Apple TV+ Offers Highest Quality 4K Streaming, Averaging Up to 29Mbps

Monday November 4, 2019 1:52 pm PST by Juli Clover

Apple TV+ has the highest 4K streaming quality offered by a streaming service that supports 4K, according to testing conducted by FlatpanelsHD founder Rasmus Larsen.

Larsen says that the ‌Apple TV‌+ offers higher quality 4K streaming than most iTunes movies, based on averages of the variable bitrate employed by the service.

"See" had the highest bitrate of an ‌Apple TV‌+ show tested, averaging a 29Mb/s video bitrate and a 41Mb/s peak.

"The Elephant Queen" averaged right around 26Mb/s for video bitrate, and other content, such as "Snoopy in Space" also performed well.

According to Larsen, the ‌Apple TV‌+ offers 1.5 to 2x the video bitrate of a typical HD Blu-ray disc and around half of a typical UHD Blu-ray disc.

Comparatively, Netflix's 4K bitrate appears to max out at right around 16Mb/s, though Netflix requires a 25Mb/s connection to stream 4K content.

Tag: Apple TV Plus Guide

Top Rated Comments

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Mr. Turtle

11 weeks ago

Bitrate means nothing. It's the compression settings that matter more. If anyone's used handbrake with some advanced settings, you'll know that bitrate only matters so much. I can compress a full length 2hr 1080p movie down to about 3.5gb in file size with almost no noticeable difference in picture quality unless you pixel peek overlaying the original and compressed still frames. Granted, the 3.5gb file size is typically with movies where there isn't a lot of noise/grain.

Furthermore, bitrate is absolutely a moot point when the content sucks. Given Apple's inability to produce a solid product even in their own tech market... I have ZERO confidence in Apple knowing how to make a movie or TV series.

regarding your first point... that is technically wrong. The compression determines the Bitrate and less compressed, higher quality content, (in general) has a higher Bitrate. Of course the Compression type is also a variable, but it’s way less important then the compression “strength”.

furthermore, you really have no idea what you’re talking about and at this point your just trolling so I’m not going to waste my time any further.

Rating: 58 Votes

bladerunner2000

11 weeks ago

Rating: 32 Votes

Iconoclysm

11 weeks ago

Given Apple's inability to produce a solid product even in their own tech market... I have ZERO confidence in Apple knowing how to make a movie or TV series.

This makes everything else you said mean absolutely nothing. Not that you were even correct in your assumptions around bitrate based on experience with handbrake... I mean, you're completely clueless about it in fact. It's no wonder you make such ridiculous statements about Apple and technology in general - just stop embarrassing yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_rate

Rating: 27 Votes

Zachari

11 weeks ago

Honestly, as a complete skeptic I have loved everything I have watched so far. The Morning Show is my favorite (binged all 3 episodes in a night), Dickinson was quirky and witty. I am looking forward to more content from Apple. Glad Apple is doing everything they can to make it worthwhile.

Rating: 25 Votes

djcerla

11 weeks ago

Given Apple's inability to produce a solid product even in their own tech market... I have ZERO confidence in Apple knowing how to make (insert category)

I Keep reading this since my first Internet connection in 1998. Like a constant, whining note. Which proves itself wrong,year after year, while the company makes metric tons of money selling solid products.

Rating: 22 Votes

turbineseaplane

11 weeks ago

Awesome!
Apple is the best - again - as always!
Thank you Tim!

Rating: 21 Votes

Eorlas

11 weeks ago

I have ZERO confidence in Apple knowing how to make a movie or TV series.

Random forum user pretends to know some jargon to claim a trillion dollar company has no idea what it's doing.

But a user above pointed out why OP is spewing silly nonsense so I'll spare the extra time.

Rating: 16 Votes

twolf2919

11 weeks ago

Make up your mind - in the first sentence, bitrate "means nothing". In the second sentence bitrate "only matters so much". Since we don't know what compression settings the different streaming companies use, one must assume they're similar. In which case, bitrate means a lot more.

Lastly, while your last comment is correct, it's also completely meaningless, since everybody has a different notion of what "sucks" and some folks even adjust their definition of "sucks" based on what the content costs them. I'm a much harsher critic of a movie I just paid $15 to see vs. content that cost me nothing.

Rating: 16 Votes

Mr. Turtle

11 weeks ago

Is this really perceptible in a common man's living room or is this just a spec brag that is real only on paper??

this depends on your setup really. If you have a low end tv you may not notice it but with a high end setup you definitely do. It’s just the same with audio. Is Dolby atmos really noticeable? Yes, depending on your setup. And that’s how it should be. If you only have an old iPad to watch shows on or an old external display, you should still be able to watch them, but if you spend money on nice hardware, the content shouldn’t artificially degrade it by just being bad quality.

Rating: 14 Votes