Apple reveals "4K HDR" films on iTunes – 4K Apple TV incoming?

The Apple rumour mill rarely has a day off, but the latest news snippet is at least little more concrete than usual. It concerns 4K films on iTunes and comes from Apple itself, after users spotted some movie content on iTunes being listed as "4K, HDR".

In a thread that started on MacRumours, user Tomas Jackson showed that the movie Passengers registers as 4K HDR in the 'Type' column of his purchase history. The movie could only be downloaded in HD - so hold your Ultra HD horses - but it suggests Apple might be gearing-up for a 4K launch and inadvertently revealed a little too much information in the process.

The "4K, HDR" badge has been spotted by users in the UK and Canada, suggesting something is in the works.

Films from Columbia and Warner Bros. were spotted showing as "4K, HDR", including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which could imply that these two film houses are preparing for 4K iTunes support.

We've mentioned before that Apple is rumoured to be working on a 4K HDR Apple TV, and this news only bolsters the expectation. That said, hi-res audio rumours have surrounded iTunes for years and have yet to come fruition. It's fair to say the 4K market is a fair bit bigger, so maybe this time we can have more confidence...

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Adam was a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?, reviewing consumer gadgets for online and print publication, as well as researching and producing features and advice pieces on new technology in the hi-fi industry. He has since worked for PC Mag as a contributing editor and is now a science and technology reporter for The Independent.