4K resolution is awesome. What once was a perk reserved for only the highest end displays and televisions is quickly becoming an industry standard. Google’s latest Chromecast device was designed with that exact quality in mind. The Chromecast Ultra can stream 4K content, when available, to the device of your liking and is barely larger than a half dollar.
However, Ultra HD can be a double-edged sword. Without a decent refresh rate, 4K might as well be 720P. Refresh rate directly governs the fps (frames per second) displayed on your television or monitor. If the refresh rate is too low the result is a choppy, very displeasing viewing experience.
Google has now updated the Chromecast Ultra to help compensate for this problem. The latest firmware update to the streaming dongle has brought the addition of “video smoothness.” The feature, which is enabled by default, will reduce the resolution of the streamed content to 1080P when it detects that 4K@60Hz isn’t optimal.
Video smoothness
Prioritize frame rate over resolution for smoother playback
If you have a Chromecast Ultra you can find the new setting in the Google Home app. A simple toggle button can enable/disable the video smoothness feature. If your television does not support 60Hz refresh you can disable the function but Google does warn that this can result in a “jerky” playback.
With countless devices on the market and an overabundance of available streaming content at our fingertips, small features like this take the guess-work out of getting the most out of your media. Check it out. We’d love to hear if you’ve experienced better playback quality from your Chromecast Ultra.
Source: Android Police
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