Netflix Offers HDR Streaming Support For Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Several of Samsung's smartphones feature displays that support high dynamic range (HDR) visuals, though for whatever reason, streaming giant Netflix up to this point has chosen not to support HDR on any of them. That all changes with the Galaxy Note 8. It joins LG's V30 handset and Sony's Xperia XZ1 and XZ Premium phones as the only Android phones where Netflix is available in HDR.

Samsung has a reputation for using high quality displays on its smartphones. Its Super AMOLED panels are top notch and often a step above the competition. When it comes to HDR visuals, peak brightness is a key metric. That is one area where the Galaxy Note 8 and its Super AMOLED display excels—it has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits and supports the HDR10 format.


The Galaxy Note 8 is not the only mobile device from Samsung that can do HDR visuals justice. Likewise, the company's Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Tab S3 all have HDR-capable displays. We imagine Netflix will bring them into the fold at some point, though for the time being, the Galaxy Note 8 bears the sole responsibility of representing Samsung in Netflix's HDR streaming space.

HDR is one of the big movements in display technology at the moment. It has appeal across the board, from big screen TVs and computer monitors, to tablets and smartphone displays. The idea is to present better looking images by boosting brightness and contrast levels, and creating a bigger gap between the brightest and darkest areas of a picture. This allows for more details to be shown, along with more vibrant images. HDR also results in more realistic images, at least when done correctly.

Where things get a little muddy is in the number of HDR standards out there. Counting just the major formats, there are currently five different ones. That number is growing, too. Samsung, for example, is working with Amazon on an HDR format called HDR10+.

As it pertains to Netflix, it supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. In both cases, Netflix says a steady Internet connection speed of 25Mbps of faster is required. Subscribers must also pony up for a four-screen plan, which runs $12 per month.