Apple cuts back AirPlay streaming resolution from Apple Vision Pro's displays

Apple's AirPlay from iPhone to Apple TV

Hours after tech specs declared that Apple Vision Pro could stream video to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV in 1080p, the tech specs have been revised downward.

Apple added the ability to select an iPhone or iPad as an AirPlay target in iOS 17.2. As it turns out, this was intended for people not wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset to see what's on the internal screens.

Tech specs revealed for the first time on Friday morning initially said that AirPlay streaming to at target device like an iPhone or Apple TV set top box could be "up to 1080p." In a late Friday evening change, Apple has revised that downward to 720p.

Interestingly, the list of compatible streaming targets includes the decade-old second generation Apple TV, which was only capable of 720p streaming. It wasn't until the third generation that 1080p streaming was added to the device.

It's unclear why the change was made. AirPlay screen mirroring from a Mac to target device is limited to 1080p, but an AirPlay target can also pick up a video stream from the source when directed by a device.

For instance, a Mac can mirror a display to an Apple TV at 1080p. That same Mac can send a video stream's network data to a device like an Apple TV, and it will stream natively on the Apple TV without a "middle-man" device.

In the case of an Apple Vision Pro's eye screens, this is clearly the former, not the latter. AppleInsider has reached out to Apple for comment and clarification.

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10 Comments

daven 688 comments · 16 Years

About 3 months ago

I think there is a typo in the headline.

tht 5375 comments · 23 Years

I'm still figuring out how the VP can support 3 displays: the 2 4K+ microOLEDs and the EyeSight display. So, uh, Apple has to be splitting one display stream of 23m pixels into two after it is coming out of the M3 display controller. If true, you should see a chip on the VP logic board that does that.

For AirPlay, perhaps they are just running out of GPU performance driving the two microOLEDs, the EyeSight, and AirPlay gets the short shrift.

slow n easy 323 comments · 9 Years

daven said:

I think there is a typo in the headline.

Why is there a typo? What is the typo? What should the headline read?

9secondkox2 2725 comments · 8 Years

tht said:

I'm still figuring out how the VP can support 3 displays: the 2 4K+ microOLEDs and the EyeSight display. So, uh, Apple has to be splitting one display stream of 23m pixels into two after it is coming out of the M3 display controller. If true, you should see a chip on the VP logic board that does that.

For AirPlay, perhaps they are just running out of GPU performance driving the two microOLEDs, the EyeSight, and AirPlay gets the short shrift.

It has the two 4K screens for your eyes, an external screen (not sure if the resolution. Don’t see it on the tech specs), and then another screen that can be mirrored to.

Already that’s more than Apple approves m2 Macs for.

So I’m not surprised that Apple is limiting airplay to 720p. I’m actually surprised that it gets that capability.

Whether it’s a hit or just a niche thing, at least Apple has given it their all. Can always rely on them for that.

lotones 57 comments · 12 Years

Really not surprising given that the AVP only has an M2. If or when an M2 Pro chip is available in the AVP I'm sure the Airplay resolution will increase accordingly.

That said, why does the AVP only have an M2? Seems like an unnecessary processing limitation for a device that obviously needs all the processing power it can get.