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iOS Decoded: iOS 27.2 RC – hands-on w/ HomePod Sound Glow, TV profiles, Apple TV Home Theater assets, more [Video]

Published: 10/21/2026, 05:00 PM

In this episode of iOS Decoded, we take the HomePod’s new Sound Glow feature for a test drive and try out the new Lock Controls feature to prevent accidental activation of its top cap. We also go hands-on with other changes, like the handy new profiles option for the TV app and Suggested Actions for Messages. Further, we take a look at and listen to some of the assets and sounds from Apple TV’s new surround-sound Home Theater functionality. Watch our full hands-on video as we dive into these changes and many more, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more. Apple's budget MacBook, the cheapest way to experience macOS on the go. Starting with iOS 27.2, the HomePod mini and 2nd-generation HomePod will see their LED Matrix displays, which feature 19 and 37 RGB LEDs, respectively, used in a way they haven’t before, thanks to Sound Glow. Sound Glow transforms the top cap into a color-matched animated visual canvas that matches the album artwork. The canvas glows and pulses in concert with the currently playing song or podcast, responding to changes in bass and treble. For Soundscape ambient sounds like rain, forest, fireplace, etc., bespoke RGB animations are used instead of the Sound Glow audio processing pipeline, since Soundscapes are very different from music. Users who have updated their iOS devices and HomePods to 27.2 will find a new Sound Glow toggle in the Home app under the HomePod settings. Jeff Benjamin's favorite screen cleaner for Apple products. I’ve tested Sound Glow fairly extensively, and I’ve been impressed by the feature. It gives music playback a slightly unique experience with each song. I’ve also been impressed by the sheer vibrancy of the display, as Apple is clearly making full use of all of the LEDs embedded under the top cap to generate unique colors based on the currently playing song. Sound Glow is vibrant, but it’s not extremely bright, and won’t light up your room or anything. But if you place your HomePod in an area where the top cap is easily visible, it’s a really nice addition.