Some 4K content being incorrectly labelled as HD on new Apple TV 4K

4K content being incorrectly labelled as HD on new Apple TV 4K
(Image credit: Apple)

It seems the new Apple TV 4K box could have few gremlins in its system. Some users have reported that the 2021 device is incorrectly labelling their favourite 4K movies and TV shows as 'HD', according to 9to5Mac.

The glitch seems to affect third-party apps such as Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max, but it's also been spotted in the standalone iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps. Apple TV+ seems to be unaffected.  

The initial thought was that the glitch could be the result of faulty HDMI cables but several users have switched out Apple's supplied HDMI cable and the issue has remained.

If you're experiencing the bug, you might be wondering whether the content on your screen is appearing in HD or 4K. There's some confusion around this point, but it seems that this is simply a labelling bug within Apple's user interface. 

According to Reddit users, the glitch is present in both in the public tvOS 14.6 release and in the tvOS 14.7 beta which was released on 19th May. Apple has yet to comment but 9to5Mac claims the tech giant is "aware of the issue". 

In the interests of fairness, we fired up our Apple TV 4K (2020) unit (keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming review) and found that the 4K content was correctly labelled.

The latest Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen) supports 4K at up to 60fps, meaning it should offer the highest video quality of any Apple TV box. It has plenty of other tricks up its sleeve, mind, including the ability to stream audio from your TV to your HomePod.

MORE:

Should you upgrade: New Apple TV 4K vs old Apple TV 4K

Check out our list of the best TVs you can buy right now

Which media streamer should you buy?

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

Latest in Televisions
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED 65-inch TV
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED (ML65F700)
Samsung QE65S95D QD-OLED TV
This five-star Samsung S95D OLED TV has hit its lowest price ever
Apple HomePod 2 with Apple TV 4K
The new iPhone SE 4 could be cool – but I want a proper OLED Apple TV
TCL 32SF540K 32-inch TV
My favourite 32-inch TV is cheaper than ever right now
Hisense U7N (65U7N) mini LED TV
I’ve tested some of the best and the big problem with Mini LED TVs is they try too hard
The Sky Glass TV pictured on a white stand at a launch event
Sky Glass Gen 2
Latest in News
Musical Fidelity B1xi
Musical Fidelity's new stereo amplifier houses HDMI ARC and a built-in phono stage
A close-up of the FiiO FT7 headphones' earcups.
FiiO's FT7 flagship headphones take the fight to pricier rivals
A grey WiiM Vibelink Amp on a wooden cabinet between two bookshelf speakers.
The WiiM Vibelink Amp is WiiM's first integrated amp with no streaming elements
Q Acoustics 3050i
Save £650 on this five-star Q Acoustics 5.1 home cinema setup
Optoma Photon Go on white background
Optoma's new on-the-go projector is set to be one of the cheaper USTs on the market
Marantz Cinema 30 AVR
Our Award-winning reference Marantz AVR is still selling at its best price ever