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.

dickinsonappletv
"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

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Makes the Starting Lineup for Apple TV's Dodgers vs. Giants Broadcast

Thursday September 17, 2026 8:10 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple TV's broadcast of the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants game this Friday will incorporate the brand new iPhone 18 Pro. More than a dozen iPhone 18 Pro devices will be placed throughout Dodger Stadium during the game, according to Apple. The devices will capture live gameplay from unique vantage points and scenes from around the ballpark, including batting practice, player...

• 11 comments

'Widow's Bay' Leads Apple TV to Record 29 Emmy Wins

Tuesday September 15, 2026 5:34 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple TV shows swept the board at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards last night as the streaming service received 29 wins overall to become the most awarded network of the year. It was Apple TV's best-ever Emmy Awards haul, thanks to the likes of Widow's Bay, Pluribus, Slow Horses, Margo's Got Money Troubles, Palm Royale, and Mr. Scorsese. Widow's Bay was the most awarded show of the night,...

• 55 comments

Here's When Apple TV is Airing Free 'Peanuts' Holiday Specials This Year

Thursday September 24, 2026 8:39 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Three iconic "Peanuts" specials will once again be available on the Apple TV streaming service without a subscription for a limited time this holiday season. Here is when each special will be available to stream for free in the Apple TV app:"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown": Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving": Saturday, November 14 and Sunday,...

• 27 comments

Top Rated Comments

Mr. Turtle

90 months 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.

Score: 59 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bladerunner2000

90 months 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.

Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Iconoclysm

90 months 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

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Zachari

90 months 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.

Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)

djcerla

90 months 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.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)