How to watch HDR movies streaming from Apple TV app on M1 Pro?

[madat42]

Okay, maybe I'm missing something here but I can't seem to get HDR playing on my M1 Pro 16" display when using the Apple TV app. For example I own Endgame, it says it's 4k HDR, but when I play it it doesn't look any better than SDR. I know that 4k HDR is only available when streaming, not downloaded. I don't have the 'optimize video while on battery' switch enabled. When I play HDR clips of Endgame and others on YouTube you can see HDR kicking in, no mistake. Any ideas?

 

[HALE101]

hmmm , I was just watching invasion on Apple TV plus this morning and it was incredible . In regards too purchased movies I do currently own Im also seeing the same problem

 

[metapunk2077fail]

Okay, maybe I'm missing something here but I can't seem to get HDR playing on my M1 Pro 16" display when using the Apple TV app. For example I own Endgame, it says it's 4k HDR, but when I play it it doesn't look any better than SDR. I know that 4k HDR is only available when streaming, not downloaded. I don't have the 'optimize video while on battery' switch enabled. When I play HDR clips of Endgame and others on YouTube you can see HDR kicking in, no mistake. Any ideas?

You answered it already. On macOS downloads are standard definition. On iOS/iPadOS/tvOS downloads are HDR. HDR streaming is available on all of them.

This was probably because Macs didn't have true HDR displays until lately. iPads and iPhones were there first. No doubt all platforms will have HDR downloads within a year. Some are probably already available if you dig around.

 

[madat42]

You answered it already. On macOS downloads are standard definition. On iOS/iPadOS/tvOS downloads are HDR. HDR streaming is available on all of them.

This was probably because Macs didn't have true HDR displays until lately. iPads and iPhones were there first. No doubt all platforms will have HDR downloads within a year. Some are probably already available if you dig around.

As noted in the thread title, HDR is not kicking in when 'streaming' from the Apple TV app. So no, my question has not been answered.

 

[TheRain]

As noted in the thread title, HDR is not kicking in when 'streaming' from the Apple TV app. So no, my question has not been answered.

Have you tried other HDR titles or do you have other HDR titles in your library? I can confirm this is an issue with Endgame, Infinity War, and Black Panther on Apple TV application but other titles seem to stream in HDR just fine. It appears to be isolated to Disney titles not properly activating HDR.

They're showing as "4K HDR" on the title screen but unlike other movies in my library, it's not actually showing HDR when played.

 

[baummer]

Probably be fixed in a future update

 

[madat42]

Have you tried other HDR titles or do you have other HDR titles in your library? I can confirm this is an issue with Endgame, Infinity War, and Black Panther on Apple TV application but other titles seem to stream in HDR just fine. It appears to be isolated to Disney titles not properly activating HDR.

They're showing as "4K HDR" on the title screen but unlike other movies in my library, it's not actually showing HDR when played.

Thanks TheRain for confirming as well. Unfortunately, I only have Marvel movies in my Library . Will have to look at other sources as well.

 

[metapunk2077fail]

As noted in the thread title, HDR is not kicking in when 'streaming' from the Apple TV app. So no, my question has not been answered.

Then you're not receiving a HDR stream for title you're trying. It's not your computer, it's the stream you're getting.

Another problem that can arise, on YouTube as well, is that if bandwidth isn't sufficient during streaming then the video being delivered will have extra compression and won't be detected as a HDR stream.

 

[Alias3800]

Thanks TheRain for confirming as well. Unfortunately, I only have Marvel movies in my Library . Will have to look at other sources as well.

Hey! Checking on this thread:

Did you ever get Apple TV to start streaming at higher brightness levels for HDR?

 

[madat42]

Yes, HDR did start working for most titles. I say most because all recent Marvel MCU movies do not present (at least to me) in HDR. However, the Sony Spiderman MCU movies definitely do present in HDR.