Apple TV gets YouTube playback in 4K with tvOS 14

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited August 2020
The ability to play back YouTube content in 4K on the Apple TV is restored in tvOS 14, after three years of the Apple TV being stuck at 1080p from the streaming service.

Apple TV 4K and YouTube
The Apple TV can play YouTube in 4K after the tvOS 14 update is applied


After Apple refused to directly support Google's VP9 codec in 2017 at the release of the Apple TV 4K, with YouTube videos limited to 1080p. The feature wasn't discussed during the WWDC 2020 keynote, but rather, discovered in a blurb on the tvOS 14 website.

"Watch the latest YouTube videos in their full 4K glory," Apple wrote. "Your favorite music, slomo, outdoor, and vlog footage never looked better."

The same codec support problem prevents 4K YouTube videos from playing in the Mac and iOS versions of Safari. It isn't clear yet if the feature will be added to either platform, but AppleInsider will be testing it out as soon as possible.

With the release of iOS 14, Apple will expand picture-in-picture support. Following update, users can stream from fitness apps while watching live tv, or even use PiP with an AirPlayed video.

AirPlay also is getting an update in iOS 14 so users sharing their 4K video to a 4K television set will see the video in full resolution. It isn't clear if this is related to the YouTube 4K support.

Additionally, when using AirPods that support Audio Sharing on iOS, you can now use that feature on tvOS. With the new spatial audio feature, multiple users can experience movies together without disturbing others nearby.

New tvOS 14 Features

  • Multiuser for games
  • Better PiP support
  • Camera feeds on TV
  • Photos app with AirPlay in 4K
  • New game controller support
  • Audio Sharing on Apple TV

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    Scot1Scot1 Posts: 121member
    This is great news thank you
  • Reply 2 of 9
    docbburkdocbburk Posts: 109member
    I wish they would have announced a new model Apple TV, since the newest was released in 2017.  I have a gen 3 that just lost support for HBONOW and no support for HBO max. It’s due.  I don’t want to buy a 4K and feel like a chump in September if they release a new model. 
  • Reply 3 of 9
    FatmanFatman Posts: 513member
    I assume that means Apple finally supports the VP9 codec? Can anyone confirm?
  • Reply 4 of 9
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,417member
    docbburk said:
    I wish they would have announced a new model Apple TV, since the newest was released in 2017.  I have a gen 3 that just lost support for HBONOW and no support for HBO max. It’s due.  I don’t want to buy a 4K and feel like a chump in September if they release a new model. 
    Out of curiosity, what would you want from a new ATV that you can't get in the current 4K? Do you play games on it?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 9
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 834member
    fastasleep said:
    docbburk said:
    I wish they would have announced a new model Apple TV, since the newest was released in 2017.  I have a gen 3 that just lost support for HBONOW and no support for HBO max. It’s due.  I don’t want to buy a 4K and feel like a chump in September if they release a new model. 
    Out of curiosity, what would you want from a new ATV that you can't get in the current 4K? Do you play games on it?
    Well, since you've already denied yourself 4K support for the past 3 years--which is too bad, since there's a lot of 4K content out there to see on the streaming services--I suppose you might as well wait for the next gen ATV. I'd be really surprised to not see one released this year. But be aware that in terms of TV and movie watching, the current 4K supports all the latest audio/video formats like HDR, Dolby Atmos and 4K Dolby Vision, while most content is still in 1080 HD. so the current ATV won't be outdated for that kind of usage anytime soon. Where I expect to see improvements would be: 1) A new remote design that finally ends the misery for ATV owners using the current "form over function" design disaster that begs to be held upside down. 2) New kinds of support for gaming and (possibly) VR. 3) Advanced voice control that doesn't require me to find the remote and push a button to engage a limited range of voice commands. There should just be a wake word that allows me to speak directly to the ATV. 
  • Reply 6 of 9
    lolliverlolliver Posts: 494member
    I wonder if YouTube will finally be updated to fix the audio syncing issue when using a Bluetooth speaker or HomePod from the AppleTV. 

    The way the youtube app works at the moment it doesn’t delay the picture to sync the audio like every other video app on the AppleTV does. 
  • Reply 7 of 9
    Mike WuertheleMike Wuerthele Posts: 6,861administrator
    lolliver said:
    I wonder if YouTube will finally be updated to fix the audio syncing issue when using a Bluetooth speaker or HomePod from the AppleTV. 

    The way the youtube app works at the moment it doesn’t delay the picture to sync the audio like every other video app on the AppleTV does. 
    We'll know more about this later today, I expect.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 9
    superklotonsuperkloton Posts: 86member
    So they support VP9 now instead of directly going to AV1? Because AV1 requires hardware support if I'm not mistaken. I would've preferred if they updated the Apple TV with AV1 hardware support. But that can still come now that they at least support 4K YouTube. Good news in any case.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 9
    MaxEMaxE Posts: 1member
    How do I play YouTube Dolby 5.1 content on AppleTV 4K?
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