When streaming your favorite shows on Netflix we all want to get the best quality possible, especially if you pay extra for the Ultra HD plan. However, you may not be aware that the quality of your stream often times depends on the browser or even the OS you are running on your computer.
MacOS & Mac Apps I am one of the few that opted for the Google Chromecast over the Apple TV, as it provides the easiest experience for me to play Netflix on any of my TV's with my current array of iOS devices.
Previously, we covered how to get the best video quality when streaming Netflix on your Windows PC or Chromebook, but what if you own a Mac? Well, then this is the article for you.
In Short
Use the latest version of Safari and macOS on select Mac computers built after 2018 for 4K video quality.
How to stream videos in 4K UHD and HDR with a Mac computer
According to the help section on the Netflix website, Ultra HD resolutions are available on select Mac computers from 2018 or later that run macOS 11.0 Big Sur and are using the latest version of Safari.
How To Get Netflix App On Macbook Pro
Now, that could be a bit of an issue for some of you considering macOS 11.0 Big Sur isn’t officially at the moment. However, there is a beta version and if past releases are any indicator, Apple should be releasing Big Sur very soon. And sorry to all you fans of Chrome, Firefox, or Opera because these browsers are limited to 720p.
What about high dynamic range? I’m glad you asked, for that, Netflix only requires macOS Catalina 10.15.4 or later on a compatible Mac model featuring an HDR-capable display. You will also need to use the latest version of Safari.
Of course, this is also dependent on you subscribing to a plan that supports Ultra HD streaming and a connection speed of 25Mbps or higher.
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The best way to watch Netflix is using its official apps, regardless of the operating system, unless you’re a Mac owner in which case you’re stuck with a browser or experimenting with third-party apps. But if you were hoping for Netflix to just port its iPad app to Mac now that macOS Catalina is available and Apple’s Catalyst tech is available to developers, you’ll have to think again. For the moment, that’s not happening, although it might have to do more with Apple than Netflix.
An extensive Bloomberg report earlier this week explained the various issues iOS developers have with porting their iPad apps to the Mac via Catalyst.
Apple’s dream is to have developers code an app once and then launch it on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. In practice, however, that’s not so easy, which explains why you’re not witnessing a flurry of updates from iOS apps telling you those apps are available on Mac as well. Some developers have had to postpone their macOS launches to further iron out wrinkles. Others had to inform buyers that a macOS version would require a separate purchase, even if they’ve already bought the app from the App Store on an iPad or iPhone. Then there are user interface issues that might need fixing, given that several iPad apps that were imagined for a touch-only experience need to be adapted for a mouse and keyboard.
These issues will be ironed out as Catalyst matures, and the work of developers will surely be cut in half in the future. Apple obviously wants to bring more apps to the Mac, especially the ones that are popular on iPhone and iPad. Once that happens, Netflix might move its iPad app to macOS as well. In the meantime, the streaming giant has confirmed to Bloomberg it has no plans to bring its popular iPad app to the Mac. Netflix has standalone apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad), Android, and Windows 10.
How To Use Netflix App On Macbook
If you do want to watch Netflix inside an app on your Mac, you’ll have to resort to a third-party solution, and it so happens that we’ve discovered a great option. It’s called Clicker for Mac and it’ll completely change the way you watch Netflix, packing a bunch of features that are not even available in the official Netflix app, like the ability to resume playback as soon as you open the app and to automatically skip intros or jump to the next episode.