4K is the buzzword for streaming movies and series nowadays, which is a rich 3,840×2,160-pixel resolution made for high-quality viewing. 4K is also known as 4K Ultra HD, but what’s important is whether all your favorite streaming sites offer it. Peacock is new to the game, they launched in July 2020, and you may wonder if they have 4K like their competitors.
Peacock offers 4K, but you’ll need to pay for Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus membership to access 4K content. In addition to a membership, you’ll need a compatible high-resolution device and enough bandwidth to access and stream 4K Ultra HD.
Watching your favorite movie in 4K Ultra HD is an experience worth having. Since Peacock offers 4K, we’ll look at how you can set it up and cover some other questions regarding watching videos in 4K on Peacock.
How To Watch In 4K On Peacock
Watching your favorite movies and series in 4K is an entertainment dream – who knew technology would bring streaming quality this far? You’ll need a few things in place before you can experience 4K Ultra HD from Peacock.
To stream 4K on Peacock, you’ll need to be a paid member of Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus. Peacock Premium costs $4.99 monthly and is free for Xfinity users, but you’ll still have adverts. Peacock Premium Plus is $9.99 a month, which is ad-free and offers you more streaming content. Once you’re a Premium or Premium Plus member, the content available in 4K will show as a video quality option.
Streaming 4K Ultra HD uses a large bandwidth, so your internet speed needs to be fast enough to stream the 4K video through Peacock. You’ll use an average rate of 25 Mbps to view or download a 4K movie or series, so you’ll need to ensure your internet bandwidth can handle it. It is also good to remember that if more than one person is streaming 4K, you will be using more bandwidth.
Besides being a Premium member and having enough streaming capacity, you’ll need a device that is compatible with 4K and show 4K resolution. Most tablets and phones don’t support 4K Ultra HD, but there are many TVs, computer monitors, and laptop screens that can. Your streaming device needs at least a 4K input, which means it has the resolution size to display 4K Ultra HD.
If you have Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus, a considerable bandwidth that can handle 25Mbps or above, and a 4K TV or device, you can enjoy 4K Ultra HD streaming off Peacock.
All You Need To Know About Streaming 4K On Peacock
Now that you know you can stream 4K Ultra HD on Peacock, we’ve covered some other questions you may have, ranging from how to activate 4K to data usage and more.
How Do You Turn On 4K on Peacock?
Suppose you’re a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus member, have a substantial bandwidth, and stream 4K content on a 4K-compatible device; the video will automatically set to 4K Ultra HD, which cannot change to lower resolutions, as 4K will be the default.
What Is Available To Watch In 4K On Peacock?
You can stream popular movies in 4K Ultra HD, but Peacock has a limited library of 4K content, and their original series aren’t in 4K either. Still, there is word that it will be available sometime in the future.
The movies and series you can watch in 4K Ultra HD have a small 4K icon on the title screen. Some sports events also stream in 4K. You will; be able to stream the 2023 Premier League in 4k on Peacock Premium and Premium Plus.
Does Peacock Have 4K Available On All Platforms?
Unfortunately, Peacock doesn’t have 4K on all platforms, and the excluded platforms include some Apple TVs and Fire TVs. Phones and tablets don’t have the resolution size for 4K Ultra HD, so those are also unusable. Peacock is working on their platform availability, so keep an eye out for that!
The available 4K platforms include:
- Android TVs
- Fire TV from OS 6 onwards
- Sony Bravia OS 5.1 and above
- NVIDIA Shield OS 5.1 and above
- 4th Generation Apple TVs and above
- Chromecast
- Hisense VIDAA
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One, X, and S
- Many Roku models
- Samsung Smart TVs from 2017 onwards
- VIZIO Smart TV from 2016 onwards
- Cox
- Xfinity
How Much Data Do You Need To Stream 4K On Peacock?
Your internet provider might cap or throttle you if you use too much internet data, so if that is a concern, 4K might take a large chunk of it when you stream off Peacock. 4K Ultra HD can take between 7.2GB to 7.7GB per hour of streaming. Check with your internet provider if you have a data cap or if they will throttle your internet usage after a set cap.
Most people have unlimited internet, so you most likely don’t have to worry about running out of data, but if you do and go over the limit, you’ll need to pay for the extra usage. A data throttle is more common, and you’ll want to keep an eye on the use when streaming 4K on Peacock not to cause a throttle, as that means your broadband provider will slow your internet speed.
Is Streaming In 4K On Peacock Worth It?
4K Ultra HD sounds like a remarkable encounter between you and your binge-worthy series, but is 4K all that? 4K is the best viewing resolution on streaming sites now and is said to produce crisp and vibrant videos, and is terrific for larger screens, but not without a price.
Since you need to pay for a Peacock membership and have the right tech, a lot goes into setting up to watch 4K, which may not be worthwhile. Peacock currently has a limited range of 4K options but should expand soon and become the new normal eventually.
Can You Download 4K Videos On Peacock For Offline Viewing?
Peacock allows for 4K downloads; all you need to do is click the download button, pick the 4K resolution, and you’ll find the downloaded movie or series episode under My Downloads. There are a few hoops to jump and restrictions to consider when downloading off Peacock to watch offline; therefore, you might benefit from an offline downloader.
Conclusion
The great news is that Peacock offers 4K Ultra HD, and if you have a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus Membership, a 4K matching device, and a strong enough bandwidth, you’re all set to stream the movies and series available in 4K.