How do I stream Amazon Video in 4K on Apple TV? (Netflix works but not Amazon)

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Level 1

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How do I stream Amazon Video in 4K on Apple TV? (Netflix works but not Amazon)

I have an Apple TV 4K running tvOS 11.3 and a 4K TV.

I can get Netflix streaming in 4K without a problem, and when I swipe down on the Apple TV while playing, the info screen says 4K, Dolby Vision (etc).

But when streaming supposedly 4K content from Amazon (eg Bosch), I swipe down and it just says HD. What do I need to do differently between the apps?

Also, is there a way to tell within the Amazon Video app which content is 4K/HDR?

Thanks for your help.

Posted on Apr 19, 2018 11:31 AM

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Answer 1

J306 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 21, 2018 5:38 AM in response to J306

I’ve just realised that you have to select the right version of the episode in the Amazon Prime Video app to get 4K rather than HD.

Under ‘Included with Prime: 4K Ultra Movies’ (which I have to scroll down a long way for!) when you select an episode it will have [Ultra HD] in the title, e.g. ‘Bosch [Ultra HD]: Season 3’, and HDR (where relevant) next to the episode title. When playing, swiping down shows ‘4K’ on the Apple TV info screen.

But if you find the episode elsewhere in the Amazon app, e.g. under ‘Included with Prime: Popular TV shows’ you just get the standard HD version, with no apparent link to the 4K version. Even if I search for ‘bosch’ within the app, only the standard HD version is returned in the results.

It seems crazy that it doesn’t default to 4K or even flag that there’s a separate 4K version! But at least I can play them now.

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Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,184 points

Apr 19, 2018 9:13 PM in response to J306

1/ If a title is available in 4K HDR, then you will still want some verification to see if YOU are getting that high end spec delivered. The Amazon Prime Video app may not show that, though. The details that show within the app are up to the developers. Apparently there are also regional differences (no Dolby Vision in Europe, one report said).

2/ Does your tv have an Info option to show the current resolution it is receiving? E.g. if it says 2160p, that would indicate a 4K resolution.

3/ Some tvs and receivers will indicate HDR (HDR/Dolby Vision/HDR10+), when applicable.

4/ If you can’t see it, then the technique may be wasted on you. 😉

This is all Amazon has to say on the subject: Prime Video Quality & Formats (SD, HD, UHD, HDR)

The are several sites publishing what Amazon titles are in 4K, but those are dated snapshot moments, with little incentive to keep it updated at all times.

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Answer 3

J306 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 21, 2018 3:17 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Urquhart1244 wrote:

2/ Does your tv have an Info option to show the current resolution it is receiving? E.g. if it says 2160p, that would indicate a 4K resolution.

It does, but because the Apple TV 4K upscales everything to 4K, the TV always shows UHD on the info screen. But this doesn’t tell me whether it’s 4K at source or being upscaled by the Apple TV.

Urquhart1244 wrote:

3/ Some tvs and receivers will indicate HDR (HDR/Dolby Vision/HDR10+), when applicable.

Mine doesn’t seem to - it’s a Samsung UE55JS8500, in case anyone knows differently. Or if it does, then I’m not getting HDR on Netflix either!

Urquhart1244 wrote:

4/ If you can’t see it, then the technique may be wasted on you. 😉

Haha well this is true. I’m fairly sure it’s not streaming in 4K as the 4K streaming from the Netflix app looks distinctly better and higher resolution.

Can anyone who uses the Amazon Prime Video app on an Apple TV 4K confirm whether they’ve got it streaming in 4K, and how they tell?

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