What internet speed does someone need to watch 4K video? The viewer needs a download speed of around 50 Mbps to reliably watch 4K streams. So-called high-speed internet from most ISPs usually only starts at around 25 Mbps.
The 100Mbps speed is suitable for 4K streaming for up to four devices. If your setup is only for low-level browsing, you can accommodate up to a hundred devices. The moment a larger file size comes into play, such as HD video, the speed needs to increase, or the number of users needs to decrease.
Streaming TV and movies in SD, HD or 4K UHD. For standard definition (SD) streaming you'll need at least an average speed of 3Mbps, for HD 5-8Mbps and for 4K UHD you'll need 25Mbps minimum, but we recommend a connection of 50Mbps to cover all scenarios (live 4K broadcasts require more speed, for example).
25 Mbps—Good for about 2 people and up to 5 devices, depending on what you do with them. With 25 Mbps, you could stream one show in 4K if there are no other internet connections. 50 Mbps—Good for 2–4 people and 5–7 devices. A speed of 50 Mbps can handle 2–3 video streams plus some extra online activity.
Stream HD content: 5-25 Mbps minimum. Stream 4K content and play competitive online games: 40-100 Mbps minimum. Stream 4K content, play competitive online games, and download very large files: 200 Mbps minimum.
To stream 4k video at 60 frames per second, the recommended bitrate range is 20,000 to 51,000 Kbps. You'll need an upload speed between 24.2 Mbps and 61.5 Mbps.
What internet speed does someone need to watch 4K video? The viewer needs a download speed of around 50 Mbps to reliably watch 4K streams. So-called high-speed internet from most ISPs usually only starts at around 25 Mbps.
4K60 video (2160p60), for example, requires 12 Gbps of bandwidth to support a full color image with no compression. When compared to 1080p—only 3 Gbps uncompressed even at 60 frames per second and full color—it's easy to see why 4K60 is still proving a challenge to distribute over IP networks.
To watch Netflix in Ultra HD, you need:
A 60Hz TV or computer monitor compatible with Ultra HD streaming from Netflix. A steady internet connection speed of 15 megabits per second or higher. Streaming quality set to Auto or High.
Netflix recommends a minimum speed of 3 Mbps for SD quality (standard definition) and 5 Mbps for HD quality (high definition). However, if you're watching in Ultra HD, or 4K, then Netflix recommends a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps.
If you want to take advantage of 4K @ 120Hz or 8K you'll need an HDMI 2.1 cable with bandwidth capability of up to 48 Gbps.
Even with multiple users on the network streaming videos or shows to their devices, 100 Mbps should be more than enough to avoid any buffering issues. Take Netflix for example: To watch a video in High Definition, you need at least 5 Mbps. To view a video in 4K/Ultra HD, you need 15 Mbps.
4K (UHD, 2160p): 16–25 Mbps.
Internet browsing and downloads
To browse the web on your smart TV, you'll need a minimum of 2Mbps and 5Mbps or more for quicker loading times. To download music this speed will need to increase to speeds of 10Mbps or higher so that you won't be waiting an excessive amount of time for albums to download and playback.
Will You Watch 4K Movies and Shows? Netflix has a wealth of 4K content which streams at 3840 x 2160 pixels. This means the picture contains more data and therefore looks sharper and more detailed, especially on large screens. Not everything on Netflix is available in 4K.
By default, Netflix won't always stream in 4K. The default streaming quality setting is set to Auto, meaning the best possible mix of quality and data usage. However, to make sure you're streaming in 4K, you should change the setting to the highest possible option.
Yes. They do have some shows that are on their 4K section however, most movies/shows may have been shot in 4K with 4K cameras, but not mastered in 4K. Most movies out today on TV are upscaled to 4K not native. Also, movies shot on 4K are usually at 24f/s.
When it comes down to 4K TV, you do not need to pick up special HDMI cables. The HDMI cable standard can impact color and resolution, but newer versions are not required for 4K TV.
Does 4K Take Up More Data? Yes, just as 4K TVs need more bandwidth, streaming or playing 4K content will also use more data per hour compared to lower resolutions. If you're streaming videos, bandwidth and network connection are the biggest factors in determining the resolution your 4K TV will play in.
A 4K TV comes equipped with this same resolution—roughly four times the resolution of the previous 1080 standard—whereas UHD offers a display resolution of 3,840 x 2,160. While this is slightly short of "true" 4K, UHD resolution is often rounded-up and referred to as 4K for the sake of simplicity.
Which offers a better connection overall? Overall, ethernet does offer streamers a better connection, simply down to the reliability, speed, security and consistency of the connection it can offer.
4K adaptive bit rate streams require between 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps of bandwidth. Online video streaming service provider Netflix, for example, requires an internet connection speed of 15 Mbps or higher to stream 4K content. To view 4K resolution content, a 4K TV or 4K monitor is required.
Do you need a special router to stream 4K? No, you don't need any special router to stream 4K, just look for a few basic features like OFDMA, QoS, decent throughput capacity and dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support, and your 4K streams should run lag-free.