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Video streaming services and their recommended internet speeds

Written By Louie Diangson
Published • November 27th, 2021
GuidesInternet & Telecoms
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There are plenty of streaming services available in the Philippines alone, to the point that it can be a bit of a problem, especially if you’re subscribed to several. Aside from having varying subscription costs, every platform also has recommended internet speeds. So, if you’re thinking of going all-in on streaming, make sure that your internet speed can accommodate the minimum requirements.

Netflix

For Netflix, one of the most popular streaming services is recommending 3 Mbps for Standard Definition (SD), 5 Mbps for High Definition (HD), and 25 Mbps for 4K/Ultra HD (UHD). To test the connection speed, the company is recommending Fast.com. Alternatively, you can go to the Netflix home screen, select Settings, then select Check your Network.

Disney+

For Disney+, it is recommending 5 Mbps for High Definition (HD) and 25 Mbps for 4K UHD. To test the internet speed, the company is recommending speedof.me. The service is yet to be officially available in the Philippines, though.

Apple TV+

Apple says that it recommends 25 Mbps for 4K streaming. If your Internet connection isn’t fast enough, Apple devices will automatically switch the video quality to a lower-quality version. However, some users report that they can stream Standard Definition at 5 Mbps.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video recommends a minimum download speed of 1 MB/s (8 Mbps) for SD content and 5 MB/s (40 Mbps) for HD content. Like Apple TV+, Prime Video will serve the highest quality streaming possible based on the speed available.

HBO GO

HBO says that the minimum internet speed required to run HBO Go is 512 Kbps, however, it recommends a 10 Mbps connection for optimal video quality. The company says that it uses an adaptive streaming technology that automatically matches the user’s broadband speed and the video bitrate.

Discovery+

For Discovery+, 0.5 Mbps is required but the recommended is 1.5 Mbps. It recommends 2.5 Mbps for streaming SD quality videos and 4 Mbps for HD quality.

Viu

Viu didn’t mention the recommended internet speed but according to Globe, which is one of its partner providers, 5 MB/s (40 Mbps) is the requirement for High Definition (HD).

Vivamax

For Vivamax, the minimum recommended speed is 600 kbps for its lowest bitrate.

Hulu

For Hulu, it recommends 3 Mbps for Hulu’s Streaming Library. It goes up to 8 Mbps for live streams, and 16 Mbps for 4K content. Viewers would still be able to stream at reduced video quality with 1.5 Mbps.

YouTube

For YouTube, it recommends a sustained speed of 0.7 Mbps for SD 360p, 1.1 Mbps for SD 480p, 2.5 Mbps for HD 720p, 5 Mbps for HD 1080p, and 20 Mbps for 4K. YouTube also has the option to automatically adjust the video resolution depending on the internet speed.

Based on the recommended speeds mentioned above, it looks like a minimum subscription of 5 Mbps is enough to stream Standard Definition videos from most streaming services, which is okay if you’re watching from a mobile device. But if you have a 4K TV, a 25 Mbps subscription would suffice. However, if you’re going to use that connection at the same time with other applications, or if you’re sharing it with someone else, then you might want to opt for higher bandwidth. You can go for up to 10,000 Mbps if you want, but that depends.