Find out what formats are available in the Apple TV app
In the Apple TV app, icons that appear on a movie's product page 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.
4K video plays at a higher resolution. HD videos support a resolution of 1920 x 1080, but the resolution of 4K videos is 3840 x 2160, which offers sharper and more detailed imagery.
HDR videos have a broader range of colors and luminance.
On Apple TV 4K, content automatically plays in the HDR format that is compatible with your television.
With Dolby Atmos, when you use a compatible sound system, you'll experience three-dimensional audio. 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
- Video content with a high-quality version that you purchased or rented.
- A device capable of playing high-quality video content:
- 4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 content is available on iMac Pro (2017) when viewing on the built-in display.
- 4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 content is available on Mac Pro (2019) and 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2018 or later when viewing on Pro Display XDR.
- Refer to the tech specs for your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV to check if your device can play 4K, HDR, or Dolby Vision videos.
- 4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 content is available on iMac Pro (2017) when viewing on the built-in display.
- The latest versions of iOS or iPadOS, macOS, 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 what to do if you can't stream 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.
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 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, 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 a movie in your library. Look at the top of the page for , , , or .
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 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 and iPadOS 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.