iPad Is Netflix 4k HDR Worth it on the iPad?

[CouldBeWorse]

Greetings, everyone.

I don't have a 4k TV, but I do have an iPad Pro 10.5 and an iPhone XS. Per Apple and Netflix, both devices support HDR playback. I know that neither device is 4k, but can anyone here comment on how HDR looks on both devices compared to SDR? I am wondering whether it's worth upgrading Netflix to the 4k plan to enable HDR playback.

 

[TheRealAlex]

Greetings, everyone.

I don't have a 4k TV, but I do have an iPad Pro 10.5 and an iPhone XS. Per Apple and Netflix, both devices support HDR playback. I know that neither device is 4k, but can anyone here comment on how HDR looks on both devices compared to SDR? I am wondering whether it's worth upgrading Netflix to the 4k plan to enable HDR playback.

pits worth it because if and when you plug in the iPad Pro to a 4K tv it feeds 4K HDR Dolby Vision. Also HDR Dolby Vision only worth if a device is 400 nits or brighter which I highly doubt anyone is blasting their iPad at Max brightnes.
On the iPad Pro 11” itself using my 4K Netflix it never activates HDR Dolby Visión.

but using my Note 10+ 6.9” Display OLED 1440p YouTube and Netflix do Kick In to HDR mode. And it makes the colors deeper ANd darker ANd brighter.

But Apple won’t place nice with YouTube or Netflix.

 

[CouldBeWorse]

But Apple won’t place nice with YouTube or Netflix.

According to Netflix, newer iOS devices are supported. Are you saying that that isn't the case?

 

[rui no onna]

It's $3 difference. Why not try it for one month and go back to the lower plan if you don't think it's enough of an improvement?

Personally, it's nicer but you forget about it after a while. It's not like the non-HDR version was unwatchable. If it was only for iPad, I probably wouldn't bother upgrading. I needed the premium plan for support up to 4 devices, though.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Apple won’t place nice with YouTube or Netflix.

Why not? ?

 

[s2mikey]

It's $3 difference. Why not try it for one month and go back to the lower plan if you don't think it's enough of an improvement?

Personally, it's nicer but you forget about it after a while. It's not like the non-HDR version was unwatchable. If it was only for iPad, I probably wouldn't bother upgrading. I needed the premium plan for support up to 4 devices, though.

I don’t see the benefit of 4K on such a small screen but yeah, for $3 bucks just try it out and cancel if it doesn’t wow you.

 

[EugW]

HDR is better. It's noticeable, but only on some titles. Resolution is still limited to 1080p though. If I were only watching on an iPad, I might not necessarily have paid the extra, but maybe I would because it's only a few bucks per month, the price of a coffee.

For me though, I need the higher tier anyway, since I have a 4K TV and because I have 4 people in the house, and occasionally we have 4 different Netflix streams going at the same time.

 

[Jablonskitravels]

There isn't much of a difference because fo the smaller screen size I guess.

 

[rui no onna]

There isn't much of a difference because fo the smaller screen size I guess.

In the first place, Netflix will only send 10.5" iPads 1080p anyway (12.9" iPads get 1440p). Really, the only benefit here is HDR.

That said, you're right about the smaller screen size not showing much benefit with 4K. I actually have compared 4K UHD and 1080p Blu-ray rips (played with Infuse) side by side on the iPad Pro 10.5 and iPad Air 3 10.5. There's greater color separation on 4K UHD but as far as sharpness and detail, you don't really notice.

Of course, if you stop to consider it, 16:9 content is displayed at 2224 x 1251 on the 10.5 and 2.39:1 content is displayed at 2224 x 930.

 

[cardfan]

iPad and Mac screens kinda suck for hdr and aren’t considered such. Perhaps mini led will help there. Oled certainly would but Apple loves a profit.

I have an Alienware 15” now with oled. That screen is amazing. The people not wanting this for iPads need their head examined.

 

[marty1980]

I needed the premium plan for support up to 4 devices, though.

Same here. 4K and HDR nice to have, but I pay for the premium plan for 4 simultaneous devices.

 

[rui no onna]

I have an Alienware 15” now with oled. That screen is amazing. The people not wanting this for iPads need their head examined.

Already have but sadly, that's still no cure for migraines.

 

[EugW]

Already have but sadly, that's still no cure for migraines.

Here's hoping for higher frequencies for PWM.

 

[aevan]

Greetings, everyone.

I don't have a 4k TV, but I do have an iPad Pro 10.5 and an iPhone XS. Per Apple and Netflix, both devices support HDR playback. I know that neither device is 4k, but can anyone here comment on how HDR looks on both devices compared to SDR? I am wondering whether it's worth upgrading Netflix to the 4k plan to enable HDR playback.

I don’t think it is, honestly. I am not sure I notice HDR on my iPad Pro, and 1080p is certainly enough for the picture to be sharp. I have a good TV and that’s why I have the 4K plan, but I don’t think I would have it for iPad.

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

Not every title have HDR, but those that have, the colours and scenes really pop on my iPP, what a joy to marvel!

 

[Shanghaichica]

Well I was watching Netflix on my TV and then my kids both decided they wanted to watch something on their tablets on Netflix. I only have the Standard HD plan. I started the playback on both tablets and it carried on playing on the TV. I switched it off on the TV. Shortly afterwards I received an email from Netflix saying they have upgraded my account to the ultra HD account. I was suspicious. So I logged into my account via the web browser. I did not click on any links from the email. I saw that indeed my account has been upgraded.

My question is does this happen automatically or do you need to request it? Was it triggered by me playing it momentarily on 3 devices at the same time?

I don’t t have a 4K TV. However as others have suggested I will keep it for a month to see if there is any difference. I have an iPad Pro 11, iPad mini 5th gen and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

 

[rui no onna]

Well I was watching Netflix on my TV and then my kids both decided they wanted to watch something on their tablets on Netflix. I only have the Standard HD plan. I started the playback on both tablets and it carried on playing on the TV. I switched it off on the TV. Shortly afterwards I received an email from Netflix saying they have upgraded my account to the ultra HD account. I was suspicious. So I logged into my account via the web browser. I did not click on any links from the email. I saw that indeed my account has been upgraded.

My question is does this happen automatically or do you need to request it? Was it triggered by me playing it momentarily on 3 devices at the same time?

I don’t t have a 4K TV. However as others have suggested I will keep it for a month to see if there is any difference. I have an iPad Pro 11, iPad mini 5th gen and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Normally, I would think there would be a notification asking if you want to upgrade your plan before actually switching you to a different plan. Before I switched to the 4K/4 device plan, I just received a notification that I'm already using 2 of my allowed streams.

 

[RealSkyDiver]

Greetings, everyone.

I don't have a 4k TV, but I do have an iPad Pro 10.5 and an iPhone XS. Per Apple and Netflix, both devices support HDR playback. I know that neither device is 4k, but can anyone here comment on how HDR looks on both devices compared to SDR? I am wondering whether it's worth upgrading Netflix to the 4k plan to enable HDR playback.

Definitely not. Even for my OLED it was barely worth it because only a few shows and movie took full advantage of HDR. With the rest you could barely tell and even the 4K wasn’t always that obvious, especially on shows that have a lot of artificial like the Marvel ones. They should absolutely not charge an up-fee for that and had it canceled.

 

[JasonHB]

There is more and more HDR content all the time and will give you the biggest difference in image quality. 1080P or 1440P with HDR will be significantly better than 4K without HDR.

HDR is where the quality is at, but don’t forget, to maximise HDR performance on any mobile device, you have to have the brightness turned all the way up otherwise there is no point at all. You need the peak brightness for HDR to work

 

[Freida]

The OP just said that he/she doesn't have a 4K tv so whats the point of your advice?

pits worth it because if and when you plug in the iPad Pro to a 4K tv it feeds 4K HDR Dolby Vision. Also HDR Dolby Vision only worth if a device is 400 nits or brighter which I highly doubt anyone is blasting their iPad at Max brightnes.
On the iPad Pro 11” itself using my 4K Netflix it never activates HDR Dolby Visión.

but using my Note 10+ 6.9” Display OLED 1440p YouTube and Netflix do Kick In to HDR mode. And it makes the colors deeper ANd darker ANd brighter.

But Apple won’t place nice with YouTube or Netflix.

 

[Freida]

I would advice you not to get it. Until you get proper 4K TV then its a waste especially if you are watching on iPad.
Save yourself some money and put it towards something different.

Greetings, everyone.

I don't have a 4k TV, but I do have an iPad Pro 10.5 and an iPhone XS. Per Apple and Netflix, both devices support HDR playback. I know that neither device is 4k, but can anyone here comment on how HDR looks on both devices compared to SDR? I am wondering whether it's worth upgrading Netflix to the 4k plan to enable HDR playback.

 

[cardfan]

I would advice you not to get it. Until you get proper 4K TV then its a waste especially if you are watching on iPad.
Save yourself some money and put it towards something different.

Hdr shouldn’t even be a thought with iPads. Wait for mini led.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I now have a MacBook Air with Retina display will I be able to see a difference between 1080p and 4K HDR from Netflix on it?

 

[TBoneMac]

iPad and Mac screens kinda suck for hdr and aren’t considered such. Perhaps mini led will help there. Oled certainly would but Apple loves a profit.

I have an Alienware 15” now with oled. That screen is amazing. The people not wanting this for iPads need their head examined.

this aged poorly

oled is expensive and has way too many drawbacks

 

[sparksd]

I bought it for my 4K TV and would not have paid the premium if it were only for my 12.9" Pro.