Netflix adds HDR support for Samsung Galaxy S21 series, TCL 20 5G

Although expected, Netflix has now “officially” certified the recently released Samsung Galaxy S21 series to play HDR content on the streaming platform along with the TCL 20 5G.

HDR content is expected to rise in popularity over the coming years, as this offers a deeper, richer experience when consuming HD video on the platform. The addition of a Netflix HDR certification to the Galaxy S21 series means that while the hardware was capable out of the box, the streaming system won’t serve up high-dynamic-range video unless they determine it certified.

Despite being a formality, if you have picked up the Galaxy S21 series, or plan on doing so, at least you know you can have one of the best viewing experiences on mobile. Another notable addition is that of the TCL 20 5G. It, too, can now officially stream HDR content from the service:

• Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
• Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
• Samsung Glaaxy S21 Ultra 5G
• TCL 20 5G

It is worth noting that not all Netflix shows are available in HDR — nor are all available in HD. It’s all up to the producers, but it is becoming increasingly common. While the Galaxy S21 series is receiving HDR viewing capabilities, Netflix has simultaneously certified a number of Oppo devices as HD-capable:

It’s actually worth noting that, unlike the HD tier, you will need to up your subscription fees to $17.99 per month to be able to enjoy Netflix HDR content on your new Galaxy S21 device. While it’s a nice feature, it probably isn’t enough to justify such a bump if you only watch videos on your smartphone.

More on Netflix:

• YouTube and Netflix may require AV1 hardware decoding in the future
• Netflix on Android adds support for ‘studio-quality audio’ codec
• Google Nexus 9 and Pixel C may no longer play Netflix in HD