Netflix For Mac 4k

Netflix claims it has the largest library of 4K content, but if you’re hoping to do any 4K Netflix streaming on your Mac, the company has announced a surprising specification requirement: you’ll need a Mac with a T2 security chip …

1. One way to get clarity is to see if a Mac that could playback 4K Netflix in Safari running one of the betas can still do so running the stable release. The irony is the 5K iMac is one of the only Macs (the other being the iMac Pro) that can display the full 4K resolution on the internal display.
2. Streaming Netflix in 4K will require a Mac with the T2 Security chip. That will limit the feature to Macs from 2018 or later. It will also require Macs run macOS Big Sur. Back in June, it was reported that macOS Big Sur would enable users to begin streaming Netflix in 4K HDR on Safari on the Mac.
3. Netflix in 4K: What you'll need First, if you haven't already, you'll need to head over to Netflix and upgrade your account to be able to view 4K content. This costs $13.99 per month, up from the $10.99 of an HD account. With this upgrade, you'll also be able to watch Netflix on a total of four different screens at once.
4. As reported by Apple Terminal, streaming Netflix content in 4K will require more than a Mac that supports Big Sur.It spotted a newly-updated support document on Netflix's Help Center that reveals.

Netflix 4k Mac Big Sur

Mac Users Can Finally Watch Netflix in 4K HDR. The combination of macOS Big Sur and Safari 14 unlocks 4K HDR streaming if you own a compatible Mac.

Netflix posted the requirements on a support page.

Netflix is available in Ultra HD on Mac computers. To stream in Ultra HD, you will need:

A Mac computer with macOS 11.0 Big Sur installed.
The latest version of Safari browser
Select 2018 or later Mac computer with an Apple T2 Security chip
A 60Hz 4K capable display (with HDCP 2.2 connection if external display).

You’ll also, of course, need an UltraHD plan, as well as a broadband speed of 25Mbps or better.

The streaming video company doesn’t explain the reason for the T2 chip requirement, however, leading to some confused Reddit users.

“This makes zero sense to me. The only Macs, that could really benefit from 4k streaming, without an external monitor, are the 4k and 5k iMacs yet only 2 models (the Pro and the new 2020 27″) will be able to stream it. Windows machines don’t have any kind of T2 alternative and are still able to stream 4k via Edge or via the native app, their only requirement is a 7th gen intel cpu or a dedicated graphics card. Does anyone know why that is?”

“This is pretty overstepping IMO. I now have a machine that is perfectly capable of 4K streaming, but is arbitrarily limited because it doesn’t have a T2. This is pretty anti-consumer, even for Apple.”

The most likely theory appears to be studios insisting on stronger Digital Rights Management (DRM) protections against content ripping. Reddit users note that there are also specific chip requirements for 4K Netflix streaming on Windows PCs.

“Hollywood is demanding that it is decrypted via hardware. Windows users cannot watch 4K content either without a supported processor (Kaby Lake and later) so it’s not unique to Apple. Be mad at Hollywood, not Apple.”

“This is not a choice by Apple. The video providers (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc) don’t allow the videos to be played without DRM, and DRM is built in to the T2.”

“4K Netflix on Windows also requires specific hardware that was introduced with Intel’s Kaby Lake:
Intel’s 7th generation Core CPU (i3, i5, or i7 models in the 7xxx or 7Yxx series) or newer, or a NVIDIA GPU that meets these requirements.”

“Microsoft is offering a different method of DRM. (PlayReady I believe). Apple’s method involves the T2 chip.”

Some Reddit users think it’s a counterproductive move, arguing that imposing conditions relatively few computers and monitors can meet will simply drive people back to piracy.

Netflix For Mac 4k Blu-ray Player

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When Apple releases macOS Big Sur later this year, Mac users will finally have the chance to start streaming Netflix in 4K HDR on their computer. But you’ll need more than a 4K-capable display to do so. In a support document spotted by Apple Terminal(via 9to5Mac), Netflix says you’ll also need a computer with a T2 Security chip. With that hardware requirement means is that only recent Macs have the ability to play UHD content from Netflix.

Here’s the full list of T2-equipped Macs: 2018 or later MacBook Pro, 2018 or later MacBook Air, 2018 Mac mini, 2019 Mac Pro, iMac Pro and 2020 iMac. If you’re not sure whether your Mac has the necessary hardware, you can find out by following the steps Apple details on its website.

The Verge suggests the requirement could have something to do with the T2 chip’s ability to process HEVC encoded videos. On its webpage for the iMac, Apple says the coprocessor can transcode HEVC video up to twice as fast as its previous generation T1 chip. If Netflix is encoding streams using HEVC, that could explain the requirement. Whatever the case, we’ve reached out to both Apple and Netflix for more information, and we’ll update this article when we hear back from them.

If you do have a T2-equipped Mac, you’ll need to keep a couple of other requirements in mind. Obviously, macOS Big Sur is a must, but don’t forget you also need to subscribe to Netflix’s $16 per month Premium plan. Lastly, you can only stream 4K content through Safari; other browsers will limit you to 720p on a Mac.