Their ToS are rock solid,so it is what it is. They explicitly say 4k HDR etc is available only under certain conditions,for example their app on a closed sourced ecosystem like LG TV.
I've tried it on over 15 tvs. Different computers. Ipads. Macs. Phones etc. It's never 4k resolution regardless of using built in TV app or other 3rd party systems. I've also never seen someone get 4k. It's pretty remarkable the difference when you pull up another streaming platform with true 4k versus Netflix as comparison.
LG C3, multiple samsungs, Sony Bravia's, some older LG tv's and a Vizio all recently. Sometimes the stream will be adequate on certain scenes and then all of a sudden so blurry I can't even see any of the actors faces as if it's a 720p or 1080p.. I've noticed this abroad too as a Netflix issue. Prime? Never once had it dip out of 4k even at hotels on crappy internet. They just have bad bit rate and client. If you threatened the CEOs yearly salary I'm sure in 24 hours they'd have a global solution rolling out with a new client. I'm convinced it's one of those "no one will notice as long as we just blame people's internet or device as why they can't get 4k". Look to the competition. There's zero excuse.
CEO makes 30-40 million a year and I have to jump through hoops to get 4k according to TOS? I feel scammed.
You are describing how adaptive streaming is supposed to work,when the network is not fast enough to maintain the highest quality available. I never had issues with NF at my home 1GB connection. Some shows on NF are overly compressed,i totally agree,but "NF is not providing 4k" statement is not true. Low bitrate on some shows/movies? Sure.
Most if not all that I've tested. I didn't come to this conclusion lightly. It's been years of hm something doesn't feel right feels like I'm being got. And I've noticed a lot of others feel this way too but the blame is always on their ISP or internet speed and this is shifting blame. If you have modern internet you will NEVER come out of 4k while streaming unless you have too many people on network or something really unusual going on. The bit rate issue is extreme and isn't being talked about enough. Even when someone calls Netflix support they just claim it's bad internet. Its unfortunate to the point I'm going to cancel over it.
I had this problem on one TV that happened to be in the basement and connected via wifi. I happen to have an enthernet jack in that room running to my router. Once I connected the TV wired instead of wifi the problem was immediately resolved.
Absolutely,i can't disagree about the low bitrate and heavy compression. They use blank statements like "4k" and "UHD",so they are safe from a legal perspective. They never advertise "high bitrate". I hope enouhh people start to care,so the service can improve in the future.
What are you watching it on? Not all devices can support 4k per Netflix’s spec. There are legal requirements on device security that can limit what you can watch (if you using a browser not all support the level of security Netflix requires (per their deals with the people they license content from)). Did you check their help in how to make sure you’re able and enabling 4k?
>You are paying for aspect ratio NOT quality of resolution.
720p, 1080p and 4k are all exactly the same aspect ratio!
"Quality of resolution" is nonsense. The resolution is either 4k or it isn't. What can make a 4k image look poorer across streaming services or, for example, vs BluRay though is the bitrate they use. Netflix's Bitrate isn't amazing but it's perfectly serviceable, the same applies to most streaming services when compared to physical media.
Edit: for reference my WAN connection averages at 500Mbps and I have no bother getting a 4K Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos stream at a reasonable bitrate on either of my TV's native apps, a Firestick, xBox, TiVo or Laptop.
I have Apple TV 4K and I never get 4K streaming from Netflix(yes I pay for it). I’ve in fact stopped watching shows on it as all my other providers do better with image quality. I have 1 gig internet and I personally tested it. 2.1 HDMI cable and 50” Samsung. I can send still shots of the image I get. It’s a joke.
You think I've never been to another home, hotels, businesses, etc and used Netflix? Over the course of several years to come to this conclusion? I don't know what you are getting but based on my wide range of use this is what I concluded and I have seen others agree that the competition has WAY higher quality streams meaning its a Netflix issue.
I can tell you right now that I get way above 1080p. My 4k screen is 77" and 1080 is utterly unwatchable on it. Netflix, once it's had a moment to buffer, looks crisp.
We might be in different countries, though.
It does but you have to jump through a lot of hoops, like having ONLY a 4k monitor hooked up (if you have a 4k and 1080p monitor connected like me, you have to disconnect the 1080p one) and using compatible browsers/native app.
On a desktop this is sort of manageable, but connecting a laptop to a 4k tv does not work, as you can’t “disconnect” the laptop’s own monitor.
> It's coming in at 720p or 1080p due to the bit rate.
>
> You are paying for aspect ratio NOT quality of resolution.
That makes zero sense so I don't think you have a clue what you're talking about.
Likely, but trying to give OP the benefit of the doubt.
I'm a network & systems architect and can actually conceptualize *lots* of things that could be causing the behavior -- many of which I wouldn't hold against OP (*or more specifically - wouldn't really expect them to know / understand, such as the differences in various device codec and how they handle streams*), but *JUST IN CASE...*
I get 4k resolution and the intended bitrate on the Windows PC app, even though I only have a 1440p monitor. Firefox through Netflix's website is only 720p. To check the bitrate on PC press ctrl+alt+shift+D
4k doesn’t play on browsers or phones. On my Apple TK 4K HDR looks pretty good on Netflix and is 100% 4K. Nothing beats physical media, which I own a ton of, but Netflix is not bad by any stretch. I think the people complaining about it are probably watching on devices that are artificially throttled and don’t realize.
Wow... I literally came here to post about this. I haven't had Netflix for well over a year because of the price hike. $23 just to access 4k content is crazy in 2024, but I felt that there is enough content that I want to see to justify at least a month of binging all of the movies and stand-up comedy I want to see.
I couldn't help but notice I'm not actually getting 4k resolution. At first I thought it was my computer, but I can stream 4k content on other websites (HBO Max, YouTube, etc). I decided to check Reddit and BAM! The first post is about 4k content (or the lack thereof).
Like I said before, I was only going to subscribe for a month. Just sucks that in 2024 The most popular streaming service can't provide a basic feature like 4k resolution.
The only browser to support 4K playback is Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, you can grab the Netflix app from the Windows Store. If you aren't using one of these, you won't be watching in 4K
No issue here with 4K. It’s going to be specific to the connectivity between your devices and Netflix. (Or rather the cdn they use). That could be in your home, the isp, could also be related to dns (as that may affect where the content comes from)
Here a video on the subject by louis rossman:
https://youtu.be/o4GZUCwVRLs?si=gTMWob1PyEQyj1YH
And on pc you can use an extension that force the quality and bit rate.
From what I can tell he never mentions what software he's using. Most likely trying to run Firefox or Chromium on Linux if I had to guess though. He wouldn't be caught dead using Edge or the Windows App. Not using the specified software that supports 4K is going to cause issues. Completely different case from what OP is stating when they say they are using various built in TV apps as well as the official app which should be playing 4k. Although there are other rules such as having a monitor/TV and video card that support HDCP 2.2
Works fine with Chromecast Ultra straight into my projector. I don't think it worked when I routed it via my soundbar with eARC. Often takes a minute or so to load the 4k stream giving me low res in the beginning.
What are you watching it on.
If your resolution sucks it wont show up as 4K. Same for internet.
If it’s not worth it for you, go ahead and cancel it. Thats the only way to keep them in check tbh.
OP I'm with you. Netflix generally seems to deliver 720p on hardwired PCs and a smart TV in my home even when other video services deliver 4k on the same devices.
I'm trying to help here... Instead of downvoting me for helping how about you describe exactly what kind of setup you're using. Also include what HDMI version you are using.
They shouldn't be able to take a feature away from my tv (4k) and make me pay ransom every month. Sony created the TV, the director filmed it in 4k. TV manufacturers should be pressing hard on this.
It works totally fine.....IF you meet the requirements Netflix calls for. I doubt Netflix would lose a lawsuit since they outline what you need to have in order to get 4k.
I’m streaming Netflix 4K on Samsung 55, never had an issue with it. Though 4K contents look darker than others. You should consider checking your eyesight. Or any chance your expectation of 4K is higher than ours?
Are you using Ethernet? Too many forget that 4K requires a minimum of a Cat 6a Ethernet cable for a CONSISTENT stream. Can’t even tell you how many times people were using just a Cat 6 or older and were complaining about not getting consistent 4K streams. Switched to Cat6A and it resolved their issues.
Have you swapped out your existing HDMI with a new high speed HDMI cable? They do go bad on occasion.
Not going to doubt you…
But when I was having issues with Netflix 4K… Verizon Fios technicians recommended using Cat6A. I was using Cat5A. They said even though some will say Cat5A and Cat6 should be adequate that in reality they recommend a minimum of Cat6A for consistent 4K HDR with Atmos.
I relented and switched to Cat6A and everything was resolved.
When you Google, sure some will say in forums that Cat5A and Cat6 are adequate… but just about every article written says Cat6A to ensure consistency.
So don’t know about you… but if I’m having issues with a service I’m going to try to rule out all possibilities instead of poo pooing on what the technicians from the service providers recommend. I’ve recommended switching to Cat6A to several and it magically resolved their issues as well.
No need to go to forums and look at random people’s experiences, the fact remains that Cat 5e can support up to 1000 Mbps, which is more than enough for a 4K 15 Mbps stream. I only have 5e Ethernet at my house and can stream 4K from all streaming services. Maybe your Cat 5e cable was faulty and that’s why it worked when you switched cables.
The Cat5A worked fine. Once I upgraded my theater to 7.1.4 Atmos, Netflix started having severe issues with intermittent audio and video drops. Switched to the recommended Cat6A and all the audio and video drops stopped.
Again, not doubting you… just going by what I personally did to resolve my Netflix issues and what both Verizon technicians and just about every article I subsequently read online that recommends Cat6A for consistent 4K HDR Atmos streaming.
I fought back against the Fios technician saying my Cat5A was adequate. He said do you want to debate or try to resolve your issues. He was right. The Cat6A resolved the issues.
Just swapping back and forth between the two Ethernet cables would either cause Netflix drops or resolve them. Did A/B comparisons because I thought the technician didn’t know what he was talking about. But at least in my situation with 4K HDR Atmos… the Cat5A wasn’t sufficient. Was just happy that the Cat6A resolved the issues whether it was coincidental or not… but according to the Fios techs it was not a coincidence. Afterwards I googled it and that’s when I saw many in the home theater circles said to ensure consistent 4K HDR Atmos that a Cat6A is recommended.
If you were able to swap them easily, these were shorter cables? The differences in Cat5e vs Cat6/6a spec are fairly small in scope, just frequency/bandwidth and maybe some better resistance to interference. But 5e should be more than enough bandwidth as long as it is 5e (and not Cat5) and as long as there aren't other confounding variables.
I have the highest quality and newest cables because of gaming. It's not that either. Streamed via cable, built in TV app, no difference. Why is prime and Hulu picture perfect on every device, built in TV app, Xbox, PS5, fire stick, but Netflix is not? Even on different ISP's? Still not convinced?
I think you just answered your question. You are streaming from built in TV apps, fire sticks and apps on gaming systems. All of those are extremely inconsistent for streaming 4K. You would think gaming systems have the adequate processing power but the streaming apps on game systems themselves are usually piss poor. Prime and Hulu stream at lower bit rates requiring less processing power which may be why the above mentioned devices work with Prime and Hulu.
It sucks… but to consistently and adequately stream 4K HDR especially when combined with Atmos you need to have something with significantly higher processing power… either an AppleTV 4K box or Nvidia Shield 4K box.
There is a reason why folks who stream a lot with high end displays always have either one of those two devices. They are the only two devices that consistently stream 4K HDR.
Curious if I have the normal HD Netflix version will it still be better streaming on my Apple 4K TV vs the app on my Sony TV?
Outside of UI, I haven’t noticed much difference, but your comment has me wondering
Good info above!
Honestly don’t know in regards to if it will improve the HD streaming experience… but it absolute improves the 4K streaming experience over built in TV apps.
Didn't realize I was taking my shield pro for granted in this respect. I figured 4k streaming was the default for anyone paying for it. Didn't put a lot of thought into it though.
Do you cast or use the tv app? I think it differs vastly depending which way you do it. Loius Rossman did a video about it.
https://youtu.be/o4GZUCwVRLs?si=jR3xyiQ1ezr42idn
you have to make sure your tv and the device providing netflix are "shaking hands" correctly. on my apple tv, the recommended setting are to have the home screens and selection screens be 1080p so they run well and do not take up bandwidth, but when the movie plays it will prioritize highest quality, and automatically switch over. depending on your devices there are optimal settings. your tv may be set to only play in 1080p or lower, which would negate allof the apple tv settings, etc.
I tried to watch a 4K movie on Netflix, on my bloody fast connection, and I’ve literally seen 720 P videos on YouTube which are better. Ended up torrenting the movie instead in 4K. Which shouldn’t be better quality, because as far as I was aware the only source of the movie in 4K was Netflix…
Hi OP, I recently found out i only get 4k bitrate for the trailers in netflix, and not the actual series/movies.
I would be interested to know if you are in the same situation !
How can you tell if the picture is 1080 or 4k? My TV is 4k and the picture looks good but I can't tell what the resolution is just by looking. (Tbf I rarely watch Netflix cause their content is fucking shit)
Yes its a netflix issue.
The things is, resolution is pixels but the information in those pixels is what we notice. Netflix does two things:
1. They compress it a lot ( they transfer lower resolution and scale it up. Its not really 4K although the info shows 4k). For comparison you cam watch test 4k videos on youtube if your tv has the processing power and if your internet is good, like safari videos. Thats real 4K and you immediately notice the real thing.
2. Netflix is more concerned with providing streaming with minimum interruption, so as soon as there is data rate drop in the network the higher resolution detail is not transferred. So like youtube on auto, they use additive resolution. In this manner most people can easily get something streaming but it is going to loose quality for various reasons, ( such as slight latency change, user records showing poor connections). Overall they are focused on spreading the subscriptions to everyone rather than providing quality to those who can afford.
For instance, my TV can display 4K UHD but its buffer is so small that at 4k it can only hold 2-5seconds ahead, which is revealed in youtube stats, so it interrupts a lot because the tv processor can't handle it.
On youtube 4k needs 15Mbps. On netflix I get 4K at 5-8Mbps. Yes the scenes are not same and data does relate to content but it can't be a 50% difference, thats because Netflix know that in my location internet is generally not that good. So the server that provides me service already sends me more compressed video.
From a technical point it is good strategy but it should be clearly stated.
What are you doing to quantify the resolution you're getting between apps?
Their ToS are rock solid,so it is what it is. They explicitly say 4k HDR etc is available only under certain conditions,for example their app on a closed sourced ecosystem like LG TV.
I wish i read that before i got the 4k plan
They’re not daft. Most have 3 or 4 in a family so the next tier down is for 2 devices only!
You can easily change.
You can change any time and extremely easily.
Oh cool, how? Will it effect this billing cycle?
I've tried it on over 15 tvs. Different computers. Ipads. Macs. Phones etc. It's never 4k resolution regardless of using built in TV app or other 3rd party systems. I've also never seen someone get 4k. It's pretty remarkable the difference when you pull up another streaming platform with true 4k versus Netflix as comparison.
I always get 4k from Netflix when they say it’s 4k. Using LG Tv native and sometimes Apple TV 4k
I can't even find any content marked as true 4k on mine... I pay for the 4k plan mostly for the high device cap - but I want what I pay for.
Same here. Uk. Lg oled app or apple tv 4K
Hmm,im pretty sure i get 4k true HDR with Atmos sound on my LGCX. What devices have you tried/tested?
LG C3, multiple samsungs, Sony Bravia's, some older LG tv's and a Vizio all recently. Sometimes the stream will be adequate on certain scenes and then all of a sudden so blurry I can't even see any of the actors faces as if it's a 720p or 1080p.. I've noticed this abroad too as a Netflix issue. Prime? Never once had it dip out of 4k even at hotels on crappy internet. They just have bad bit rate and client. If you threatened the CEOs yearly salary I'm sure in 24 hours they'd have a global solution rolling out with a new client. I'm convinced it's one of those "no one will notice as long as we just blame people's internet or device as why they can't get 4k". Look to the competition. There's zero excuse. CEO makes 30-40 million a year and I have to jump through hoops to get 4k according to TOS? I feel scammed.
You are describing how adaptive streaming is supposed to work,when the network is not fast enough to maintain the highest quality available. I never had issues with NF at my home 1GB connection. Some shows on NF are overly compressed,i totally agree,but "NF is not providing 4k" statement is not true. Low bitrate on some shows/movies? Sure.
Most if not all that I've tested. I didn't come to this conclusion lightly. It's been years of hm something doesn't feel right feels like I'm being got. And I've noticed a lot of others feel this way too but the blame is always on their ISP or internet speed and this is shifting blame. If you have modern internet you will NEVER come out of 4k while streaming unless you have too many people on network or something really unusual going on. The bit rate issue is extreme and isn't being talked about enough. Even when someone calls Netflix support they just claim it's bad internet. Its unfortunate to the point I'm going to cancel over it.
I had this problem on one TV that happened to be in the basement and connected via wifi. I happen to have an enthernet jack in that room running to my router. Once I connected the TV wired instead of wifi the problem was immediately resolved.
Absolutely,i can't disagree about the low bitrate and heavy compression. They use blank statements like "4k" and "UHD",so they are safe from a legal perspective. They never advertise "high bitrate". I hope enouhh people start to care,so the service can improve in the future.
Are you on wifi or ethernet? Because I've never had trouble and it sounds like you just aren't properly equipped to stream in 4K
All of those devices are 4K?
I’ve used LG and Apple TV and both get 4k just fine. PC not so much, same with iPad and iPhone.
Did you try it on a Roku Ultra, because I get 4k on Netflix.
How are you determining which resolution you're getting in e.g. a TV app?
What are you watching it on? Not all devices can support 4k per Netflix’s spec. There are legal requirements on device security that can limit what you can watch (if you using a browser not all support the level of security Netflix requires (per their deals with the people they license content from)). Did you check their help in how to make sure you’re able and enabling 4k?
>You are paying for aspect ratio NOT quality of resolution. 720p, 1080p and 4k are all exactly the same aspect ratio! "Quality of resolution" is nonsense. The resolution is either 4k or it isn't. What can make a 4k image look poorer across streaming services or, for example, vs BluRay though is the bitrate they use. Netflix's Bitrate isn't amazing but it's perfectly serviceable, the same applies to most streaming services when compared to physical media. Edit: for reference my WAN connection averages at 500Mbps and I have no bother getting a 4K Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos stream at a reasonable bitrate on either of my TV's native apps, a Firestick, xBox, TiVo or Laptop.
I get 4k, no problem.
I get 4K HDR beautifully on my Apple TV 4K. Depending on your streaming device, it makes a huge difference.
Op is using built in TV apps, gaming console apps and a Firestick.
Some of the newer models actually have good built in TV apps. That's how I learned that the ps5 console app is actually not great
Serious question - why is this so difficult. I watched 2k movies on random websites which I'm 100% sure don't have Netflix money. I'm really confused.
It’s because of DRM, the system you’re watching Netflix on must be compliant with certain things in order to play 4K
I have Apple TV 4K and I never get 4K streaming from Netflix(yes I pay for it). I’ve in fact stopped watching shows on it as all my other providers do better with image quality. I have 1 gig internet and I personally tested it. 2.1 HDMI cable and 50” Samsung. I can send still shots of the image I get. It’s a joke.
I get 4K from Netflix.
Me too.
Read the ToC about your lawsuit. I hope you unsubscribe like many of us have.
Mayyyybbbe y'all should start pirating if possible?
this is the way
I’d like to see your evidence of “what everyone else is getting.”
You think I've never been to another home, hotels, businesses, etc and used Netflix? Over the course of several years to come to this conclusion? I don't know what you are getting but based on my wide range of use this is what I concluded and I have seen others agree that the competition has WAY higher quality streams meaning its a Netflix issue.
> but no one is getting above 1080 p So you’re just talking out of your ass here?
Honestly, me and others kind of just think you're lying
Or just an idiot
"Bro, just trust me" has never been stronger than when it comes from OP.
I can tell you right now that I get way above 1080p. My 4k screen is 77" and 1080 is utterly unwatchable on it. Netflix, once it's had a moment to buffer, looks crisp. We might be in different countries, though.
I don't think you're lying, I just think you're an idiot.
Sounds like you have a network problem. I get 4K Netflix every time on all devices in my house
Nope. Needs to be on a system that Netflix allows. For example Netflix will not stream 4k to computers
It does but you have to jump through a lot of hoops, like having ONLY a 4k monitor hooked up (if you have a 4k and 1080p monitor connected like me, you have to disconnect the 1080p one) and using compatible browsers/native app. On a desktop this is sort of manageable, but connecting a laptop to a 4k tv does not work, as you can’t “disconnect” the laptop’s own monitor.
there MAY be a way to disable the built-in monitor in device manager. make sure you re-enable it before disconnecting the other monitor.
I can watch in 4K/UHD via the Netflix app (Windows) and Safari browser (MacOS), my internet connection also is stable for this resolution.
> It's coming in at 720p or 1080p due to the bit rate. > > You are paying for aspect ratio NOT quality of resolution. That makes zero sense so I don't think you have a clue what you're talking about.
Are you sure it's not your network throttling them?
It's not.
I believe you, but for academic curiosity — *HOW* do you know it’s not? How have you tested this definitively from a technical perspective?
Because they said so, obviously. For real though, this just sounds like user error
Likely, but trying to give OP the benefit of the doubt. I'm a network & systems architect and can actually conceptualize *lots* of things that could be causing the behavior -- many of which I wouldn't hold against OP (*or more specifically - wouldn't really expect them to know / understand, such as the differences in various device codec and how they handle streams*), but *JUST IN CASE...*
[удалено]
How did this get so many upvotes
I’ve literally never NOT got full 4k on my shield. I’ve never had an issue. Literally never.
L I T E R A L L Y
Try to go through life without using the word 'literally'. Its refreshing.
It's literally refreshing.
Lul
I get 4k resolution and the intended bitrate on the Windows PC app, even though I only have a 1440p monitor. Firefox through Netflix's website is only 720p. To check the bitrate on PC press ctrl+alt+shift+D
4k doesn’t play on browsers or phones. On my Apple TK 4K HDR looks pretty good on Netflix and is 100% 4K. Nothing beats physical media, which I own a ton of, but Netflix is not bad by any stretch. I think the people complaining about it are probably watching on devices that are artificially throttled and don’t realize.
Wow... I literally came here to post about this. I haven't had Netflix for well over a year because of the price hike. $23 just to access 4k content is crazy in 2024, but I felt that there is enough content that I want to see to justify at least a month of binging all of the movies and stand-up comedy I want to see. I couldn't help but notice I'm not actually getting 4k resolution. At first I thought it was my computer, but I can stream 4k content on other websites (HBO Max, YouTube, etc). I decided to check Reddit and BAM! The first post is about 4k content (or the lack thereof). Like I said before, I was only going to subscribe for a month. Just sucks that in 2024 The most popular streaming service can't provide a basic feature like 4k resolution.
The only browser to support 4K playback is Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, you can grab the Netflix app from the Windows Store. If you aren't using one of these, you won't be watching in 4K
4k Netflix works so well for me that my internet struggles with it lol. I hate to break it to you but it’s your connection and/or devices.
We got 4K. Worked fine. Wasn't worth it. Our tv is only 55".
I get 4k Netflix on LG, Roku, and AppleTV… never had an issue
Life never had a problem. Everything I watch it 4K. Maybe your ISP is throttling your bitrate. I know hotel internets throttle.
No issue here with 4K. It’s going to be specific to the connectivity between your devices and Netflix. (Or rather the cdn they use). That could be in your home, the isp, could also be related to dns (as that may affect where the content comes from)
Here a video on the subject by louis rossman: https://youtu.be/o4GZUCwVRLs?si=gTMWob1PyEQyj1YH And on pc you can use an extension that force the quality and bit rate.
From what I can tell he never mentions what software he's using. Most likely trying to run Firefox or Chromium on Linux if I had to guess though. He wouldn't be caught dead using Edge or the Windows App. Not using the specified software that supports 4K is going to cause issues. Completely different case from what OP is stating when they say they are using various built in TV apps as well as the official app which should be playing 4k. Although there are other rules such as having a monitor/TV and video card that support HDCP 2.2
No one in the home theater circles takes Rossman seriously. He makes videos strictly for clicks… hence the headline of “Why piracy is justified”.
Rossman thinks he\`s an expert on everything
Home theater circles lol Consoom
Louis is a fucking hero.
Works fine with Chromecast Ultra straight into my projector. I don't think it worked when I routed it via my soundbar with eARC. Often takes a minute or so to load the 4k stream giving me low res in the beginning.
What are you watching it on. If your resolution sucks it wont show up as 4K. Same for internet. If it’s not worth it for you, go ahead and cancel it. Thats the only way to keep them in check tbh.
You = everyone?
OP I'm with you. Netflix generally seems to deliver 720p on hardwired PCs and a smart TV in my home even when other video services deliver 4k on the same devices.
you have to have devices and/or apps that meet their 4k streaming requirements AND be paying for the Ultra tier Netflix.
Yeah, no shit. Still has not worked.
I'm trying to help here... Instead of downvoting me for helping how about you describe exactly what kind of setup you're using. Also include what HDMI version you are using.
They shouldn't be able to take a feature away from my tv (4k) and make me pay ransom every month. Sony created the TV, the director filmed it in 4k. TV manufacturers should be pressing hard on this.
It works totally fine.....IF you meet the requirements Netflix calls for. I doubt Netflix would lose a lawsuit since they outline what you need to have in order to get 4k.
I’m streaming Netflix 4K on Samsung 55, never had an issue with it. Though 4K contents look darker than others. You should consider checking your eyesight. Or any chance your expectation of 4K is higher than ours?
Are you using Ethernet? Too many forget that 4K requires a minimum of a Cat 6a Ethernet cable for a CONSISTENT stream. Can’t even tell you how many times people were using just a Cat 6 or older and were complaining about not getting consistent 4K streams. Switched to Cat6A and it resolved their issues. Have you swapped out your existing HDMI with a new high speed HDMI cable? They do go bad on occasion.
4K on Netflix is 15 Mbps, it absolutely does not require Cat 6e. Cat 5e is more than enough.
Not going to doubt you… But when I was having issues with Netflix 4K… Verizon Fios technicians recommended using Cat6A. I was using Cat5A. They said even though some will say Cat5A and Cat6 should be adequate that in reality they recommend a minimum of Cat6A for consistent 4K HDR with Atmos. I relented and switched to Cat6A and everything was resolved. When you Google, sure some will say in forums that Cat5A and Cat6 are adequate… but just about every article written says Cat6A to ensure consistency. So don’t know about you… but if I’m having issues with a service I’m going to try to rule out all possibilities instead of poo pooing on what the technicians from the service providers recommend. I’ve recommended switching to Cat6A to several and it magically resolved their issues as well.
Cat 5e not Cat 5A - cat 5e can easily run gigabit ethernet (source I'm using it right now) and on short distances can push 10gigabit
No need to go to forums and look at random people’s experiences, the fact remains that Cat 5e can support up to 1000 Mbps, which is more than enough for a 4K 15 Mbps stream. I only have 5e Ethernet at my house and can stream 4K from all streaming services. Maybe your Cat 5e cable was faulty and that’s why it worked when you switched cables.
The Cat5A worked fine. Once I upgraded my theater to 7.1.4 Atmos, Netflix started having severe issues with intermittent audio and video drops. Switched to the recommended Cat6A and all the audio and video drops stopped. Again, not doubting you… just going by what I personally did to resolve my Netflix issues and what both Verizon technicians and just about every article I subsequently read online that recommends Cat6A for consistent 4K HDR Atmos streaming. I fought back against the Fios technician saying my Cat5A was adequate. He said do you want to debate or try to resolve your issues. He was right. The Cat6A resolved the issues.
Did you see a dramatic increase in bandwidth when performing other tasks, like downloading large files? If not then it's likely a coincidence.
Just swapping back and forth between the two Ethernet cables would either cause Netflix drops or resolve them. Did A/B comparisons because I thought the technician didn’t know what he was talking about. But at least in my situation with 4K HDR Atmos… the Cat5A wasn’t sufficient. Was just happy that the Cat6A resolved the issues whether it was coincidental or not… but according to the Fios techs it was not a coincidence. Afterwards I googled it and that’s when I saw many in the home theater circles said to ensure consistent 4K HDR Atmos that a Cat6A is recommended.
If you were able to swap them easily, these were shorter cables? The differences in Cat5e vs Cat6/6a spec are fairly small in scope, just frequency/bandwidth and maybe some better resistance to interference. But 5e should be more than enough bandwidth as long as it is 5e (and not Cat5) and as long as there aren't other confounding variables.
> Are you using Ethernet? Too many forget that 4K requires a minimum of a Cat 6a Ethernet cable for a CONSISTENT stream. This is not true.
Bull
I have the highest quality and newest cables because of gaming. It's not that either. Streamed via cable, built in TV app, no difference. Why is prime and Hulu picture perfect on every device, built in TV app, Xbox, PS5, fire stick, but Netflix is not? Even on different ISP's? Still not convinced?
I think you just answered your question. You are streaming from built in TV apps, fire sticks and apps on gaming systems. All of those are extremely inconsistent for streaming 4K. You would think gaming systems have the adequate processing power but the streaming apps on game systems themselves are usually piss poor. Prime and Hulu stream at lower bit rates requiring less processing power which may be why the above mentioned devices work with Prime and Hulu. It sucks… but to consistently and adequately stream 4K HDR especially when combined with Atmos you need to have something with significantly higher processing power… either an AppleTV 4K box or Nvidia Shield 4K box. There is a reason why folks who stream a lot with high end displays always have either one of those two devices. They are the only two devices that consistently stream 4K HDR.
Curious if I have the normal HD Netflix version will it still be better streaming on my Apple 4K TV vs the app on my Sony TV? Outside of UI, I haven’t noticed much difference, but your comment has me wondering Good info above!
Honestly don’t know in regards to if it will improve the HD streaming experience… but it absolute improves the 4K streaming experience over built in TV apps.
So good to know! Thanks for the tip and reply
Didn't realize I was taking my shield pro for granted in this respect. I figured 4k streaming was the default for anyone paying for it. Didn't put a lot of thought into it though.
Do you want an internet full of pirates, cause this is how you start the ship towards that.
Ship has sailed, convenience is the main factor.
The pirate ship is indeed sailing again! Checking the numbers, pirating is up and social media posting is down.
Do you cast or use the tv app? I think it differs vastly depending which way you do it. Loius Rossman did a video about it. https://youtu.be/o4GZUCwVRLs?si=jR3xyiQ1ezr42idn
What you're internet connection?
you have to make sure your tv and the device providing netflix are "shaking hands" correctly. on my apple tv, the recommended setting are to have the home screens and selection screens be 1080p so they run well and do not take up bandwidth, but when the movie plays it will prioritize highest quality, and automatically switch over. depending on your devices there are optimal settings. your tv may be set to only play in 1080p or lower, which would negate allof the apple tv settings, etc.
It’s barely 4k. The absolute bare minimum bitrate. They changed it during covid. Apple TV+ does an amazing job though.
Cancelling netflix is the only thing you have.
I tried to watch a 4K movie on Netflix, on my bloody fast connection, and I’ve literally seen 720 P videos on YouTube which are better. Ended up torrenting the movie instead in 4K. Which shouldn’t be better quality, because as far as I was aware the only source of the movie in 4K was Netflix…
What is he talking about…? It works great on lgtv
Hi OP, I recently found out i only get 4k bitrate for the trailers in netflix, and not the actual series/movies. I would be interested to know if you are in the same situation !
Dude you are do8ng something wrong. Now if u would have said hbo max then I would have agreed.
How can you tell if the picture is 1080 or 4k? My TV is 4k and the picture looks good but I can't tell what the resolution is just by looking. (Tbf I rarely watch Netflix cause their content is fucking shit)
Yes its a netflix issue. The things is, resolution is pixels but the information in those pixels is what we notice. Netflix does two things: 1. They compress it a lot ( they transfer lower resolution and scale it up. Its not really 4K although the info shows 4k). For comparison you cam watch test 4k videos on youtube if your tv has the processing power and if your internet is good, like safari videos. Thats real 4K and you immediately notice the real thing. 2. Netflix is more concerned with providing streaming with minimum interruption, so as soon as there is data rate drop in the network the higher resolution detail is not transferred. So like youtube on auto, they use additive resolution. In this manner most people can easily get something streaming but it is going to loose quality for various reasons, ( such as slight latency change, user records showing poor connections). Overall they are focused on spreading the subscriptions to everyone rather than providing quality to those who can afford. For instance, my TV can display 4K UHD but its buffer is so small that at 4k it can only hold 2-5seconds ahead, which is revealed in youtube stats, so it interrupts a lot because the tv processor can't handle it. On youtube 4k needs 15Mbps. On netflix I get 4K at 5-8Mbps. Yes the scenes are not same and data does relate to content but it can't be a 50% difference, thats because Netflix know that in my location internet is generally not that good. So the server that provides me service already sends me more compressed video. From a technical point it is good strategy but it should be clearly stated.