What is the best internet speed for 4K streaming?

The way we watch movies, TV series, and videos has evolved, and many of us stream video content rather than watch live TV or DVDs. Streaming content offers higher quality, which is always improving, to provide the best picture possible. 

A fast and reliable broadband speed is key to watching online content with the best quality visuals. Most streaming services offer content in 4K quality, but to enjoy this without disruptions and buffering requires a lot more data than lower quality video. 

Your current internet speed might be holding you back from fully enjoying the benefits of 4K video streaming.

What is 4K streaming?

Currently, the best video quality available is 4K, which delivers crystal-clear, lifelike visuals for a fully immersive experience. 

The addition of 4K brings our total choice of viewing quality to four: 4K, FHD (Full High Definition), HD (High Definition), and SD (Standard Definition). While 4K is the best quality, it demands a lot more data to deliver the best picture – making FHD and HD perfectly respectable options for most.

Full fibre broadband is well equipped to stream content in the highest 4K quality. Don’t worry if you don’t have fibre broadband yet, your current speed might be enough. Below are the recommended speeds for popular streaming services and apps.

Internet speed for streaming Netflix in 4K

Netflix recommends you have a download speed of 15 Mbps or higher to enjoy movies and TV shows in 4K quality. If your current speeds can’t accommodate this, you can still watch in FHD with just 5 Mbps speeds.

Streaming content in 4K on Netflix requires a premium subscription. If you are seeing poor quality, you may want to check your subscription level before assuming it’s a connection issue.

Internet speed for streaming Disney+ in 4k

Disney+ recommends a minimum speed of 25 Mbps to stream content in 4k. They also recommend being as close as possible to your WiFi router if you’re experiencing connection issues. Alternatively, you can watch episodes and movies in HD with speeds of 5 Mbps, which is more than enough to enjoy Disney animation.

Internet speed for streaming Amazon Prime Video in 4k

Amazon Prime Video doesn't have any specific guidance on recommended speeds, but as 15 Mbps is enough for Netflix, it’s safe to say this should be a sufficient speed for streaming Prime Video in 4K as well. 

The question now is, what to watch? Explore Prime Video to find the latest horror flick, a new TV series to binge, or subscribe to extra channels to add even more options in one place.

With Community Fibre TV, you can stream Amazon Prime Video in 4K — plus content from over 100 apps and streaming services.

Internet speed for streaming live video in 4K

4K video doesn’t always refer to movies and TV series. You might also watch 4K content such as tutorials or live gaming streams on YouTube, Discord, and Twitch. 

YouTube recommends a minimum download speed of 20 Mbps to enjoy 4K videos. They also suggest you use the newest version of your browser or app, and the most up-to-date operating system for the best experience.

Discord and Twitch don’t have any specific guidance for recommended speeds, but 15-25 Mbps is a safe assumption based on the requirements of other services we’ve explored.

Why you might not be seeing 4K video quality

Several factors can impact the viewing quality of video, including broadband speeds, bandwidth use, and the device you’re using.

Most streaming services will automatically adjust the quality based on your connection to avoid buffering and other disruptions — unless you have the option to specifically select the quality. 

Depending on the service you use, you can override this automatic adjustment to select 4K. If you’ve chosen to watch in 4K but the video keeps stopping and starting, then your broadband speed might not be enough to support the quality without doing some checks first. 

Check upload and download speeds

Your actual WiFi speed is always slower than the advertised speed of your package, as that number refers to wired speeds. 

Some providers also give you asymmetrical upload and download speeds, meaning the rate at which you can send and receive data is different.

• Download speed - how quickly data can be transferred from the internet to your device. Streaming requires a particularly fast download speed to avoid buffering. 

• Upload speed - how quickly data transfers from your device to the internet. Not particularly important for incoming data like video streaming, but it’s useful to know the difference.

Community Fibre delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds to prevent disruption, no matter what you’re using your broadband for.

Consider bandwidth usage 

It’s a common misconception that a broadband package offering a particular speed delivers the full speed to every device. In fact, your speed is spread among all connected devices. You’ll see this referred to as bandwidth. 

For example, if you have a broadband speed of 150 Mbps, this would theoretically allow six people to individually watch something on Disney+ in 4K, as this would use 25 Mbps each. It wouldn’t work out exactly like that in reality, as it’s almost certain that some of those individuals would have other devices connected which will also use up bandwidth. 

If you’re struggling with video quality, consider disconnecting devices that may be unnecessarily eating into your bandwidth.

Your TV or device might not support 4K quality

Broadband speed might not be the only thing impacting your video quality. If you’ve made the necessary adjustments to optimise your speed but still experience poor quality, it might be your viewing device. 

Resolution capabilities vary per device, and not all can support high-quality videos. If you haven’t replaced your TV since 2010, it might be time to upgrade to a newer model to enjoy the benefits of 4K video.

Streaming in 4K FAQs

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Is 35 Mbps enough for 4K streaming?

Mainstream streaming services and platforms suggest between 5 Mbps and 25 Mbps to enjoy 4K quality. However, it’s important to consider other devices connected to your WiFi at the same time, as bandwidth will need to be shared across all activities. 

If you live alone and won’t be carrying out any other bandwidth-intensive activities while streaming your movie, then 35 Mbps could work for you. Our essential 35 Mbps broadband package is an ideal option for watching online videos on one device at a time, available at an affordable £12.50/month (just £4 more when out of contract).

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Is 150 Mbps enough for 4K streaming?

The generous bandwidth provided by a 150 Mbps full fibre broadband package is more than enough to watch at least one online video in 4K quality. 150 Mbps full fibre is ideal for small families and households, with enough bandwidth for everyone to carry out most basic online activities at the same time.

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How can I check if my internet speed is good enough for 4K streaming?

Remember that advertised speeds are reflective of speeds over a wired connection. This means that your speeds over WiFi are bound to be lower. 

If you’re having challenges watching 4K content, try using an online speed test tool. These tests will check your download and upload speeds, ping, and jitter.

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