What does this setting actually do? Just lower video quality? It's annoying it doesn't just tell you.
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Settings -> Battery -> What is: Optimize video streaming while on battery
- Thread starter miamialley
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Correct. Makes it easier on the decoders. Though I'm not sure how much of a difference it actually makes.
Edit: Just realized my answer may be misleading. I don't think it affects bitrate. It applies to HDR content.
As @bsamcash mentioned, this setting influences hdr content. Specifically :
While on battery power, play high-dynamic-range (HDR) video in standard dynamic range (SDR), which requires less energy. See the Apple Support article Play HDR video on your Mac
While on battery power, play high-dynamic-range (HDR) video in standard dynamic range (SDR), which requires less energy. See the Apple Support article Play HDR video on your Mac
Mike Richardson
macrumors regular
I'm on a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) and I also see this checkbox. I didn't even think this model supports HDR.
Edit: Apparently, HDR is only supported on an external display. And if you connect an external display, it uses ATI* graphics. And you're probably going to want to connect the power adapter at that point. Which means that "Optimize video streaming while on battery" is pretty much a useless option on this model, unless it actually does other undocumented stuff.
*AMD ATI forever
Edit: Apparently, HDR is only supported on an external display. And if you connect an external display, it uses ATI* graphics. And you're probably going to want to connect the power adapter at that point. Which means that "Optimize video streaming while on battery" is pretty much a useless option on this model, unless it actually does other undocumented stuff.
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