How to Check if Phone Supports HD Streaming on Netflix and Prime Video – Guide
Widevine, a company that specializes in content security, has implemented a selection of industry standards to protect content as it is transferred over the Internet and played on devices. For a quick overview, Widevine uses a combination of CENC encryption, license key exchange and adaptive streaming quality to manage and deliver videos to users. The idea is to simplify the amount of work for the service provider, supporting various levels of streaming quality, depending on the security features of the receiving device. To achieve this, Widevine protects content in three security levels: L3 (highest), L2 (medium) and L1 (low). If you want to stream HD content from services like Netflix, your device will need to be certified to meet the full L1 specification. ..
Android devices support L1 or L3 security levels depending on hardware and software implementation, as does Chrome OS. Chrome on the desktop only supports L3 max at any one time. If your device only supports L3 you will be limited to sub-HD resolution. Only L1 secure devices with full TEE processing can play HD or higher quality content from Widevine secure services. One of the most important things to note about Widevine is that it does not charge a license fee to implement its security technology. So there is no financial reason for missing some smartphones. ..
Check your Phone Supports HD Streaming on Netflix and Prime Video
Netflix, Prime Video, Disney +, etc. use DRM to prevent unauthorized copying and redistribution of their content. To ensure that Android smartphones are protected from piracy, these popular streaming services use Google’s Widevine DRM platform.
Widevine offers different levels of security - L1, L2, and L3. L1 is the highest level of protection and allows streaming of high definition content (HD, Full-HD, QHD, 4K) on the device. However, it requires certification at the hardware level and is not available on all devices. Notably, only Widevine L1 and L3 are compatible with certified Android devices. So if your phone does not support L1, it probably supports Widevine L3 which allows streaming only up to 540p - it’s not even HD. ..
Steps to verify your Phone Supports HD Streaming on OTT platforms
Netflix and Prime Video rely solely on Widevine certification to stream high definition content. To verify this, you can use a third-party application or from within Netflix as follows.
Using DRM information
The app will help you protect your Android phone from unauthorized access by third-party developers.
Scroll down to the Widevine CDM section. To use Widevine CDM, you will need to install the Google Play Services app on your device and enable Widevine CDM in the app’s settings. Once you have done this, open the Google Play Services app and sign in. Under “My apps & games,” find and tap “Widevine CDM.” If you have multiple devices signed in to your Google account, you will see a list of devices under “Active devices.” Tap on the device name to open its settings. Under “CDM,” make sure that “Enable Widevine CDM” is checked. ..
This is a security question.
L1 or L3 is the type of license plate you will see on your car. ..
Widevine’s security level is L1, which means that you don’t need to worry. ..
High definition streaming is now available to users free of charge. This new feature allows you to watch your favorite shows and movies in crystal clear quality.
If you have an LG TV, the streaming quality will be limited to 540p resolution if it is an L3 model. ..
Final note
Netflix and Prime Video support HD streaming, but some devices don’t. If you’re using a phone that doesn’t support HD streaming, you can try to watch Netflix and Prime Video in 720p or 1080p. Here’s how:
- Open Netflix and Prime Video on your phone.
- Choose the resolution that works best for you: 720p or 1080p.
- Tap the “play” button on your phone to start watching Netflix and Prime Video in their original resolutions.
