If recent rumors are to be believed, the Apple TV may be the first Apple device to get 120Hz support. This would be a major upgrade from the current 60Hz support that the Apple TV features. With 120Hz support, the Apple TV would offer smoother gaming, improved streaming performance, and increased responsiveness from the device.
In this article, we’ll explore the implications of having 120Hz support in the Apple TV and any potential drawbacks.
Overview of the Apple TV
The Apple TV is a media player developed and sold by Apple Inc. that allows users to access online digital media content such as movies, music, and television shows. The device also serves as a gaming console and runs apps from the App Store. It currently operates on tvOS, based on the same architecture used by iOS devices.
In addition to providing a way for people to access their favorite digital content, the Apple TV can also be used for gaming. The device supports gaming controllers and some popular games are available in both versions – classic arcade-style games and new experiences with advanced graphics.
The fourth generation of the Apple TV was unveiled in late 2015. It offers up to 4K resolution support and an A10 Fusion processor, making it quite capable of delivering smooth visuals at excellent frame rates. It is expected that the upcoming 5th generation of the device will offer even better performance including support for higher refresh rates – something gamers have been looking forward to for some time now. With rumors starting to emerge about 120Hz support arriving before 2021 ends on our iPhones, it could very well be possible that an update for the Apple TV could offer similar support as early as this year. This would mean faster action-packed gaming experiences and smoother video playback from streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Redbox and more when 120Hz-ready televisions step into the game later this year or early 2021.
The need for 120Hz support
The need for 120Hz support is increasingly becoming a priority for various device manufacturers, and Apple is no exception. The Apple TV has already started providing support for 120Hz video streaming, but the iPhone is still at the lower end of the range. For Apple TV owners, this means they can enjoy smoother and richer visuals with increased refresh rates when watching movies or playing games on their televisions.
Introducing 120Hz support on the iPhone could greatly improve its gaming performance, making it more accessible to mobile gamers and even translating to higher quality experiences on apps such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. It could also reduce motion blur from fast-moving objects or capture scenes that depend on quick action or reaction times. With recent advancements in smartphone displays, including higher frame rates for capturing photos and videos, speculating about an upcoming 120Hz display upgrade for the iPhone makes even more sense.
In addition to improved gaming performance and reduced motion blur, there might be further benefits to introducing 120 Hz capabilities to both the Apple TV and iPhone. Since Apple only recently introduced its ProMotion technology into iPad displays this year as part of iOS 11 – designed to match screen refresh rates to content automatically – there’s a chance that similar adaptive capabilities may be applied to all of its future devices, allowing users greater control over user experience when it comes to viewing high-motion content on their iPhones or Apple TVs.
Therefore, it isn’t too far-fetched of an assumption then that the upcoming Apple TV may get 120Hz support before the iPhone. As recent developments suggest that this feature may become widely available sooner rather than later – with both Samsung and LG also introducing 120 Hz displays into their smartphones – we wouldn’t be surprised if Apple were next in line to add this capability into more of their products in 2018.
Benefits of 120Hz support
120Hz support may soon come to the Apple TV, with recent rumors suggesting that the streaming device may get the feature before the iPhone.
120Hz support could bring a slew of benefits to the Apple TV, including a smoother and more responsive user experience.
Let’s explore some advantages that 120Hz support could offer the Apple TV.
Improved visuals
Introducing 120Hz refresh rate support on the Apple TV could allow people to enjoy smoother visuals for much better performance. A refresh rate of 120Hz roughly doubles the normal frame rate seen with standard TVs and video displays, meaning that every second, 12 unique frames are presented instead of 6. This ultra-smooth motion can make all the difference when playing games or watching movies, giving an overall more realistic experience. Moreover, this speed increase allows gaming titles to take full advantage of faster speeds and numerous other graphical enhancements available on Apple TV devices today.
Furthermore, with the addition of 120Hz support, the Apple TV will be able to provide some other welcome benefits. For example, textures and models will look more detailed and less blurry due to increased image resolution and a boost in anti-aliasing capabilities. Richer colors can also be achieved due to more accurate color reproduction — offering images with cleaner lines and more vivid tones than ever before. All of these advantages promise to give users a truly stunning visual experience with stunning clarity, allowing them to further immerse themselves into the content whether it is gaming or television programming or films.
Reduced latency
Having 120Hz support on the Apple TV could significantly reduce input latency, make gaming possible, and provide smoother scrolling when navigating menus and other applications. In addition, at 120Hz, users would be able to game with less lag, helping to create a more immersive experience while also improving response time in demanding tasks like gaming and switching between apps quickly.
Input latency would be greatly reduced at 120Hz, making gameplay more reliable and responsive. This benefit is especially important for gamers who value quick responses when dodging attacks or shooting targets. It also helps reduce jumpiness while watching movies or scrolling through menus, smoothing the entire experience.
Having 120Hz support on the Apple TV would also help reduce motion blur and artifacts during fast movement; video resolution could remain steady no matter how quickly you move around the content. In addition, videos streamed in 4K resolution played at 120 Hz with supporting televisions will look far smoother than ones without the benefit of high refresh rates. With all this in mind, having 120 Hz support on the Apple TV would boost its performance dramatically by reducing input latencies and enhancing picture quality.
Enhanced gaming experience
By introducing 120Hz support to the Apple TV, gamers can have a truly immersive experience with their Apple TV. This ultra-high refresh rate allows content to be delivered in smooth and seamless frames as close to real time. As a result, twitching and input lag is almost completely eradicated, and gaming becomes more enjoyable.
With the 120Hz refresh rate on the Apple TV, gamers experience an uninterrupted flow of visual information which provides a much more realistic gaming experience. Moreover, the motion between frames is so smooth that it appears seamless when playing action-intensive games like sports titles or first-person shooters. On top of that, games featuring rapid camera movements will appear more natural, resulting in less motion sickness for some players. Lastly, 120Hz support reduces input lag significantly compared to lower refresh rates – this is especially useful for multiplayer games or those requiring quick response times from gamers.
Challenges to implementing 120Hz support
Apple is considering adding 120Hz support to the Apple TV before the iPhone. While this would be a huge benefit for Apple TV users, there are several challenges to implementing 120Hz support on the device.
For example, the current hardware may not be able to handle the higher refresh rate and additional power requirements, or the user interface may need to be redesigned to take advantage of the higher refresh rate. Let’s explore some of the challenges to getting 120Hz support on the Apple TV.
Hardware requirements
For the Apple TV to support 120Hz, device hardware must be capable of handling frame rates that are more than twice as fast as the current maximum speed. This means updated components such as the image processing unit, display technology and other associated components must be added to meet the new performance requirements. It also requires a larger memory pool to store 12 bit 4K video instead of 8 bit 4K video to produce a better viewing experience.
Also, updating processors and graphics processors within the Apple TV will require additional energy usage if higher frame rates are chosen over lower frame rates such as 30Hz or 60Hz options – this could create heat-related issues when considering thermal efficiency of the device along with future compatibility limitations.
For several Apple TV models available today, supporting 120Hz resolutions may not achieve its full potential due to limitations caused by hardware or display restraints present during manufacturing. This means users may see limited support for higher refresh rates from their current devices until new or upgraded versions become available on later releases.
Power consumption
One of the biggest challenges associated with implementing 120Hz support on the Apple TV lies in managing the device’s power consumption and performance. Generally, higher refresh rate displays require more power than those with lower refresh rates. Additionally, most existing Apple TV models have chips that are not powerful enough to drive 120 Hz displays manually, meaning that an external GPU must be used. This further complicates an already complex setup, as it introduces yet another potential bottleneck.
Furthermore, streaming content at 120 Hz also affects device performance and battery life. High refresh rate video streams consume considerable amounts of data which can quickly deplete a user’s data plan if streaming over a mobile connection. Moreover, higher refresh rates typically require more processing power from both the GPU and CPU to render successfully, thus putting more strain on both components, increasing battery drain and reducing performance for some tasks; despite this trade-off many users still prefer a smoother experience when possible.
Cost implications
Implementing 120Hz refresh rates for the Apple TV would have significant cost implications for the company. One of the primary concerns is the potential increase to Apple’s production and carrier costs associated with supporting a higher refresh rate. Due to its low power processor, the Apple TV has a lower cost to manufacture and ship than many other devices on the market.
In addition, with an increased demand from consumers for support of a 120Hz refresh rate, there could also be potential implications for streaming services providing content in higher frame rates and any additional data requests required by users.
In addition, additional costs associated with adaptive sync technologies could be needed when pushing higher frame rates. These technologies can decrease latency but require additional hardware components, increasing device complexity and manufacturing costs. As such, whether Apple will implement these technologies if they offer 120Hz support on their devices moving forward remains to be seen.
The Apple TV may get 120Hz support before the iPhone
Apple’s plans for the Apple TV are starting to become clearer as of late, and it appears that the set-top box may get 120Hz support before the iPhone does. This could be a major shift for Apple, and many users eagerly await more details on the company’s plans.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the potential benefits of 120Hz support on the Apple TV and why it could be a game-changer.
Rumors of 120Hz support on the Apple TV
In recent months, there have been rumors that Apple may add support for 120 Hz displays on the Apple TV. This would allow the device to offer smoother frame rates and reduce motion blur, making it an ideal choice for gaming and other activities. However, the company has not officially confirmed any plans to do so. Still, some of their more recent hardware releases have included support for this standard, leading many to believe they may be considering it.
At the same time, however, there are rumors that the company plans to add this feature until they can bring it to their iPhone line-up. The idea behind this push is that developers could create better immersive experiences across all of their devices by taking advantage of the higher-refresh technology and providing a more consistent experience.
It’s unclear whether Apple will eventually jump to 120 Hz displays in either product line, but it’s certainly an interesting prospect and one worth keeping an eye on going forward. Should Apple decide to move forward with these plans, users will likely see a huge jump in responsiveness from their devices and gaming experiences much closer to what PC gamers are already enjoying on platforms like SteamVR.
Why the Apple TV may get 120Hz support before the iPhone
120Hz support has been a feature of iPhones for the past three generations. However, recent reports suggest that future Apple TVs may get 120Hz support before the iPhone. This is because a 120Hz refresh rate would require adoption of new display technologies, such as Mini LED and LTPO OLED, which are currently only available in larger form factors like TVs.
Additionally, this makes sense from a cost perspective as iPhones can be quite expensive to upgrade and Apple would likely want to test out new display technologies using products with thinner margins before including them in the more popular iPhone line-up.
Furthermore, higher refresh rates on TVs bring added benefits such as reduced input lag which is highly appreciated by hardcore gaming communities and makes playing games on the TV far more enjoyable than if it had a 60Hz display. Even basic apps that are sometimes used on TVs such as Youtube would benefit from improved fluidity at higher refresh rates, including smoother scrolling menus and faster response times when skipping through different parts of longer videos.
Thus it appears likely that the Apple TV may get 120Hz support ahead of the iPhone due to its larger form factor allowing for new display technologies to be tested first, thereby allowing Apple to reduce costs associated with upgrading iPhones until it sees fit after proper assessment of their benefits.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, the recent rumor of the Apple TV getting 120 Hz support before the iPhone has some logic to it. Thanks to the advancements in technology, the Apple TV’s size and cost, it may be better suited for faster refresh rate than an iPhone. On top of that, the Apple TV already has features like AirPlay that could benefit from 120 Hz support.
Finally, the TV is a device usually used for extended periods, making the 120 Hz support more attractive.
Impact of 120Hz support on the Apple TV
Including 120Hz support on the Apple TV is an exciting development for anyone eager to enjoy a better viewing experience. At higher refresh rates, videos appear much smoother without latency or tearing, which may apply to games. In addition, implementing 120Hz support on the Apple TV will mean less stress on the processor, allowing developers more freedom to create more complex experiences without worrying about hitting frame drops.
Moreover, many people might also move away from using TVs and computers for entertainment and switch to using their Apple TVs instead. This would give TV makers more competition and viewers more options for their 4K wants and needs when it comes to watching movies and shows in high definition.
In addition, 120Hz support might help bolster adoption of streaming devices like the Apple TV, which may result in a marked increase in internet streaming services available today. The sudden influx of content could mean lower monthly subscription costs for users due to heavy competition among streaming providers resulting from the increased appeal of having TV-level refresh rates in your living room.
Finally, suppose 120Hz does come to fruition one day on the AppleTV. In that case, it could beat out its competitors who are not supporting this high rate at a comparable cost point – providing a significant competitive advantage over competitors by providing higher quality videos at lower prices.
