In the Apple TV app, icons that appear on a movie's product page, such as 
, 
, 
, or 
, indicate the highest quality format that the Apple TV app offers. When you buy or rent a movie from the Apple TV app, the movie automatically plays in the best quality format available for the device that you're using. Learn which video formats your device can play.
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
4K |
Video plays at a higher resolution. While HD videos support a resolution of 1920x1080, the resolution of 4K videos is 3840x2160, enabling more detailed and sharper imagery. |
HDR 10 |
HDR videos have a broader range of colors and luminance. |
Dolby Vision
|
|
Dolby Atmos
|
Videos with Dolby Atmos play audio that can immerse you in three-dimensional surround sound when combined with a Dolby Atmos-compatible sound system. Apple TV 4K will play audio through your home speaker system, which automatically chooses the best speaker combination to use. Learn more about using Dolby Atmos with your home theater system and Apple TV 4K. |
Here's what you need to watch the highest-quality video available
- Purchased or rented video content with a high-quality version.
- A device capable of playing high-quality video content. See if your device is compatible.
- The latest versions of iOS or tvOS.
- An Internet connection fast enough to watch high-quality content.
If you buy or rent a movie from the Apple TV app, you can stream it on the device that you bought it on and any of your other devices, as long as you're signed in to all of your devices with the same Apple ID. Learn more about streaming movies or TV shows. Your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC, or Apple TV automatically play the best quality of video available for the device and your Internet connection.
If you purchase or rent a standard definition (SD) video, you can't play higher-quality versions.
Find videos with 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos in the iTunes Store
To see if a movie can play in 4K on a compatible device, look for on the product page. By default, all videos that you can buy or rent in the Apple TV app are available to play back in HD.
Movies in the Apple TV app might also be available in HDR10 , Dolby Vision , or Dolby Atmos . Content automatically plays in the HDR and audio format that is compatible with your device.
Check the quality of your previous purchases
If you previously bought an HD movie from the Apple TV app, you might have access to the 4K version, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos enhancements on a compatible device. If your purchase doesn't have a high-quality version now, it might be added later.
To check the video quality, tap or click on a movie in your Library. Look at the top of the page for , , , or .
Find out what video quality your device can play
HD videos feature a higher resolution than SD videos. Some videos also include even higher-resolution content, with a 4K option for 4K-compatible devices.
Find your device in the table below to see if it can play 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos content.
Device |
Media |
|---|---|
iPhone 8 and later |
Can play HDR and Dolby Vision content. |
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) |
Can play HDR and Dolby Vision content.
iPad Pro (11-inch) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) can play 4K, HDR, or Dolby Vision content to a compatible connected display or television. |
Apple TV 4K |
Can play 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision content to a compatible connected television. Learn more about playing 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision content with your Apple TV. Can play Dolby Atmos content to a compatible connected sound system. Learn more about surround sound settings on your Apple TV 4K. |
Compatible smart TVs |
Can play 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision content that you AirPlay from your Apple device. Learn about system requirements for AirPlay or find out which smart TVs are compatible with AirPlay 2. Can play movies and TV shows in 4K or HDR from the Apple TV app. |
If you don't see your device listed here, refer to the tech specs for your Apple product to check if your device can play 4K, HDR, or Dolby Vision videos.
If you see a message that your device might not be able to play 1080p (HD) or 4K videos
When you buy or rent a movie or TV show from the Apple TV app, the device that you're using might warn you that it can't play 1080p (HD) or 4K video content. Instead, your device automatically plays the highest-quality version of that video that it can. Your other Apple devices will play the higher-quality version if they're compatible.
Check your Internet connection
To stream high-quality video formats, you need a fast Internet connection. Apple recommends a minimum speed of 25 Mbps for 4K streaming. If your Internet connection isn't fast enough, your Apple devices automatically switch the video quality to a lower-quality version.
You can download a local copy of an HD movie to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC, and you might be able to download HDR and Dolby Vision versions to your iOS devices, but you can't download a 4K version.
Learn more
- Learn more about renting movies from the Apple TV app.
- Learn more about redownloading content that you purchased.