What's the status of 4K HDR playback with the new 2020 Mac Mini?
This article was updated just a few days ago, but doesn't include any information on the 2020 Mac Mini.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210980
I'm considering the new M1 Mac Mini to connect up to a 4K HDR10 display.
So far as my situation, 4k Dolby Vision Netflix playback is test success on my M1 Mac mini using safari 14, Big Sur. as well as 4k HDR YouTube. they both works perfectly. I connect the Mac mini using a HDMI cable to a 4k monitor. PS: that did not happened when I got the new Mac mini at day one, there perhaps has some software adjusting or something.
I connected a 32 inch LG 32UN880-B 4K HDR Ergo display to the M1 mini via a Belkin 4K HDMI 2.1 cable (for future proofing), and the monitor detects and briefly displays HDR in the upper right corner of the login screen. HDR can be disabled on this display, and there is a selection for High Dynamic Range in the Big Sur Displays preference:
What I'm looking for is 4K HDR playback, and the linked article claims the Mac Mini (2018 or later) is only capable of 1080P HDR playback. Now certainly I can understand resolution/hdr limitations on content that isn't provided by Apple (like HBO from an App), but this is with premium HDR content from Apple.
I have no reason to believe that the article is correct because if it was the Mac Book Air would have the same capabilities/limitations as the Mac Mini because with the 2020 models they're practically the same thing (minus throttling they use on the Air to avoid having a Fan).
Plus HDMI 2.0 is perfectly capable of 4K HDR10@60fps so purely from a technical standpoint there is no reason why the Mac Mini M1 shouldn't be just as capable of 4K HDR playback as the iMac.
I don't see any reason why you'd have to use a Thunderbolt3 port to connect up your HDMI 2.0 (or greater) TV.
I asked this 4K HDR question to the "pre-sales" Apple Bot, and it was thoroughly confused. Haha. Eventually it said it would have to get help, and I haven't heard from it since.
The other thing that's interesting is this Article totally leaves out the Mac Mini M1.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210437#mac
I do expect these articles to get updated to clear up any confusion, but for now they're basically wrong.
Sometimes the tv or monitor only supports HDR through one input. The other inputs will still do 4K @ 60fps, but not HDR. I learned this from having a TCL 55 55R615.
It seems Apple only lets you download movies you bought through their iTunes service in HD. To look at it in Dolby Vision, you HAVE to stream it.
That’s correct in that it’s an limitation of their service, and it’s not a hardware limitation. It kinda defeats the purpose though because part of having a media center is having media on it.
Luckily it doesn’t impact me as I have a solid internet connection. It would be just a nice have.
FWIW, it seems 4K or 4K HDR is only available via streaming
on any (legal) online services. It seems the only way you
can have a 4k content in your own hands is on a 4K BluRay disc.
That linked Apple article suggests Mac mini 2018 or later, and probably a USB-C to 4K HDMI adapter cable (such as that Belkin adapter that supports HDR), and a length of quality HDMI male <> male 4K HDMI 2.0a or 2.1 spec cable into the TV.
Once my M1 mini arrives, I too, will be wanting to try it out with a 4K upscaling 40 - 43 in TV as a desktop replacement.
im using a Mac mini M1 and HDR its not working,
Mac mini m1 --> HDMI --> AVR DENON x2500H ->> VIZIO 4k HDR10 cappable (same config its already working HDR10 with Apple TV 4K and PS5)
Same thing with Dolby Atmos, its not working (I only get dolby digital +)
In my configuration the Mac Mini M1 lets me select 4K, and HDR10 so for general purpose stuff it works. What I haven’t been able to determine is if the Apple movies/shows are in 4K HDR as it doesn’t let me download them as that. It says they’ll stream at that, but how can I tell what’s being used for streaming?
For the TV I’m using an Optoma Cineplex P2 UST projector.
I just got the new Mac Mini M1, and connected it to SONY TV A9G. Can't set to HDR output.
Have same question about the HDR output issue.
FWIW, the MacMini supports HDMI 2.0 spec which should support
HDR and HDR10 at 4K.
Beyond that, it is a matter of whether the apps used for viewing
have the proper video codecs to reproduce that.
Mac Mini M1 HDR Support
