We always hear about streaming services boasting about 4K resolutions. Even mobile phones are now competing with one another in terms of who has the better resolution screen. However, you must keep in mind that your laptop or phone screen can be of the highest possible resolution, but it won’t be able to give you to the complete experience if you are streaming videos with a poor or incompatible internet speed.
When we stream videos on any platform, it uses our internet speed to pre-load the content while we are watching. Fast speed internets can pre-load content faster than our watching speed, making buffering an impossibility. However, slow internet are unable to catch up with our watching and downloading speeds, causing a lot of buffering.
what is 4k streaming?
Buffers can be a real buzz kill for most of us. Picture quality becomes distorted, you have to wait for videos to load and in the end you might have to set your app settings from 4K to something less like 1080p to meet with your internet capacity. So, to enjoy 4K on Netflix, make sure you have the best internet service provider.
Before you pick a service provider for your home or office, make sure you know what your streaming requirements are. This means that if you want to stream games, or 4K videos on Netflix, or you want to stream 4K videos on YouTube, each will have a different internet requirement. To give you a rough idea, here are the requirements of different platforms:
- Hulu
3 (low resolution) to 16 Mbps (high resolution)
- Netflix
3(low resolution) to 25 Mbps (4K)
- YouTube
13-15 Mbps
- Disney+
5 (low resolution) to 25 Mbps
- YouTube TV
13 to 15 Mbps for high resolution
- Music
2 to 10 Mbps for streaming music on any platform (no video)
- HBO Max
12 Mbps or more
- Amazon Prime Video
5 to 25 Mbps for high resolution
Best internet services for 4K streaming
CenturyLink
Ranging from $49 to $65 a month, CenturyLink is also a good provider for 4K streaming. You can get minimum speeds of 15 Mbps, which is good enough for one person streaming Netflix on 4K. The maximum internet speed it provides is 950 Mbps. The good news is that you can opt for either DSL or fiber internet, according to your needs and usage. Its fiber gigabit package is not only ideal for heavy usage but also for connecting multiple devices at a time.
Xfinity
Fiber optic internet is becoming extremely popular amongst all types of users. With Xfinity, you get to choose between cable and fiber internet, and also get the package at relatively great prices too!
The best part about buying a plan from this provider is that it has a wide range of internet speeds, starting from 15 Mbps to a whopping 1000 Mbps! Xfinity is also known for its extremely low latency, making it the perfect fit for streaming 4K games online.
Another value adding benefit of Xfinity is that you can use Xfinity hotspots all around the nation with just one-time sign in. Check out more deals that are suitable for you here.
Suddenlink
One of the biggest issues most of us face with internet service providers is their lack of coverage. Most internet service providers have good internet speeds and packages only in specific areas, which makes it difficult for people who always find themselves on the go or live in less populated areas. If that’s the case with you and you are looking for fast-speed Rural internet for streaming, then Suddenlink is a good choice. It is one of the best for rural internet.
Its packages start from somewhere around $35 a month, and provide you internet speeds ranging from 300 to 1000 Mbps. These speeds are great for family homes. One possible drawback of using Suddenlink can be the lack of fiber optic internet. However, it is compensated by unlimited data cap and wide coverage, along with very low latency.
Final thoughts
Whether you choose Xfinity or some other provider, there are more than just one factor to consider such as streaming requirements of a particular platform, connectivity issues in your area, along with number of devices using the internet are all important in deciding which internet provider is best for you. 4K streaming is a whole another experience on its own, and we cannot help but look forward to technology outdoing itself with new improvements each day.
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