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Netflix quality on iPhone (via HDMI)

FSMBP

FSMBP

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 22, 2009
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I couldn't find an official answer, so I thought I'd give this a shot:

Does anyone know the quality of Netflix when hooking it via the Digital AV Adapter (HDMI) with the iPhone 4/4S? Is it HD? Standard? Worse?

Any answers would be appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Bump...so no one hooks up their iPhone via the HDMI adapter with Netflix?
 
I do hook mine up the through the HDMI; and it CAN look very good.

However, I'm not sure what determines how good the streaming content is - whether it's how many others are streaming the same thing etc. But it can go from very good to very bad in the matter of milli-seconds.

For some reason, it seems to stream better from my GF's ipad than it does from my iphone. Not sure what that's about.

Bottom line - don't have outrageous expectations and you won't be disappointed.
 
Quality is 'meh'. I've shared Netflix before over hdmi on a friends 46" HDTV and it was definitely watchable but by no means high quality.

I never compared to my Razr that has Netflix HD because I was borrowing the iPhone cable. From looking at it on different occasions I think the HD is much better as you would imagine.
 
Thanks guys for the info!

I was hoping it would stream Netflix 'HD' quality (720P) but since the iPhone isn't HD, it makes sense. So, I think it makes sense that the iPad's Netflix app streams it at 720P (aka, better quality when connecting via the HDMI cable).
 
FSMBP said:
Thanks guys for the info!

I was hoping it would stream Netflix 'HD' quality (720P) but since the iPhone isn't HD, it makes sense. So, I think it makes sense that the iPad's Netflix app streams it at 720P (aka, better quality when connecting via the HDMI cable).
Click to expand...

What are you debating about doing? Getting Netflix or the cable?

If its the cable then go for it. It's nice to have for more then just Netflix.
 
cynics said:
What are you debating about doing? Getting Netflix or the cable?

If its the cable then go for it. It's nice to have for more then just Netflix.
Click to expand...

I was debating on getting the cable. However, I'm thinking about getting the new AppleTV. It would do 1080P HD Netflix amongst other things. I guess $40 vs $99 is the issue!
 
I recently bought this adapter for the same reason (netflix). When I adapt it to my tv and stream a movie on 3g, my signal slowly goes from 3 bars to no service. If I unplug the adapter and leave the phone in the exact same spot, the movie will play without interuption. I posted a thread about this but no body replied. So I would say it did not work well for me. As for mirroring everything else it works fine.
 
Sorry to bump an old topic but I didn't want to start a new thread on the same; it's been a frustrating experience watching Netflix using either my iPhone (4) or iPad (3rd gen) mirrored using Apple's digital AV adapter and HDMI cable. The quality is just not there.

Basically, for comparison sake, using the same internet at the same location, same movie on Netflix, on the PS3 it is 1080p and looks amazing. Same TV and movie, this time using either iphone or ipad mirrored using the adapter and it looks like crap, even though the signal from the device is reported as 720p. The difference is big enough that even my wife noticed it. It's like comparing Bluray to VHS, really.

I'm guessing the problem is due to Netflix's iOS app that limits and locks the resolution to a preset one for the device? The main Netflix banner page that's displayed before the content starts playing is very crisp, it's just the content itself that is sub par.

The only thing I could think of to try was to go into my netflix account and set the quality for best but that didn't make any difference at all. Still looks superb from PS3, and VHS-quality mirrored from an iOS device.

Anyone found a workaround or a fix?
 
I think it depends on the quality of the original video. When I am getting my Knight Rider fix (hey I'm a 35 year old guy, don't judge me) the quality is fair.

When watching a newer release movie or a show originally recorded in HD, the quality is much better.

This may be perception, but streaming from the new iPad seems to be better quality. But again - may be my imagination.
 
Streaming over netflix is going to give people varying quality because of a lot of factors. Network speed and how reliable that speed is a big factor. Lots of people think they have fast internet, but the connection needs to maintain those speeds for as long as you're streaming the content from netflix (an hour or longer, usually). If it drops or hiccups, your stream immediately gets lowered to accommodate, and the quality will suffer.

And there's how the source was created, too. Knight Rider, probably wasn't mastered with netflix in mind. a more recent movie on the other hand, will probably look a lot better.

I just recently got Apple TV, and I love it. The video quality streamed over either my iPad or iPhone is excellent, so long as the source video is good enough to begin with. If the video is poor quality, it might look ok on a small 3.5 inch screen, but will look bad on a large 1080p display.
 
While certainly some of the factors cited already may contribute to reduced streaming quality, I think at least in my case those factors were removed from the equation.

The speed of my internet is consistently 25Mbps (tested it at random times, on all my devices, frequently over the past two days). It's more than enough bandwidth and speed consistency to hold an HD stream perfectly, and it shows on Netflix through the PS3.

The other factor that some titles are just plain old and not available in HD, sure, but I didn't test such titles. All the titles I tested were new titles, available and streamed in 1080p on the PS3. The very same titles were tested for apples-to-apples comparison and were all consistently VHS quality on iOS-mirroring. This is why I was guessing that it's a Netflix iOS app issue, limiting the res to the device.

Is it possible that Netflix never designed the app with mirroring in mind?
 
Device will matter to. Some android devices get netflix hd. But I think the reason the quality looks better when mirrored from the iPad (as reported) is that it's formatted for a larger screen. Basically not stretched as much.
 
FSMBP said:
I was debating on getting the cable. However, I'm thinking about getting the new AppleTV. It would do 1080P HD Netflix amongst other things. I guess $40 vs $99 is the issue!
Click to expand...
Just get a Roku box. The Apple TV is overpriced. Especially if you just want to play Netflix on your TV.
 
I have the composite cable so that we can stream it in the minivan's entertainment system. Mostly for the kids to watch so to them it looks fine. I don't expect the quality to be any good. At home we have the Roku on one TV, Wii on the other and the smaller tv has it built in. But to have it handy to plug in at anytime is definitely worth it for the convenience.
 
Calidude said:
Just get a Roku box. The Apple TV is overpriced. Especially if you just want to play Netflix on your TV.
Click to expand...

Until you start finding uses for all those other apps on your iPhone.

Being able to send your iPhone to the TV: Worth the extra money, even if that poster hasn't figured out all those other uses yet.
 
Calidude said:
Just get a Roku box. The Apple TV is overpriced. Especially if you just want to play Netflix on your TV.
Click to expand...

Thanks though I caved in awhile ago and got a PS3 (which does 1080p Netflix). Also, you can have Vudu on there (you can get 1080p movies with amazing video/sound quality with barely any buffering)!

I just wish Apple would push the next iPhone as a multimedia device. An iPhone is always on you and it has the capabilities to output 1080p video. It could have a cool 'Frontrow" Style Interface when connected to a TV (ex. Zune HD). I know there is AirPlay but I'd rather just have to carry a HDMI cable with me than my AppleTV every time I travel.
 
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