Apple 4K tv, both newest version and older cannot play 60fps 4K videos via Plex without stutter

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Apple 4K tv, both newest version and older cannot play 60fps 4K videos via Plex without stutter

I have a Plex server on my apple studio and three Apple 4K tv units, one of which is the newest model and all three cannot play 60fps 4K videos without stutter. A Roku Ultra or Nvidia Shield TV do play these videos with smooth playback and no stutter. I am confused because the specs for the newest apple tv says it can play these videos but it cannot... One of the great (but rarely talked about) advantages of the

Apple tv is its ability to customize closed captions (subs) and not allow source material to override settings. It is sad that with all its capabilities, Dolby Vision, Dolby atmos that it still cannot play these ultra HD sources properly...

Mac Studio, macOS 14.5

Posted on May 28, 2024 11:26 AM

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Answer 1

Urquhart1244

Level 10

147,082 points

May 29, 2024 7:07 AM in response to William Ellwin

I have a Plex server on my apple studio and three Apple 4K tv units, one of which is the newest model and all three cannot play 60fps 4K videos without stutter.

Apple TV 4K (2nd and 3rd generation) are said to be compatible with 60 Hz input sources from (updated) compatible streaming apps. Whether this applies to Plex too is a separate issue (ask Plex Support). I know their smart TV apps are limited to 30 fps; it might be different from external streaming devices, though. Apple TV 4K (1st generation) and earlier are definitely not compatible with 60 Hz input.

I’m not a Plex user, but on their Support pages I read that in some instances/with some settings, the source device (Plex Media Server) may do on-the-fly transcoding. That might be taxing, and perhaps too much for 4K 60 fps; this would be on the Mac, unrelated to Apple TV though.

Does your stuttering source file have video in H.265 HEVC or a different video codec [4]? H.265 HEVC can be decoded by Apple TV 4K, so that Plex Media Server wouldn’t have to change anything about the video.

… it still cannot play these ultra HD sources properly.

UHD (4K) doesn’t specify a frame rate. Most movies are 24 fps, a few are 48 fps. Sports games are often 30 fps, which is enough for smooth gentle panning. I guess your files are of a different kind?

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Answer 2

May 29, 2024 10:20 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Yes indeed these are AI produced videos that are 60fps and 4K... they have incredible sharpness and clarity and some have Dolby atmos as well. As I stated, a Roku Ultra, Nvidia TVshield and even a firestick 4K Max can easily play these files smoothly with no stutter albeit without the closed captions controls the Apple 4K tv has. It is irritating that the apple 4K unit, even the latest model with the best interface, best subtitle controls, an AppleTV app that remembers what you were playing, cannot handle these files with the Plex app currently available. Perhaps it is the Plex app for Apple TV that is causing the problem...

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Apple 4K tv, both newest version and older cannot play 60fps 4K videos via Plex without stutter

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