Gone are those days when we watch movies on a CD or DVD. The digital revolution completely changed the video watching scenario by introducing online streaming services.
At present we have many video streaming services available. The best example is Netflix, it is one of the biggest online platforms to watch movies, TV serials and exclusive Netflix originals.
There’s a minimum recommended internet speed for streaming video from websites and services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Amazon.
The last thing you want when watching a movie is to not have it load. If this happens every minute or two, you might not have a fast enough connection to stream movies.
In order to have smooth standard definition video, it’s usually recommended to have a connection that is more than 2 Mb/s. For HD, 3D, or 4K, that speed is much higher. It’s also different depending on the service that’s dishing out the videos.
For Netflix:
- 0.5 Mb/s for viewing standard definition on a laptop computer. While you can stream Netflix at speeds of 0.5 Mb/s, the quality will be grainy on a large screen, much like watching an old VHS movie. Netflix recommends at least 1.5 Mb/s minimum.
- 3 Mb/s for viewing standard definition video (480p) on a TV
- 4 Mb/s for viewing high-def video (720p, 1080p)
- 5 Mb/s or more for the best 1080p experience.
- 15 Mb/s for 4K streaming (but 25mb/s is preferred). Also recommended is a 4K Ultra TV with an HEVC decoder
For Hulu:
- 1.5 Mb/s to stream standard definition content
- 3 Mb/s for 720p high-def videos
- 6 Mb/s to stream 1080p HD content
- 13 Mb/s for 4K Ultra HD videos
For Amazon Video:
- 1 Mb/s to stream standard definition content
- 3.5 Mb/s to stream HD content (720p/1080p)
- 15 Mb/s for 4K Ultra HD videos
For YouTube
- 2.5 Mb/s to stream 720p HD content
- 4 Mb/s to stream 1080p HD content
- 15 Mb/s to stream 4K Ultra HD content
These are the best optimal speed counts to stream the online content without any hiccups and lags.
Slow internet connections happen for various reasons, even when you pay for a high-speed connection such as DSL or cable. To check the Internet speed perform a speed test on your computer using a website like Speed check or Speedtest.net. Repeat the test several times a day to see if the speed varies widely.
If you find that your connection seems slow or that it’s not testing to the standards your service should provide, call the company and discuss this with them. Of course, we must keep in mind that our equipment plays a factor as well.
Related – Improving the Performance of a Business Internet Connection
