In this tutorial we want to clear all the doubts about how Netflix on Android works in 1080p, 4K and HDR resolutions. You will also find a selection of TV-Box with support for Netflix in HD, 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision. You can also check our article about Error 0013 on Netflix and the restriction to install Netflix on root devices or chinese TV-Boxes. You have a available too a Netflix guide for PC.
- NOTE: since version 15 Netflix can no longer be installed directly on the TV-Boxes from Google Play and it is necessary to download and install the official app on our device, you can see all the details on this topic in our Netflix Installation Guide.
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NETFLIX PRICE AND QUALITY PLANS
From the Netflix website or its application we can contract any of the 3 types of subscriptions offered by this platform. Depending on the price we will have different streaming quality and we will be able to share our account with a larger or smaller number of users. The first month is free for each account we create with a different credit card number.
- BASIC – SD quality (720×480 wide format), 1 screen only
- STANDARD – HD quality (1920×1080), 2 screens at the same time
- PREMIUM – 4K quality (3840×2160), 4 screens at the same time
REQUIRED PERMISSIONS AND CERTIFICATES
To see Netflix on Android we have an APP available that we can download from Google Play, this app works correctly on all Android TV Box we had tested at least to see contents in SD quality. To see contents in HD or 4K quality with the STANDARD or PREMIUM plans we need to met the points that we describe below.
1.- Netflix Permission
All Android devices capable of streaming Netflix in HD or 4K quality must be explicitly approved by Netflix, this requires a period of testing of the device by the company and reach certain agreements at the enterprise level, without this permission is impossible see content in high quality even if you have DRM Google Widevine Level 1 certificate or not.
This point restrict the use of Netflix HD or 4K to brands with a certain level of contacts. With this point it is clear that we will not see unknown TV-Box models with high quality streaming ever.
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2.- DRM Certificates
To view content in HD quality apart from the required previous point we need Google Widevine Level 1 certification, this is basically an advanced DRM protection system for digital content, most low cost Android TV Boxes do not have this, if we have Google Widevine Level 2 or 3 it will be impossible to view contents in HD or 4K.
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3.- DHCP protection
To view contents on the Android app for Netflix we need a device that respect the DHCP connection certificates through the HDMI port. In general to view SD and HD content we will not have problems since they are widespread in all devices but to see 4K contents if we require a DHCP 1.x or 2.2 certificate that is limited to the best models.
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ANDROID TV WITH NETFLIX HD OFFICIAL SUPPORT
After knowing the technical aspects you can see the Android devices recommended by us where we can watch Netflix in HD and 4K quality. These models have the official Netflix App, if we do not have one of these models we will not find the Netflix app on Google Play, so you will need to follow our Guide to install Netflix app on non-compatible devices.
NVIDIA Shield TV 2017
A beast, the best model of the market with Android TV. This model has a powerful Nvidia Tegra X1 SoC with support for 4K HDR playback and 7.1 DD & DTS audio codecs. The system includes 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage memory, Wifi ac, Gigabit Ethernet… and a long list of other features. It is also compatible with Netflix 4K, HBO and Amazon Prime video.
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Xiaomi Mi Box / Xiaomi Mi Box S
Xiaomi Mi Box International S is a device with Android TV oriented to the playback Streaming contents, have a Amlogic Quad Core S905L SoC with licenses for audio pass-through Dolby digital and DTS. A model that includes all the necessary certificates to play Netflix in UHD 4K, integrates Chromecast to send content from the mobile and a remote control with microphone for voice commands. Read our detailed REVIEW for more info.
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Amazon Fire TV
Amazon offers us with his Fire TV family some very interesting devices to play streaming contents, the operating system is FireOS oriented to the Amazon ecosystem products and we can use Alexa system for voice control. With these devices we can play in 4K quality streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and HBO. Some models that are available in several versions, with TV-Stick format we have the most basic versions and with the TV-Box format we have more power and connectors.
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Google Chromecast
With Google Chromecast we can play streaming content on our screen controlled by means of another device such as a phone or tablet, the good thing about this device is that it is compatible with Netflix HD or 4K, HBO and other streaming services, although it is not compatible with Amazon Prime Video. We can not install Android applications or use it independently.
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Other devices:
- Apple TV (Up to 4K)
- SmartTV such as the Sony Bravia with Android TV OS or non Android
- Chromecast (not standalone device, support up to 4K, HDR10 and Dolby vision)
- All HD-quality devices support 5.1 sound
- Some tablets, Smartphones, Ect …
NETFLIX APP FOR UNOFFICIAL ANDROID TV DEVICE
In this devices without official Netflix support we can see this service in resolution of 854×480 up to 960×540, in these models we need to install the app manually and control it with a mouse if our remote is not compatible.
- Download the official version of Netflix for devices without certification.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
- Are there any modified Netflix App to watch Netflix HD on my TV-Box without Google Widevine Level 1 certificate?
Answer: NO - Are there modified firmwares for Google Widevine Level 1 TV-Boxes with Netflix FullHD support?
Answer: NO - The Netflix application gives me the error 0013 when playing content. What’s wrong?
Answer: Read our guide about Error 0013 on Netflix - I can use Netflix on a device with root or bootloader modified?
Answer: Sometimes, you can check our manual Netflix on root devices
Netflix application for unofficials devices
If we have a TV-Box, tablet or smartphone that is not in the list of devices compatible with Netflix we will not find the app in Google Play, in order to use this app we need to download the Netflix APK and install it manually.
OTHER STREAMING SERVICEA GUIDES
- Guide to install Netflix app on non-compatible devices
- Netflix 4K: how an Android TV-Box can get official compatibility
- Guide to Netflix in PC Windows or Linux
- Guide to Amazon Prime Video in HD
- Change the size of the captions and the mouse pointer on Android
- LibreELEC a quick installation guide for the TV-Boxes with Android
- Install the Netflix add-on in KODI
Netflix 4k UHD on Xaomi Mi S – only HD ? Hi, I’ve hooked up my Mi box to two Samsung 4k tv’s but have trouble seeing the 4K icon in the detail screen for Netflix 4k content. Each time it show just an HD icon. Also, running the above mentioned test patterns always comes up with 1920×1080 resolutions. I tried setting video resolutions to 4k@60hz on the box, but got the same results. I am doing this over wifi, and wonder if this is the problem. The native Netflix app on the Samsung TV’s do show the 4kHD icon… Read more »
Hi.
Only need 12Mbps speed to have 4K in Netflix… if you have 4K in Youtube the wifi signal must be enough.
Pass Analiti app to test the wifi performance.
Use DRM Info app to check the HDCP level certification, maybe is a connection problem.
Best regards.