iPad Poor Video Resolution on new iPad

[DomKud]

I just recently purchased the new 2020 12.9 iPad Pro and I have to say, the screen resolution is very bad when watching videos. Whenever watching any videos at all (whether on the youtube app, netflix, disney app, or even watching youtube from internet explor, my videos are just mehhhhh. No 4k. Doesn't even look like 1080 to be honest. The picture just looks fuzzy.

Anyone else experiencing this? Do you guys have super sharp screens when viewing video or is this just me?

 

[AutomaticApple]

even watching youtube from internet explor

Have you tried using Safari instead of Internet Explorer? Is the video resolution any better?

 

[sparksd]

I have the 2018 12.9 Pro and I feel the video resolution is very good, primarily Netflix and streaming from my storage system. The only app I really find problematic is Prime Video because Amazon limits it to 720p; have to stream from their website on Safari to get 1080p.

 

[0128672]

I also have the 2018 12.9 Pro and am pretty satisfied with the streaming quality for Apple TV+, HBO, and a couple other channels. I don't have Netflix and only watch YouTube via Safari. How is your wifi speed, and what is the video quality setting for your Netflix app? Which streaming service were you expecting to be 4K?

 

[EugW]

I just recently purchased the new 2020 12.9 iPad Pro and I have to say, the screen resolution is very bad when watching videos. Whenever watching any videos at all (whether on the youtube app, netflix, disney app, or even watching youtube from internet explor, my videos are just mehhhhh. No 4k. Doesn't even look like 1080 to be honest. The picture just looks fuzzy.

Anyone else experiencing this? Do you guys have super sharp screens when viewing video or is this just me?

Depends upon time of day, but due to Covid-19, the big streaming companies are sometimes reducing the bitrates. At peak times, it can severely degrade the video quality. At off-peak times though it should look awesome for recent native 4K titles.

YouTube Slashes Video Quality to Save Bandwidth

Meanwhile, Microsoft and Sony plan to throttle game downloads during peak usage hours to help prevent internet congestion during the Covid-19 pandemic.

www.wired.com

Facebook and Disney to downgrade streaming quality in Europe due to COVID-19 | TechCrunch

Facebook is temporarily downgrading the quality of video streaming in Europe on its social platforms Facebook and Instagram in response to a call for

techcrunch.com

Netflix reduces video quality in Canada to lower internet bandwidth use

TORONTO — Netflix is lowering video quality for its subscribers in Canada as it attempts to reduce soaring demands on internet bandwidth. The streaming giant says it will introduce changes today that are designed to slash its data traffic by 25 per cent as internet service providers deal with a...

edmonton.citynews.ca

 

[sparksd]

-deleted-

 

[cupcakes2000]

Seems to be related more to your WiFi/internet speed than the iPad to be honest.

 

[augustya]

I just saw Bloodshot the Vin Diesel Movie on my 11" iPad Pro in the TV APP on the iPP as I had missed when it was released here we went into Lockdown just the day after it was released here. I thought the Sound Quality and the Video Quality both on TV APP was exceptional. Infact when I was watching it in on my semi-home theater set up. My Family Members had to constantly tell me. Tone it down or we may have neighbors coming to our home as it may be disturbing them. For me the best Quality is always on TV APP, I dont know how Apple gets such Finest Quality of Full HD Print and with almost 5.1 Sound Effects. Truly Amazing !!

 

[Doelago]

Almost all streaming services are heavily reducing the quality of streams right now due to the coronavirus to help free bandwidth for all the peoplenwprling from home. Has nothing to do with your iPad.

 

[secretk]

Almost all streaming services are heavily reducing the quality of streams right now due to the coronavirus to help free bandwidth for all the peoplenwprling from home. Has nothing to do with your iPad.

True that. And in general even in normal situations they might be affected also by our specific internet connection that we have.

 

[masotime]

watching youtube from internet explor

How are you running “internet explor” on your iPad? Assuming you meant Microsoft’s universally reviled legacy browser “Internet Explorer” - it’s impossible to install that on iOS. Even on macOS you’re limited to Microsoft’s Edge browser, which is still a lot better than “Internet Explorer”.

 

[secretk]

How are you running “internet explor” on your iPad? Assuming you meant Microsoft’s universally reviled legacy browser “Internet Explorer” - it’s impossible to install that on iOS. Even on macOS you’re limited to Microsoft’s Edge browser, which is still a lot better than “Internet Explorer”.

Internet Explorer is Developer's nightmare. Good luck making something working there. That being said indeed is there a way to have Internet Explored on an iPad? I have no idea myself as I have never used that thing. I am Developer - we use IE only to test if our code is working (if we have customers that use it).

 

[aevan]

I just recently purchased the new 2020 12.9 iPad Pro and I have to say, the screen resolution is very bad when watching videos. Whenever watching any videos at all (whether on the youtube app, netflix, disney app, or even watching youtube from internet explor, my videos are just mehhhhh. No 4k. Doesn't even look like 1080 to be honest. The picture just looks fuzzy.

Anyone else experiencing this? Do you guys have super sharp screens when viewing video or is this just me?

I’ve noticed that sometimes it feels like lower resolution videos look worse on my iPad (12.9” 3rd gen iPad Pro, which has the same screen as yours) than on my TV (or even Mac). There could be several reasons, one is the fact that I hold iPad closer to my face. Also, my TV has an upscaler which is quite good, so lower res material looks a bit better. iPad has a very sharp, precise screen that you hold near your face and a lot of things show up, from lower resolution to artifacts and compression.

With that said, 4K material looks really good. Do you have the Ultra HD package on Netflix? If you do, try playing something modern and 4K (for example Altered Carbon) on your iPad. It is really sharp on mine. Certainly as sharp as on any of my Macs (iMac 5K and a 2016 MBP 15”).

Also, I think YouTube does not play videos above 1080p on iPads due to codecs and stuff (maybe that has changed) - but they still look quite sharp.

 

[DomKud]

Almost all streaming services are heavily reducing the quality of streams right now due to the coronavirus to help free bandwidth for all the peoplenwprling from home. Has nothing to do with your iPad.

I download my videos so no this is not why.
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I’ve noticed that sometimes it feels like lower resolution videos look worse on my iPad (12.9” 3rd gen iPad Pro, which has the same screen as yours) than on my TV (or even Mac). There could be several reasons, one is the fact that I hold iPad closer to my face. Also, my TV has an upscaler which is quite good, so lower res material looks a bit better. iPad has a very sharp, precise screen that you hold near your face and a lot of things show up, from lower resolution to artifacts and compression.

With that said, 4K material looks really good. Do you have the Ultra HD package on Netflix? If you do, try playing something modern and 4K (for example Altered Carbon) on your iPad. It is really sharp on mine. Certainly as sharp as on any of my Macs (iMac 5K and a 2016 MBP 15”).

Also, I think YouTube does not play videos above 1080p on iPads due to codecs and stuff (maybe that has changed) - but they still look quite sharp.

Ya I do. Netflix is not sharp at all. Looks like 720. I am a photographer so I know good resolution when I see it. Not sure if it’s my unit then…
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And it’s not my internet. I’m pulling 500 mbps on wifi. I have very fast internet speeds.
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Have you tried using Safari instead of Internet Explorer? Is the video resolution any better?

Sorry I meant safari

 

[secretk]

I download my videos so no this is not why.

Have you checked your Settings? I do not have Netflix installed but I have Apple TV and when it comes to downloads there are two options - fast downloads (obviously lower quality) and high quality. Is it possible that there is some setting like that and it results in low quality downloads for you?

 

[augustya]

Ya I do. Netflix is not sharp at all. Looks like 720. I am a photographer so I know good resolution when I see it. Not sure if it’s my unit then…

Try on the TV APP on the iPad Pro try to rent a Full HD 1080P Movie there, I am sure you would be pretty happy with the resolution on that.

 

[Ungibbed]

I thought beyond 1080p wasn't a thing on iPP.

Is there anything that plays close to native?

 

[lugolo]

IPad Pro has a beautiful display and resolution. You can try in youtube 4K 60 HDR videos and you will see amazin quality (even when iPP display is not perfect for HDR content). it has to be a problem with services bitrate on COVID-19 or maybe problems in your settings or connection. I enjoy so much video quality in my iPP 11”, so it has to be better on 12,9”. Or maybe it is just a unit problem. Return it an get another one

 

[rui no onna]

Depends upon time of day, but due to Covid-19, the big streaming companies are sometimes reducing the bitrates. At peak times, it can severely degrade the video quality. At off-peak times though it should look awesome for recent native 4K titles.

What services actually stream 4K videos to the iPad? Last I checked, the best iTunes, Netflix and Amazon does is 1080p. They'll send 4K to the AppleTV but not to iPad.

Mind, I do run my own Plex server and full quality 4K Blu-ray looks great on the iPad Pro 12.9. Increase in detail is very noticeable.

On iPad Pro 10.5, apart from HDR, 4K didn't really look any better than 1080p.

 

[Ghost31]

I just saw Bloodshot the Vin Diesel Movie on my 11" iPad Pro in the TV APP on the iPP as I had missed when it was released here we went into Lockdown just the day after it was released here. I thought the Sound Quality and the Video Quality both on TV APP was exceptional. Infact when I was watching it in on my semi-home theater set up. My Family Members had to constantly tell me. Tone it down or we may have neighbors coming to our home as it may be disturbing them. For me the best Quality is always on TV APP, I dont know how Apple gets such Finest Quality of Full HD Print and with almost 5.1 Sound Effects. Truly Amazing !!

Well now you got to tell me how you liked blood shot. I was thinking about seeing it but all the bad reviews kept me away

 

[Wackery]

I think Netflix doesn’t give you 4KHD unless you get their highest subscription tier, at least in canada. Otherwise it’s just HD, no HDR.

 

[rui no onna]

I think Netflix doesn’t give you 4KHD unless you get their highest subscription tier, at least in canada. Otherwise it’s just HD, no HDR.

I'm already on the highest tier (Premium Ultra HD plan, up to 4 devices).

Anyway, found out on reddit how to check max Netflix video resolution on device. Search for "test pattern" and play the video. It shows bitrate and resolution on upper right corner.

iPad Pro 10.5 (2224x1668) received 5800 kbps, 1920x1080, 10 bpc

iPad Pro 12.9 (2732x2048) received 7450 kbps, 2560x1440, 10 bpc

For the iPP 12.9, while not 4K, it's still significantly better than 1080p and fits the iPP 12.9's resolution well enough.

This is for streaming, not downloads. There's a good chance Hollywood doesn't allow downloading videos at higher than 1080p.

 

[EugW]

I'm already on the highest tier (Premium Ultra HD plan, up to 4 devices).

Anyway, found out on reddit how to check max Netflix video resolution on device. Search for "test pattern" and play the video. It shows bitrate and resolution on upper right corner.

iPad Pro 10.5 (2224x1668) received 5800 kbps, 1920x1080, 10 bpc

iPad Pro 12.9 (2732x2048) received 7450 kbps, 2560x1440, 10 bpc

For the iPP 12.9, while not 4K, it's still significantly better than 1080p and fits the iPP 12.9's resolution well enough.

This is for streaming, not downloads. There's a good chance Hollywood doesn't allow downloading videos at higher than 1080p.

I’m watching 4k on Apple TV. I’m just saying that you won’t get max quality at certain times during Covid.

 

[rui no onna]

I’m watching 4k on Apple TV. I’m just saying that you won’t get max quality at certain times during Covid.

Don't think we're getting bandwidth throttled here in the US yet. Then again, I'm going to the office everyday so it's not like I can watch Netflix during work hours.

That said, afaik, none of the legit streaming services will stream max quality 4K to iOS mobile devices, COVID or not. Although I'm happy to see Netflix sending 1440p at least. 1080p can look somewhat blurry on the iPP 12.9 if you're holding the device ~2ft or less away.

 

[HDFan]

No 4k.

As above the iPad Pro 11" is 2388 x1668 and 4K is 3840 x 2160 so the iPad 11" can't play 4K. The video has to be downscaled.

I haven't seen any throttling of Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Netflix, or any streaming service of 4K or other content on Comcast.