely comments on its plans in advance.

With ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support, Roku users would be able to stream video, audio, photos, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their smart TVs. HomeKit is also coming to many smart TVs, enabling users to control volume, playback, and more using Siri or the Home app on an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Mac.

Last month, Apple announced that select ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled smart TVs are coming from leading brands such as Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. Samsung's latest smart TVs are also getting an exclusive iTunes app for movies and TV shows.

Tags: AirPlay, Roku

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...

• 58 comments

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...

• 77 comments

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...

• 209 comments

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...

• 114 comments

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

• 47 comments

Top Rated Comments

MattG

86 months ago

Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.

Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Aldaris

86 months ago

Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.

Unless Apple makes a display they won’t be crushing anyone. Samsung, Sony, Vizio, etc are all players bringing different things to the table across this space. Apple is the one who is best served being more concerned with ‘services’.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

lostczech

86 months ago

Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.

I'm fairly certain Roku WANTS AirPlay but need Apple's blessing. I doubt they are the reluctant ones in this equation.

Plus, the "nothing company" is the only set top provider I use as at one point they were the only box that had Amazon Prime outside of Amazon's FireTV (Yes, AppleTV finally has it as well, like 3 years after Roku)

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Aldaris

86 months ago

More options the better ;)

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

lostczech

86 months ago

It really doesn't matter that it's the only provider you use.

It's a terrible business and it will be absorbed or will die on its own. They've never made money.
[doublepost=1549316177][/doublepost]
Apple can crush Roku without making a display, lol. Displays are a terrible business. Why would Apple want to do that?

Wonderful sweeping statements made there. They were profitable in Q2 2018 (haven't bothered digging deeper, since I've already put more facts into this than you have), which is quite in contrary to "They've never made money"

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)