The $299 Apple TV 4K (4th generation) that Apple announced on October 13 quietly expands the video formats it can play. Its new tech specs page lists AV1 video and Dolby Vision Profile 8.1, neither of which appeared on the spec page for the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) that Apple sold before the launch.
Both changes are about how video is packaged and delivered, so their effect depends on what streaming services and media files send to the box. Here is what changed and what it means in practice.
What Apple’s spec pages list
The table compares the video and connectivity lines on Apple’s saved 3rd generation spec page with the new Apple TV 4K tech specs. It reflects what each page lists, word for word where possible.
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| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) | Apple TV 4K (4th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Dolby Vision | Profile 5, up to 2160p, 60 fps | Profile 8.1 and 5 |
| HDR formats | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG with HEVC | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| AV1 | Not listed | Listed, with a dedicated AV1 decoder in the A19 chip |
| Other codecs listed | AVC/HEVC, H.264, MPEG-4 | VP9, H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, MPEG-4 |
| Video rates | Up to 2160p, 60 fps | SDR/HDR up to 2160p, 60 fps |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Gigabit Ethernet | Wi-Fi + Ethernet model only | Built in |
Both pages also list HDMI Quick Media Switching (QMS) and support for 21:9 and other cinematic aspect ratios.
AV1: same picture, less data
AV1 is a video codec, the format a video is compressed in before it is streamed. The Alliance for Open Media, which develops it, describes AV1 as “an open video codec designed to provide high-quality video compression with greater efficiency than previous codecs.”
In its Apple TV 4K press release, Apple says: “The A19 chip also includes a new, dedicated AV1 decoder, enabling more efficient, high-quality streaming while using less bandwidth.”
For viewers, that has three practical meanings:
- A dedicated decoder handles the work. Decoding AV1 is handled by purpose-built hardware in the A19 chip.
- Less bandwidth for the same quality. That is Apple’s stated goal. It matters most on slower connections, busy home networks or capped data plans.
- It only applies when the app sends AV1. A streaming service has to deliver AV1 video to Apple TV 4K for the decoder to be used. Apple has not named which apps will do that, and services that stream in HEVC or H.264 will keep working as before.
AV1 does not change the resolution ceiling. Apple lists standard SDR and HDR video at up to 2160p, 60 fps on the new model, the same 4K, 60 fps top end listed for the 3rd generation.
Dolby Vision Profile 8.1: a second Dolby Vision format
Dolby Vision video is delivered in several profiles, and a player has to support the profile a given video uses to show it in Dolby Vision. Apple’s 3rd generation spec page listed one: “Dolby Vision (Profile 5) up to 2160p, 60 fps.” The new page lists “Dolby Vision (Profile 8.1 and 5).”
In practice, the new model accepts Dolby Vision content in either profile. Content that already plays in Dolby Vision on earlier models through Profile 5 keeps working, and video encoded in Profile 8.1 is now on the supported list as well.
As with AV1, the benefit depends on the source. Apple’s footnote on the Apple TV 4K page reads: “Works with compatible content in supported apps on compatible devices. Not all content is available in 4K, HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision. Playback quality will depend on hardware and internet connection.”
What you need to see the difference
- A compatible TV. Apple’s system requirements say Apple TV 4K “Requires 4K and HDR TV for 4K and HDR streaming.”
- An HDMI cable. Apple lists it as sold separately. The HDMI 2.1 port supports up to 4K 60-fps HDR video output, according to Apple’s footnote.
- A steady connection. The new model has Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO and Gigabit Ethernet on its single 128GB configuration. Apple notes that Wi-Fi 7 is “available in countries and regions where supported.”
- Apps that use the formats. Neither AV1 nor Profile 8.1 does anything unless the app or file you play uses it.
Should older Apple TV 4K owners upgrade for this
Apple’s spec pages are the only guide here, and the 3rd generation page lists neither AV1 nor Dolby Vision Profile 8.1. If the services you use stream in those formats, the 4th generation is the model Apple lists for them.
If your main apps already look good on your current Apple TV 4K, the format changes alone are a smaller reason to upgrade than the new model’s other additions. Apple says the A19 chip delivers up to 50 percent faster CPU performance and up to 2x faster GPU performance than the previous generation, and the new model adds three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri.
Apple TV 4K (4th generation) costs $299 (U.S.) and is available to pre-order now, with availability in stores beginning Friday, November 13.
