LG says AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support for its Smart TVs is starting July 25

LG’s Australian support account confirmed in a tweet that a firmware update for its 2019 Smart TVs brining support for Apple’s HomeKit platform for the connected home and AirPlay 2 device-to-device media streaming technology is arriving during the next week.

UPDATE: July 24, 2019: LG announced that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support will release as a free firmware update for owners of the 2019 LG OLED, NanoCell and UHD TV models in more than 140 countries beginning July 25, with the update continuing over the weeks to follow.

From LG’s press release:

With AirPlay 2, LG 2019 AI TV owners can effortlessly stream content — including Dolby Vision titles – from iPhone, iPad and Mac straight to their TV sets. Users can stream their favorite movies and television shows from the Apple TV app and other video apps as well as view photos directly on their LG AI TVs. Users can also play Apple Podcasts, Apple Music and music from their library or other streaming services through their LG AI TV and other AirPlay 2-compatible speakers in their home at the same time – all in sync.

HomeKit enables users to conveniently control their smart home with the Home app or via Siri on their Apple devices. LG AI TVs can be easily added to the Home app, from which users can access basic TV functions such as power, volume and source. LG AI TVs can also be added to scenes or automations along with other HomeKit accessories.

The original article follows right ahead.

Responding to a customer inquiring about HomeKit availability on LG’s Smart TV platform, the manufacturer responded this morning by stating that a firmware update is releasing in one week. “Users require iOS 12.4 update to do AirPlay 2,” reads the tweet. Coincidentally, Apple yesterday released the iOS 12.4 software for public consumption.

Ahead of CES 2019 in January, the iPhone maker announced that it would permit LG, Sony, Samsung, Vizio and other major TV manufacturers to incorporate support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit software in their TV sets to be released throughout 2019.

According to Apple’s HomeKite website, all of the LG OLED, NanoCell SM9X, NanoCell SM8X and UHD UM7X television sets from 2019 will be supported. The Cupertino tech giant is doing this as the narrative shifted from decelerating iPhone sales to services.

Coming this fall, Apple’s worldwide video-streaming service will start feeding original TV shows, documentaries and movies to subscribers. To widen the addressable market for the service, the company’s decided to let TV manufacturers implement AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support so that owners of non-Apple devices could subscribe to Apple TV+ when it launches and use Apple’s TV app to stream the shows directly on their TV, no Apple TV or another Apple device needed. Other benefits of AirPlay/HomeKit integration include limited Siri control of the television and integration with HomeKit automations for the connected home.