Hello :-)
I‘m not entirely sure, if I‘m on the correct Place here. But I would like to report some Bugs with tvOS 26 (Beta 6) to the Apple Engineers!
Description
I am reporting multiple persistent UI animation issues observed in tvOS 26 (Beta 3). These issues have been reproducible across multiple tvOS releases. They are subtle but noticeable, and they affect the overall polish and perceived quality of the system.
I am happy to provide high-quality video captures for each of the issues described below.
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Bug #1: App launch animation stutter/jump
Summary: The zoom-in animation from a Springboard icon to full-screen app stutters or jumps at the moment the app becomes full screen.
Steps to reproduce:
1. On Springboard, select any app icon.
2. Observe the zoom-in animation.
Expected result: Smooth, continuous zoom without frame drops or jumps.
Actual result: Animation visibly stutters/jumps at the full-screen transition.
Possible cause: Timing issue in Core Animation interpolation or abrupt view hierarchy switch.
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Bug #2: Text rendering weight change (“jump”) during transitions
Summary: Text inside apps changes visual weight mid-transition from scaled preview to full screen.
Steps to reproduce:
1. From Springboard or App Switcher, launch an app with visible text.
2. Observe text during the zoom animation — initially slightly bolder, then thinner once full screen.
Also occurs in:
• Top Shelf banners in the Dock
• App Switcher → full-screen transitions
Expected result: Consistent text rendering throughout the transition.
Actual result: Visible “pop” in text weight/anti-aliasing during transition.
Possible cause: Different rasterization/anti-aliasing mode between preview snapshot (CALayer.contents) and live CoreText/UIKit rendering.
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Bug #3: Focus shadow jumps instead of interpolating smoothly
Summary: Shadows around focused UI elements (icons, buttons) change abruptly during focus transitions.
Steps to reproduce:
1. Navigate between focusable UI elements on Springboard or in apps.
2. Observe the shadow effects.
Expected result: Shadows interpolate smoothly (offset, opacity, radius) during focus transitions.
Actual result: Shadows “jump” abruptly, breaking animation smoothness.
Possible cause: UIFocusEngine not interpolating shadow parameters consistently.
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Bug #4: Abrupt jumps when swiping horizontally between content items
Summary: In horizontally scrollable poster/content rows, focus snaps abruptly instead of scrolling smoothly.
Steps to reproduce:
1. In the TV app or any app with horizontal poster rows, swipe left/right.
2. Observe the transition between focused items.
Expected result: Smooth horizontal navigation with continuous motion.
Actual result: Occasional abrupt snapping/jumping between items.
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Impact
While none of these bugs block core functionality, they degrade the premium feel and visual polish of tvOS. They are persistent across releases and occur in core system UI, so they are visible to all users.
Note
I can provide video recordings for each bug to assist engineering in reproducing and analyzing the issues.
Topic:
Community
SubTopic:
Apple Developers