Apple TV 4K 1st Gen 4k HDR

In the YouTube app on the Apple TV box, start a stream, then go to the stream settings, then choose the Quality option to change the quality from the available options for that stream to its highest supported setting.

For ‘The Black’, it maxes out on Apple TV at 1440p on Apple TV 4K (1st generation).

For ‘Black 2’, it maxes out on Apple TV at 2160p (4K).

So it does work, but it also depends on exact stream properties (codec settings).

Comparing stream IDs and for both videos, through Stats for Nerds, I see:

The Black: video: ID 308 (webm, 2560×1440, 60 fps, vp09.00.50.08)

Black 2: video: ID 313 (webm, 3840×2160, 30 fps, vp09.00.50.08)

• It is thereby notable that the YouTube app on Apple TV 4K (1st generation) doesn’t use the higher quality options 315/628:vp09.00.51.08 (VP9 HFR), 701:av01.0.13M.10 (AV1 HFR), 337/642:vp09.02.51.10 (VP9.2 HDR HFR) for the 4K stream, as available on some other devices for the first video. These are all 4K high frame rate (60 fps).
• 4K + high frame rate (60 fps) input should be supported on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later; not earlier models like the Apple TV 4K (1st generation).
• It seems the uploader (LG) didn’t mark the checkbox to include a 4K 30 fps option for this video. 🤷‍♂️

If you can set 4K HDR in Video Settings on Apple TV, then 4K HDR is supported for that connected TV: Apple TV 4K will then send out 4K HDR over HDMI.

Don’t conclude from one or some YouTube videos, as this service is quite different from others (multiple ‘odd’ codecs, with varying profiles and levels).

• Remote servers can differentiate per type of receiving device and app: the app sends back an identifier.
• Additionally, YouTube’s app developers have made differences in their app for Apple TV and for your TV. There may also be differences by model (chipset processing power), i.e. the YouTube app on Apple TV 4K (1st generation) may have different support than later models, as software decoding VP9 at 4K HDR 60 Hz requires quite a bit.

Even more space efficient than VP9 is the AV1 codec, which gets on-chip support for Apple Silicon (A17+, M3+), but that only applies to newer devices. YouTube often offers both VP9 and AV1 for higher resolutions; not H.264/.H265. Support may vary in the YouTube app on Apple devices.

The question is - why?

• 4K + high frame rate (60 fps) input should be supported on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later; not earlier models like the Apple TV 4K (1st generation).

Google replies that everything is ok with their application

The same video, on the same YouTube, shows the content correctly (4k HDR) on new AppleTV 4k (2022 year)

The problem is only on the 1 gen of AppleTV 4k

Someone managed to enable 4k HDR on at least some video on the first generation AppleTV 4k ?

Provide a link to this video.

Contact Google for issues with their website, app or services.

YouTube decides what format the video is in when they stream it from their server.

That's right - exactly YouTube app doesn't use the higher quality options! The question is - why?

Other applications successfully use it and reproduce 4K HDR perfectly on Apple TV 4K (1st generation)

Problem only with YouTube.

The issue is not high frame rate (60 fps)

The problem is the lack of HDR support