As of May 2021, Amazon Prime Video had around 175 million users on its streaming service. That is 87.5% of its 200 million Amazon Prime members using the video service.
In comparison, Netflix, the largest streaming service worldwide, had around 207 million subscribed customers. Disney Plus has around 116 million and Hulu had 43 million members.
At the end of the first quarter of 2021, approximately 44 percent of US households were equipped with some kind of 4K television. Every year the number of 4K TVs replacing 1080p TVs is growing.
The popularity of 4K devices grew 13% between March 2020 and March 2021. The amount of 4K content available on streaming services is increasing as well.
Does Amazon Prime Video Have 4K in 2024?
Amazon Prime Video does have 4K content ready for viewing. There is no extra charge to stream in 4K, unlike with some other providers. Hundreds of movies and shows, as well as the majority of Amazon’s original titles, are available to stream in 4K and included with its membership plan.
Amazon Prime Video began streaming 4K content in December 2014. In 2012, LG introduced the first 4K TV and over the next couple of years, production and sales increased consistently.
Seeing this high-resolution option was taking off in popularity with consumers, most streaming platforms started making their services compatible with 4K screens.
How Can I Tell If Amazon Prime Video Is Streaming 4K?
Amazon Prime Video will automatically stream in 4K on compatible devices that are set up to stream in 4K. Go to the Amazon video settings option from the main menu to change the resolution settings.
Make sure your 4K device is set up to play video in 4K by going into your display settings and checking that the output resolution is in the high-quality setting.
You can also check your TV’s resolution by using the info button on your remote control. It will give you information on what resolution your screen is set to.
How Do I Enable 4K on Amazon Prime Video?
Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video does not stream 4K on a laptop or PC. When attempting to play 4K content, the video will automatically revert to HD.
The reasoning behind this is that Amazon Prime Video does not have a security program that prevents 4K content from being copied on a PC.
Netflix, on the other hand, has installed high-bandwidth digital copy protection 2.2, which keeps viewers from copying 4K content into a separate file.
This technology, as well as the higher quality of 4K computer screen necessary to run it, are the only things standing in the way of streaming 4K Amazon Prime content on a PC or laptop.
How Do I Know Which Amazon Prime Video Movies And Shows Are In 4K?
While in the search bar, click on the filter button and the option “4K Ultra High-Definition (4K UHD)”. This will pull up titles that are available in 4K resolution.
This list will have thousands of titles so it is best to narrow down your filter results. You can narrow it down by channel, genre, the decade they were released, video length, and more. Most of Amazon’s original movies and shows are available in 4K.
When you choose a video to watch, directly after the rating under the title will be a list of quality choices. If “UHD” is present, it is available in 4K. It will automatically stream in 4K as long as you have the internet speed to support it.
What Speed Does Amazon Prime Video Require For 4K?
Streaming 4K movies and shows on Amazon Prime Video requires an internet speed of at least 15 megabits per second (Mbps) and they recommend that you use 20 Mbps for optimum viewing.
In comparison, streaming Netflix in 4K requires at least a speed of 25 Mbps. If, while using 4K on Amazon Prime Video, you experience buffering or blurriness, you may want to upgrade to 25 Mbps.
If you want to stream 4K on multiple devices at the same time, you will more than likely require a faster speed. The more devices you stream on at once, the more Mbps you are going to need.
What Devices Will Support Amazon Prime Video In 4K?
- Smart TVs with built-in 4K support
- Smart TVs equipped with a 4K box or streaming stick (like a Fire TV 4K stick)
- Gaming consoles with 4K support (Playstation 4 or higher, Xbox One or higher)
- Smartphones and tablets with 4K support and Amazon Video App downloaded
Laptops and PCs do not support Amazon Prime Video in 4K
Does Amazon Prime Video Charge More For 4K?
Amazon Prime Video does not charge more for 4K streaming. At $8.99 a month, the streaming service includes 4K capability with its low price.
If you are not a Prime subscriber, however, and want to buy or rent movies and shows from Amazon, they will charge a little extra for 4K over HD and SD content.
Is Amazon Prime Video 4K?
Amazon Prime Video offers shows and movies in 4K as well as most of its original productions. Although it does not offer 4K on laptops or PCs, you can stream 4K content from Amazon Prime Video on most other 4K compatible devices.
More 4K content is being added to Amazon Prime Video’s lineup consistently, so if a title is not in 4K at this time, it can be in the future.
Amazon Prime Video offers 4K without charging extra for it, unlike other streaming services that might only offer 4K on their more expensive plans.
What you need to start watching 4K movies and shows on Amazon Prime Video:
- You will need a subscription to Amazon Prime or Amazon Prime Video
- A device or TV that is compatible with 4K UHD
- Internet speed of 15 Mbps or higher
- Make sure you are logged in to your account if using the App
4K on Amazon Prime Video also features immersive audio quality and a wide color spectrum for an enhanced content experience.
