Apple TV Plex app stutters/jitters on some 4K HEVC MKV files that play fine in Infuse

infallibleman
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:26:50 +0000
Plex Players

Server Version#: 1.43.1.10611
Player Version#: 8.45 (9684)
Server Version#: [fill in your Plex Media Server version here]
Player Version#: 8.45 (9684)

Apple TV details:

Apple TV 4K (Model A2843, 128 GB)

tvOS 26.4 (23L243)

Connected via LAN on local network

Apple TV IP: 10.0.1.186

Issue:
I am seeing random jitter/stutter during playback in the Plex app on Apple TV.

What is happening:

Certain files will play with noticeable jitter/stutter in Plex

The same exact file plays perfectly fine in Infuse on the same Apple TV

Because Infuse plays the file correctly on the same hardware/network, this appears to point to a Plex Apple TV client playback issue rather than a file, server, or network limitation

Example file:

Filename: Monarch.Legacy.of.Monsters.S02E04.Trespass.2160p.ATVP.WEB-DL.ITA.ENG.DDP5.1.Atmos.DV.HDR.H.265-GG6.mkv

Container: MKV

Codec: HEVC

Resolution: 3840 x 1606

Bitrate: 26.1 Mbps

Size: 8.1 GB

Expected result:
The file should play smoothly in Plex, especially since the same file plays without issue in Infuse on the same Apple TV.

Actual result:
Playback in Plex is jittery/stuttery at times.

Notes:

This does not seem to happen with every file

The issue appears random/intermittent

Same Apple TV, same display, same network, same file, but Infuse plays it normally

I would appreciate help identifying whether this is a known Apple TV Plex player issue, codec/format handling issue, or something else I can test

8 posts - 5 participants