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Apple’s T2 chip turns out to be a must to watch 4K HDR Netflix with macOS Big Sur. A setback for older Mac users.
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Soon we finally get macOS Big Sur to see. The new operating system of Apple supports, among other things, the possibility to watch video content in 4K HDR on Netflix. A nice extra, but there is one disadvantage. Older Mac devices will not be able to use this because AppleThe T2 security chip is missing. We read that in a support page from Netflix itself.
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Netflix 4K on the Mac
In that document, we read that only Mac devices from 2018 and newer will be able to watch Netflix in 4K HDR. This is the list of devices that do have the T2 chip on board:
- iMac from 2020
- iMac Pro
- Mac Pro from 2019
- Mac Mini from 2018
- MacBook Air from 2018 or newer
- MacBook Pro from 2018 or newer
If you are not sure and want to know if your Mac has the T2 chip on board, choose the Apple logo on your Mac (about your Mac) in the top left corner. Click on system overview and go to the option in the menu on the left controller. On the right you will now see whether or not the T2 chip is available for you.
And that is a shame for users who still have recent Macs and, for example, could watch perfectly via an external 4K monitor. It is currently unclear why your Mac would absolutely need that T2 chip right now. There seems to be no explanation for this at Netflix either. The new T2 chip will probably be able to process those 4K images better and those devices will have more built-in processing power.
Support
Moreover, you also have a more expensive Netflix subscription if you would like to watch in 4K. That will cost you 16 euros per month in Belgium. Anyone who has that and a recent Mac can finally watch Netflix in 4K HDR via Safari.
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