QMS VRR support for Apple TV 4K to prevent power outages when changing the frame rate of content

Initial reviews of the new Apple TV 4K indicated that Apple will add support for Quick Media Switching Variable Refresh Rate (QMS VRR) via a software update to tvOS.

QMS VRR prevents momentary power outages that occur when switching between content played at different frame rates. As TechCrunch Highlights, users who already have the “Match Content” setting for frame rates enabled may already be familiar with this “as this happens almost every time you start streaming a recent show or movie from most apps”. Out of The edge‘s Apple TV 4K review:

The third-generation Apple TV 4K has another piece of future-proofing up its sleeve: Later this year, a software update will add support for what’s known as QMS VRR. This allows compatible TVs to switch between different frame rates without black screens or noticeable picture interruptions. How many TVs work with QMS VRR? Well, zero at the moment. But you’ll see them come out next year; Stay tuned for more news on this feature at CES. I’ve never been bothered by the brief flickering when changing the frame rate, but I won’t miss it either.

It’s worth noting that QMS VRR doesn’t prevent blackouts when switching between color spaces or HDR content. The new video quality feature is set to be added to tvOS via a software update. It’s not clear if the feature will also come to the second-gen Apple TV 4K, but it might make sense given that this device introduced support for HDR content with high frame rates of up to 60fps and HDMI 2.1 last year.