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

[kcslc]

Hope this is the case. Sometimes my TV takes several seconds and I have to rewind if I miss some opening dialog. It flickers a bunch and it's jarring each time. This seems like the best reason for this to me.

As for actual 120Hz content, don't see much use for it. I guess if it makes the UI smoother? But otherwise even on my PS5 and Xbox Series X there is no game that runs at 4K 120Hz. And I don't see much use for a 120Hz movie. But I think the drone screensavers would be pretty cool at 4K 120Hz HDR.

I’m fairly certain that Ori and the Will of the Wisps runs at 4K/120 on the Series X. I’ve heard it looks amazing. I’ve got it in my backlog somewhere. 🙃

 

[diamond.g]

View attachment 1754354
120hz means clearest image would be possible without sync issues or flickering. (Which 60hz high mode suffers from) this test image is from the LGCX.

Is this with BFI Enabled?

I’m fairly certain that Ori and the Will of the Wisps runs at 4K/120 on the Series X. I’ve heard it looks amazing. I’ve got it in my backlog somewhere. 🙃

Yeah that game renders at higher than 4k internally (I think the dev said 6k) and downscales to 4k/120.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

The OS my TV came with has everything I need to access programming, including the Apple TV app.

The only things that are connected to my TV via a cable are gaming consoles.

So I just don't see the need for this device in my household.

 

[wanha]

It's rare that Apple's UX lags behind competition, but the Apple TV is one instance where this is true.

Not only is the remote rubbish, but the whole Apple TV UI is very limited and restrictive.

For instance, LG's WebOs on their TVs runs laps around the Apple TV in terms of usability and ease of use. Their MagicRemote is amazing.

Hoping Apple seriously ups their game on this front.

 

[Hberg]

HDMI 2.1 would be huge if they implement QMS. Hopefully no more blank screens when changing frame rates

Apple TV 6th Gen Prices:

16 GB model: $399
32 GB model: $499
64 GB model: $599
256 GB model: $799
512 GB model: $999
1 TB model: $1399
2 TB model: $1999

….

Or you could just get an Xbox series X 1 TB for $499. I’d rather go that route or PS5.

Source?

 

[palmerc]

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.

This is just incorrect.

120 Hz variable frame rate (ProMotion as Apple calls it) is not a 'consumer thing' as you suggest. There is a very real issue with frame rate of various TV and movie formats and their ability to be reproduced on a particular screen. Fixed frame rate is a legitimate problem.

Furthermore, refresh rate also applies to the ability to do GPU compute tasks. Meaning you no longer have to skip frames because your processing task doesn't fit neatly into a time slice.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Sounds awesome for gaming, but it's one of those things where if you're loyal to how a director wants to portray their film, 120Hz won't matter much. Still should be interesting if you're interested in "Soap Opera Effect".

120 hz isn't the soap opera effect. That's done by artificially creating frames that don't exist, and flattening the picture, smoothing it and then inserting it in between 2 real frames. Frame interpolation. It's a BS term Samsung has used on 60 hz panels as marketing because LCDs are awful at motion.

120 hz would allow for a 5:5 setup with 24 fps, meaning the same full-frame is repeated 5 times in that 1 refresh - so the cadence of 24 fps is maintained precisely.

60 hz TVs do what's called a 3:2 (actually, 2:3) pulldown to get 24 frames to 30 fps... the first frame of the interlace is repeated twice, the second frame of the interlace is repeated 3 times (or stretched) to get to 29.97 fps so your 60 hz display can resolve it correctly.. It actually creates a slowdown in the film, and for every 2 hours of movie, something like 10 seconds is added to the runtime -- technically imperceptible change.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Sure. Current Apple TV 4K doesn’t support 24hz, though, which is SO annoying. It does support 23.976hz though.

....... 23.976 hz is 24 fps... just like 30 fps is 29.97. And 60 fps is 59.94...

there's a 0.03 hz off-set for the color sub-carrier. And for 60 fps there's an additional offset for progressive scan.

 

[bbplayer5]

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.

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.

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

The killer feature I need is spatial audio. I would really love to watch movies on my TV with the AirPod Max and spacial audio, rather than on my iPad.

This would be killer for gaming though.

 

[MrGuder]

If Apple redesigns the remote, I wonder if it will work with last models 4K box and if so will they will sell the remote separately.

 

[hagar]

Apple are always late to the party then end up owning the whole thing , if I was Sony and Ms i'd be very worried now

I've got a ps5 and tbh its a big meh , had the x box and sent it back after a week of hdmi problems , while my atv 4k just purrs away silently , totally reliable , never an issue ( apart from that remote )

If Apple really do it properly this time , they will be unstoppable

You’re dreaming if you think Apple is going to make a dent in the gaming industry.

 

[vipergts2207]

ATV needs to get cheaper if it wants to compete in the market... or will it be another niche product like AirPods Max?

The ATV has done fine as is for years and years.

 

[Rychiar]

How do u tell if ur hdmi is 2.1 or 2.0? Even the specs on my tv don’t tell me that

Yes they would. It was one of the biggest selling points of mine. If you you don’t know it prob doesn’t

 

[hagar]

The ATV has done fine as is for years and years.

Apple TV has just 2% market share of streaming devices. If that's the criterium to keep selling the product, it's very well possible it's next on the chopping block. It's absolutely not doing fine.

 

[Chiromac81]

The ship has sailed for Apple TV as a gaming device-way too little way too late. People have already invested in previous gen gaming (PS4/Xbox one/Nintendo switch) and waiting like crazy, paying scalpers and crazy demand for the newest Gen ones.

if people want cheaper they pay for the PS4 or x box Series S or nintendo which already have built up fan base and games and infrastructure and track record

if people aren’t on board with that they just play on their iPad or iPhone

too little too late for gaming for Apple TV-they should have built that up properly 5 years ago if they were serious about that

 

[Chiromac81]

The only real game changers for this Apple TV would be to fix the raised black issue so that people that have OLEDs can actually use this with their tv and enjoy proper blacks

also full plex support

For people whining about the remote, a harmony universal remote costs about half the price of the Apple TV and is WAAAY more valuable

 

[smaffei]

Cheaper streaming devices from Roku and most sold smart TVs today support airplay2 and AppleTV+ App; It's time for Apple build it's own cheaper single SOC based HDMI plug-in streaming device and let the current AppleTV box to go unless Apple has plan for M1 based massive multi-core CPU/GPU console that completes well against XBOX X and PS5.

Apple isn't going to build a "cheaper single SOC based HDMI plug-in streaming device." That's why they made the Apple TV app for the various platforms. The Apple TV app allows them to cover the low end without getting involved with "race to the bottom" hardware. Apple makes money on premium hardware.

 

[rob559]

The killer feature I need is spatial audio. I would really love to watch movies on my TV with the AirPod Max and spacial audio, rather than on my iPad.

This would be killer for gaming though.

I agree. If you have Airpods Pro or Max, this will be a great addition.

 

[BKDad]

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.

All true. Well, pretty much. I think lots of people love soap opera effect. Just as they love colors that are saturated like dyed Easter eggs. That's sort of inexplicable to me, but it's largely true.

Once this health situation dissipates, spend an hour or so in a big box store that sells television sets watching the customers. The TVs that get the most attention are the ones with the most overdone picture aspects.

 

[seek3r]

Can I interest you in a curved screen? Or perhaps a 3D TV? 🤣 As they said in 2011, it's "the future of television"!

FWIW curved ultra-wide computer monitors are awesome, I never quite got the point of a curved TV though

 

[kcslc]

The only real game changers for this Apple TV would be to fix the raised black issue so that people that have OLEDs can actually use this with their tv and enjoy proper blacks

also full plex support

For people whining about the remote, a harmony universal remote costs about half the price of the Apple TV and is WAAAY more valuable

I shouldn’t have to buy a third party remote to get a decent experience with my Apple hardware.

 

[Herrpod]

WOW! I hope RUKU ULTRA goes 120hz?
I LOVE MY ROKU. The variety is unmatched

although quite a few 4k TV sets are still only 60hz and not 120hz

120hz costs quite a bit more in a 4k TV.

Roku doesn’t do gaming. 120 hz is useless for watching tv.

 

[kcslc]

Source?

Source? My brain.

 

[x-evil-x]

ATV needs to get cheaper if it wants to compete in the market... or will it be another niche product like AirPods Max?

no it doesn't. 150$ is nothing. Stop using crap 40$ devices. Theres a lot you get for an appletv or a shield(both in the same price range).
150$ over 3-6 years really is change you find in your couch. Then you can resell them for 100$ so what do your really lose 50$? think differently

 

[brucewayne]

Apple TV has just 2% market share of streaming devices. If that's the criterium to keep selling the product, it's very well possible it's next on the chopping block.

It has 2% market share because it costs 4-5 times more than a firestick 4k - most people can't afford or won't justify a $180 streaming device on all their TV when a firesticks provide almost the same experience for $30-$50

Apple is foolish for not having a modern cheap ATV, under $100 at least and preferably under $50, even if just to provide an upgrade path for its customers from the increasingly deprecated ATV 3s