YouTube 4K for Apple TV is rolling out, minus HDR or 60 fps

Support for 4K YouTube playback is rolling out to Apple TV 4K users running assorted versions of tvOS 14 as of Friday, but there are some caveats, and not everybody is seeing it.

Although the 4K playback support was one of the more anticipated features of tvOS 14, it was missing when the software updated debuted in September.

As of Oct. 2, it appears that the feature is now launching as a server-side update from YouTube for some users. The rollout was reported by users on Reddit, as well as by TV site FlatPanels HD.

Reportedly, Apple TV owners are seeing the support on set-top boxes running tvOS 14, tvOS 14.0.1, or a tvOS 14.2 beta version. However, it does not appear to be available to everyone just yet.

There are some limitations to the 4K playback, too. On an Apple TV 4K, YouTube 4K only supports videos up to 30 frames-per-second. Clips in 50fps or 60fps will drop to 1440p resolution. Additionally, High Dynamic Range (HDR) is also not supported. It isn't clear if this compatibility will be introduced later.

FlatPanels HD does note that Apple TV 4K is using Google's proprietary VP9 video codec for YouTube 4K playback, instead of the new AV1 codec that was developed as a partnership between Apple, Google, Netflix, and others.

10 Comments

rob53 3299 comments · 13 Years

About 4 years ago

“Apple TV 4K is using Google's proprietary VP9 video codec for YouTube 4K playback”

Of course they’re still using their proprietary codec. Why use a standard when you can force people to use your own codec.

flydog 1140 comments · 14 Years

rob53 said:

“Apple TV 4K is using Google's proprietary VP9 video codec for YouTube 4K playback”

Of course they’re still using their proprietary codec. Why use a standard when you can force people to use your own codec.

What’s the difference? You can watch 4K YouTube videos on an AppleTV. End of story.

cloudguy 323 comments · 4 Years

rob53 said:

“Apple TV 4K is using Google's proprietary VP9 video codec for YouTube 4K playback”

Of course they’re still using their proprietary codec. Why use a standard when you can force people to use your own codec.

Of all people to complain about companies preferring their own proprietary products to open or industry standards, Apple fans should be among the last. Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, AT&T, Comcast and even IBM are now less likely to ditch open or industry standards than Apple.

Also, as I mentioned on the PIP post, it is amazing to expect Google to make supporting FREE SERVICES on platforms hosted by a frequently hostile competitor their top priority. It isn't and nor should it be. Even more so with Apple TV which has like 2% market share. Even most MacBook, iPhone and Apple Watch owners use Roku and Fire TV boxes.

ITGUYINSD 540 comments · 5 Years

cloudguy said:

rob53 said:

“Apple TV 4K is using Google's proprietary VP9 video codec for YouTube 4K playback”

Of course they’re still using their proprietary codec. Why use a standard when you can force people to use your own codec.

Of all people to complain about companies preferring their own proprietary products to open or industry standards, Apple fans should be among the last. Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, AT&T, Comcast and even IBM are now less likely to ditch open or industry standards than Apple.

Also, as I mentioned on the PIP post, it is amazing to expect Google to make supporting FREE SERVICES on platforms hosted by a frequently hostile competitor their top priority. It isn't and nor should it be. Even more so with Apple TV which has like 2% market share. Even most MacBook, iPhone and Apple Watch owners use Roku and Fire TV boxes.

That's me, and I ditched all my Amazon FireTV 4K boxes and replaced them with Apple TV 4K boxes. The main reason? The ATV4K boxes just work better. The FTV boxes were buggy, didn't always stream well (especially from my local Plex server), and Amazon really doesn't have a decent FTV box any longer. They seem to be concentrating on their sticks and not their boxes.