Apple TV App Adds Support For HDR10+ Content On Third Party Devices

The Apple TV app for smart TVs will finally be able to play content in HDR10+. Apple is rolling out an update to its Apple TV app for smart TVs and other devices, bringing high-quality video support for Apple TV+ content as well as for iTunes movies. 

With the introduction of tvOS 16 for Apple TV devices, the company added multiple new features including support for video streaming at HDR10+ quality for the third generation Apple TV 4K. Now, with the new update to the Apple TV app, the company is also extending the same support for third-party hardware that can run the Apple TV app. 

Smart TV owners, particularly from Samsung, LG, Xiaomi, and others which support the Apple TV app will see the update for HDR10+. Content from Apple TV+ and iTunes movies will be showing support for the high-quality video update, as an extra HDR option, alongside support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision. 

Apple had already rolled out support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The HDR10+ standard adds dynamic metadata to the HDR10 file that allows the pictures to be optimised for TVs with precision, with scene by scene inputs on the dynamic range. 

To get the full experience, both the TV and the streaming device need support for HDR10+ content. This is usually highlighted in the product specifications of the device. Apple TV app is supported by select smart TVs and select streaming dongles like the Amazon Fire TV stick. 

That said, HDR10+ will only work for content that has been mastered with the video certification. The studios will also need to provide the HDR10+ master file to Apple for the company to host them on its servers. However, since only a few studios actively release content using the HDR10+ standard, it is likely not going to be available for a wide range of content which Apple delivers through its video streaming service.