It’s baffling that even in 2020, so many affordable and even a few high-end phones do not support HD streaming on apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos and Google Play, irrespective of the subscription pack.
Primarily, the issue is the missing Widevine DRM Level 1 (L1) certificate which is required by all major content streaming platforms for HD streaming. But even if your phone has DRM L1 certificate, there are chances that it doesn’t support HD streaming on Netflix or Prime Video (as is the case with new Realme 6-series and Redmi Note 9-series phones).
That’s because apart from DRM L1 certificate, additional approval by services like Netflix and Amazon Prime is also required for HD streaming. Devices that aren’t acknowledged by Netflix won’t support HD streaming even if they have DRM L1 certificate.
We never quite noticed this omission before it was pointed out for OnePlus phones. Now, OnePlus has had an immaculate track record for the last two years and Samsung hasn’t missed out on HD streaming support since the start of 2019.
Contents:
- What is Widewine DRM certification?
- How to check Widevine L1 DRM certificate on Android phone?
- Why Manufacturers don’t add DRM L1 certificate?
- Can you get Widevine DRM L1 certificate with OTA update?
- List of phones that support HD Streaming
At the same time, many affordable phones from Motorola, Asus, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi that we tested are still defaulting.
What is Widewine DRM certification and why is it required?
Widevine Digital Rights Management (DRM) standards have been defined based on device security for content protection. They are meant to prevent copying or piracy of data that these services push across the internet to their users.
Services that use DRM can stream befitting content quality depending on the security and hardware at the user end without much work on the server end.
Widevine standards integrate Common Encryption (CENC), licensing key exchange, and Dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) for secure transmission.
There are three certification levels: L1, L2, and L3. Your phone needs to be L1 certified in order to be able to stream HD content.
Not only Android phones but many Laptops and most Browsers on Desktop support L3 certificate only. For instance, Chrome Browser on Desktop is L3 certified and can only stream in HD using Netflix and other services.
How to check Widevine DRM L1 certificate on your phone?
If you want to check the DRM security level on your phone, you can simply download the free DRM Info App from Play store.
The app is pretty simple. All you need to do is open it and check DRM level under “Google Widevine Modular DRM” heading. If you see L1, your phone supports HD streaming. If you see L3, your phone only supports SD streaming. Android phones only have L1 and L3 certification.
Why Manufacturers don’t add DRM L1 certificate?
The most important point to note is that all modern chipsets are compatible and Widevine doesn’t charge any licensing fee. So, the only reason why manufacturers are ignoring this is oversight and because users are not particularly asking for this.
Can you get Widevine DRM L1 certificate with OTA update?
Yes, earlier it wasn’t possible to push Widevine DRM L1 via OTA update, but this changed after 2017. Poco F1 was the first phone to get DRM L1 certificate via OTA update.
List of phones that support HD Streaming in India
We have mentioned a few phones that we have tested ourselves for HD streaming support. The list is not exhaustive and contains phones that we have come across.
- Samsung phones – All Samsung M-series and A-series phones launched since 2019 support HD Streaming including Galaxy M32, Galaxy F62, Galaxy A51, Galaxy S 21series HD streaming as well.
- Realme Phones – Realme XT, Realme X, Realme X2, Realme X2 Pro, Realme 5 Pro, Realme 5s (Realme 6 Pro and Realme 6 have L1, but HD streaming is currently not supported)
- Xiaomi Phones – Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi K20, Poco F1 (Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max have DRM L1, but do not support HD streaming on Netflix and Prime videos)
- OnePlus phones – All OnePlus phones launched in 2018 and 2019 have HD Streaming support
- Vivo Phones – Vivo Z1x, Vivo V17 Pro, Vivo U20, Vivo S1 Pro
- Asus Phones – Asus 6Z, Asus ROG Phone 2
- Lenovo Phones – Motorola One Power
- Huawei Phones – Honor View 20, Honor 20
- LG Phones – LG V30, LG G7 ThinQ (not on Amazon Prime), LG V40
- Nokia Phones – Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 7.1, Nokia 8.1 Plus
Apart from the phones, we have mentioned, all high-end flagship phones from LG, Huawei, Samsung, Google, and Nokia have HD streaming support. We do cover this aspect in our reviews, and if you want to check for a phone not mentioned in this list, you may search for the review of that particular phone on our website.
Does ITEL S23 PLUS support widevine L1?
Can poco X2 run hd video on prime
Does MOTO G60 or any moto g phones have Widevine L1 support?
Thanks would be nice tho have similar list for tablets. Lenovo yoga smart tab has L1 but gets only SD streaming nvtless.
Can I screencast Netflix on a Samsung A12 and A22
Is redmi note 10 pro support HD OR FHD on amazon prime and netflix??
You can stream content from prime and Netflix in FHD quality on Redmi Note 10 Pro
Not all flagships work for HD streaming. Many tmobile flagship have been changing from L1 to L3. The LG v60 has been a big problem. A tmobile support told a customer it is what they do when you go over data threshold of 50gb. I think this is untrue or they would have a huge lawsuit for bricking phones, as this is irreversible. My v60 was playing HD video I think, but months after and since recent update month ago its L3. No custom rom or bootloader. V20 att varient is still L1 tho. Some phones it’s just a case of a faulty phone that qc missed and manufacturing forgot to install the required drm certifications. For those unsure of how to check, the app “DRM info’ works or if you have Netflix app, in playback settings, it will say the allowed streaming is HD or SD. If you can’t change to HD, you’re phone is bricked.
My Moto one power had l1 but not now why and how to fix it
My device is lg g8x …netflix is supporting hd but the prime video dosent support hd …what is the reason
I’m using vivo S1 and it shows Security level of L1 but still I’m having trouble while streaming HD on prime
I am using nokia 6.1 plus i am not able to stream or download hd content on Amazon although Netflix is working perfectly fine in hd
I’m using redmi note 7 it supports hd
content before .but not now why?
I think because something has going wrong with xiaomi android 10 update…
Why my V40 can’t stream in HD as it is mentioned in the article? Can I do something about it?
I am referring to Amazon Prime Video App here..
Please tell me does moto g5 plus support hd in netflix
not likely
I’m using Samsung M30s and it is showing me widevine L3 but my device supports widevine L1 thats why default streaming is SD in my Netflix account can you please help me to in order to stream in HD(1080p). I have read the support list of devices in Netfix that supports HD and my device is mentioned by no dedicated button is present in the UI which i can change it to HD rathen than default SD which is not satisfactory also my plan is ultra HD.
you should contact Samsung for this issue.
im using redmi note 9s(global for 9 pro), my widevine goes from L1 to L3, does anyone know how it can be happened?
Lenevo tab v7 is a big phablet and have widevine l1. Does it support HD in prime video can u check please
When my redmi note 8 pro will get HD playback for netflix n prime , I’ll plan to buy Poco X2 is that model supports that
Redmi pro X2 mirroring to tv is not working
What may be the problem
There could be many reasons. Did you mean Realme X2 Pro?
Does Oppo reno 10x zoom support hd streaming on netflix And prime video??
Not sure as of now. Will check and get back after lockdown.
Hi I have a honor 5lite phone would this support netflix
Most probably HD content will not be supported.
What about SamsinS C7 pro
I checked it does have L1 but I cantc syream or download hd videos in my Amazon prime
i have bought REALME XT .. but it doesn’t support amazon prime or netflix mirroring but MI pro does.. how can i get it fixed. when should i report it
Prasun Bhattacharya
You are using the native cast option? What TV do you use.
how about galaxy A20??
It does, all Samsung phones launched this year have support (except Galaxy M10)
leeco le max 2 and le 2 launched in 2016 have widewine L1 support.
I have lg g7 and it has l1 and listed in the list as HD supported but in amazon prime best video size is 460 MB so it is not HD
Yeah facing same problem in realme 3 pro
That’s because this list is awfully misinformed; not only do you need Widevine L1, you also need the streaming service to certify your device on their side. Netflix is known to be an arse about this so there are quite a number of devices out there with Widevine L1 but no HD content on Netflix.
The list hasn’t been updated for a while. The reason you have mentioned is already there in the article.