Plugging your Apple TV 4K into the wrong HDMI port is holding you back

Many people pick up streaming boxes and sticks to leave behind their smart TV UIs, and I don’t blame them for that. The Apple TV 4K is perfect for that, but there are still some extra steps you have to take before you get the most out of your device. A big thing is having a high-quality HDMI cord and a place to plug it into.

The Apple TV 4K isn’t a one-way street when it comes to HDMI cords, and although your device might support HDMI 2.1 speeds, it doesn’t mean your TV does. You might notice that your TV has several HDMI ports, and those are not all created equal. One of your TV’s HDMI ports, if it’s a newer model, is likely labeled as ARC or eARC. You want to plug your Apple TV 4K into that if it’s an option.

Why you should use your eARC port

This is an important step

Pocket-line / Apple

Your eARC port on your TV is the gateway to getting the most out of your Apple TV 4K. It actually applies to all of your electronics, as the eARC port is the only way you can get 4K 120 FPS from your Xbox Series X and PS5. Similar to that, this port unlocks the full potential of your Apple TV, and in this case, that means the highest quality audio you can get — all according to Apple.

If you aren’t using the eARC or ARC port, you’re stuck with HDMI 2.0, and that means your speeds are limited to 18 Mbps. That’s not inherently bad, especially since it doesn’t stop you from getting Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos, but it’s holding you back. Using this port lets you get up to 48 Gbps for your audio, and that bandwidth comes in handy. You won’t have to worry about low-quality sound anymore, and you ensure you’re getting all you can out of your Apple TV 4K.

Picture quality is unaffected here as your 4K resolution is still 4K. The eARC port and accompanying HDMI cable are audio-centric when it comes to Apple TV 4K, so make sure you have your device plugged into the correct port.

You need the correct Apple TV

Not all of them utilize the port

Apple / Pocket-lint

While a lot of new technology gets something out of your TV’s eARC port, not everything does. Every Apple TV device before the 4K launch doesn’t benefit from being plugged in, largely because they don’t have HDMI 2.1 ports. This same thing applies to the first generation Apple TV 4K as well.

Sadly, that leaves out my Apple TV 4K since I’m still rocking a first-gen model. I have hopes that the 4th-gen model is just around the corner, but there’s been radio silence from Apple so far. I’ve already future-proofed myself for a new Apple TV 4K since I have an HDMI 2.1 cord hooked up to my device despite not reaping any of the benefits included by doing so. A big reason is that I am just overflowing with 2.1 cables, so I have to put them to use somehow.

There’s nothing wrong with plugging an Apple TV into your eARC port. You won’t damage your device or TV, it’s just that you won’t see any of the benefits that come with it. Whether those benefits are important to you is another thing entirely. Considering how much money an Apple TV 4K is, I’d want to make sure I can get everything I can out of it. The Apple TV 4K is the best choice for home theater enthusiasts, and that means you need an HDMI 2.1 cable and a TV or receiver with an eARC port.