Upcoming Apple TV Could Support 120Hz Refresh Rate According to tvOS 14.5 Beta Code

Apple is working on a new version of the Apple TV that's set to be released at some point in 2021, and the new set-top box that's coming could feature support 4K 120Hz video output.

Apple TV 120hz Feature
Evidence of 120Hz support was found in the tvOS 14.5 beta code by 9to5Mac, with the code listing multiple instances of "120Hz and "supports120Hz." The code was found in PineBoard, Apple's name for the ‌Apple TV‌ interface.

The references to 120Hz refresh rate support suggest that Apple is testing this feature for the next-generation ‌Apple TV‌, and it suggests that the new set-top box will use HDMI 2.1. HDMI 2.0, used for the current fifth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, is limited to 4K resolution at 60Hz. HDMI 2.1, however, is able to support streaming 4K content at 120Hz.

As with the 120Hz refresh rate on the iPad Pro models, a 120Hz refresh rate mode on ‌Apple TV‌ would allow for smoother performance on 120Hz television sets and would be ideal for gaming where there's a lot of quick action as you might find in shooting games.

There are 120Hz TVs on the market, which people generally buy for gaming purposes and use with the latest Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, both of which support the HDMI 2.1 specification and can output 4K video at 120Hz.

We don't yet know when the next-generation ‌Apple TV‌ will launch, but rumors have suggested it will feature a faster processor and a redesigned remote. Some rumors also suggest that Apple is planning for an ‌Apple TV‌ that would offer a console-like gaming experience, and 4K 120Hz support would allow the ‌Apple TV‌ to better compete with the latest flagship gaming consoles.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
maxresdefault

M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro Launch Imminent as Reseller Stock Dwindles

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:12 pm PST by
New M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are slated to launch in the near future, according to information shared with MacRumors by an Apple Premium Reseller. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The third-party Apple retailer said that MacBook Pro stock is very low currently because there is an imminent new product introduction. Apple typically coordinates supply with...

Top Rated Comments

ButteryScrollin Avatar
63 months ago
Flappy bird in 120hz.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
63 months ago
This will be a game changer.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
loybond Avatar
63 months ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/05/apple-tv-120hz-support-tvos-14-5-code/')

There are 120Hz TVs on the market, which people generally buy for gaming purposes and use with the latest Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, both of which support the HDMI 2.1 specification and can output 4K video at 120Hz.
That's not the only reason. 60 Hz tvs don't do a great job with 24 Hz, you get judder because 60/24 = not a clean number. 120 Hz tvs allow for 24 Hz content to play smoothly. Before anyone thinks that means soap opera effect, no, that's frame interpolation which is a different thing that pretty much no one likes.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
b11051973 Avatar
63 months ago
I have been hoping for this. I have my Apple TV set to match frame rate, to avoid the 3:2 pulldown on 24fps movies and such. This means when playing something like a movie, the Apple TV has to switch between 60fps and 24fps. So, the screen goes black for a couple seconds. Not a very smooth transition. If the ATV can output 120fps, that is divisible by 24. No black screen switching and no 3:2 pulldown. I already have a TV that will support it. Please Apple do this. :)
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CouldBeWorse Avatar
63 months ago
This would make sense for Apple Arcade.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
63 months ago

For apps and some YouTube content, that is cool. For Movies and TV, no thanks.
Exactly! From a 144 Hz monitor here, watching a movie while working, it can give me a headache. I understand the appeal for gaming but everything else I feel like 120 Hz is just overplayed as the next consumer thing.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)