Blocky and Pixelated Dark Scenes when watching videos (Netflix/Youtube/Movies)

I've tried everything listed above plus everything linked in the article. I also contacted Apple support over the phone. I turned in my MacBook Air and got another one to see if the issue was with the device but still had the same problem. I turned in my 2nd laptop for a MacBook Pro and the issue was worse on the Pro. It seems that this issue is standard across all new MacBooks. I'm incredibly frustrated with the poor design and the lack of support from Apple.

Yes!! I just searched this issue now. I find that if I move the mouse on my laptop (2014 Macbook) then the full quality of the dark colours will return for a short time, then revert to being pixelated. So frustrating!

Question for folks: Do you find this is true with DVD Player? I think the dark, low-contrast images are clean, there...? Also iTunes. Which makes me suspicious that the OS is "throttling" image quality in apps like Chrome. If so—why??

I’ll have to see. I don’t recall the same issues though. Probably just a compression issue. But I don’t know why it suddenly gains HD quality when I move the mouse (which brings up the controls menu, so... not optimal viewing) then reverts to pixelated right away.

You are completely correct. Streaming Netflix or Amazon with dark scenes the image is poor and pixelated in Chrome but not in Safari. Apple is really not playing nicely with the others in the sandbox. It's kinda shameful. Just bought this 2019 MBP and it's crappy quality compared to my MBP 2015. I've been a mac user since 1992 and also a certified tech ACMT working for a service provider until 2015 - now just work as an independent helping OOW mac users to have the best experience possible.

Have the same issue on my macbook air Retina 13", 2019 of which many users have complained heavy banding and pixelated. Have checked my network connection and settings on Netflix both are set for high resolution display. I also turned off True Tone and automatic brightness adjustment, tried different color modes. Its very disappointing to not be able to see proper display on such an expensive machine.

These are excellent comments. It clearly seems to be a streaming/buffering issue, which I can understand. It's also mostly to do with darker colours - lighter colours are no problem. The thing that perplexes me is that, as I mentioned earlier, when I move my mouse arrow to bring up the control bar, suddenly the resolution is as it should be - perfect. Blacks are the deepest black and everything looks fine. The moment I move the arrow away and the control bar disappears....back to blocky. So strange.

So on a MBP 2019 13" it appears after all I played with in settings that the least pixelated viewing of streaming on Netflix or Prime only happens in Safari. ( on Mojave) I think the fact that flash is still a component in Chrome, Firefox doesn't play well with the Mac OS ( no supportive of Flash).

rtate50, I also have problems in both Safari and Chrome. Your side-by-side photos are illuminating of downloaded vs streamed content. Could there be some sort of "fix" from Apple to fix this problem? I bought an iPad Pro just to do side-by-side comparisons. The iPad Pro has much smoother sections with dark colors and is better video quality.

I was having the same issue when streaming on Netflix but i think this fixed it. Settings > Displays > Color > Display Profile, and toggle through which setting works best. I've found that Apple RBG fixes it the most (better contrast). The default "Color LCD" setting brightens up the dark scenes too much, making it blurry. Hope this helps everyone!

(I have a 2019 MBP 13", using Chrome)

This exact problem happens on two of my MBPs, they're from 2015 and 2019. None of the cursor size adjustment fixes, system preference fixes (e.g. color to Apple RGB, Nightshift off, etc.), or internet browser swaps fix the issue. This is absolute BULLSH*T, and fairly typical of Apple Support to do nothing about the issue except provide a forum for the proletariate to sound off to deaf ears. How can machines that cost $2k display have such utter garbage video display?

Hello.

I am having the same problem, and this 'expert' answer is not useful at all!!! I tried the things that where mention in the other post and nothing.

Any useful advice? I have a 2014 macbook air.

Cheers

I think I found a solution. Have the same problem when using Chrome on brand new 2019 13inch macbook pro. When using Safari all works well.

@dandraandi: I just tried a comparison between Chrome & Safari. Safari is, if anything, worse on mine. (Also new 2019 13inch macbook pro.)

Has anyone found a fix for this? I have the same problem.