For a platform that prides itself on “premium viewing,” Netflix is struggling with something far more basic: letting people watch in the quality they’re actually paying for.
And the complaints are starting to pile up.
Take the iQOO 15, for instance, a device that ships with Widevine L1, the security certification required for HD and 4K playback on most OTT platforms. On paper, it checks every box.
Yet Netflix refuses to enable 4K streaming on it. Even users who pay for the top-tier Premium 4K HDR subscription are being locked into lower resolutions, especially with big releases like the new season of Stranger Things rolling out.
And it isn’t an isolated case. Another user paying ₹499 for the HD plan can’t stream anything beyond SD, despite having a device fully capable of handling HD. Settings are correct. Playback environment is fine. The subscription is active. The only thing missing is Netflix doing its part.
The real issue here isn’t just technical, it’s emotional. People pay for experiences. They look forward to watching something the way it was meant to be seen, especially on the weekend or after a long day. Getting stuck with SD quality despite paying for HD or 4K feels less like an inconvenience and more like a breach of trust.
OTT platforms often talk about innovation, global standards, and pushing entertainment forward.
But sometimes, all users want is the basics to work. Netflix doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. It just needs to let people watch the content they’ve already paid for, in the quality they were promised.
@NetflixIndia @netflix
Hey @NetflixIndia, my iQOO 15 has Widevine L1 but Netflix still doesn’t allow 4K playback. I pay for the Premium 4K HDR subscription and want to watch the new season of Stranger Things in full quality. Please fix this compatibility issue ASAP.— Hasan Haider (@Hassan_FFM) November 25, 2025
@netflix @NetflixIndia I purchased the ₹499 monthly HD plan specifically for HD streaming, but all content is still stuck in SD. My device supports HD playback and settings are correct. Please look into this — not getting the service I paid for.
— Rounak (@rounaxx) November 25, 2025
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