Although OnePlus 5T is capable of playing most of the high-resolution videos, it doesn’t support HD streaming on popular services. The issue is limited to the streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, while YouTube works as usual. OnePlus 5T doesn’t have the required certifications for HD streaming and the smartphone maker is at fault in this case.
In order to be able to stream HD content from Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, the device must have Widevine Level 1 DRM (Digital Rights Management). The OnePlus 5T certainly lacks it but does come with Widevine Level 3 certification that allows SD content to be streamed. Not only the newer OnePlus 5T but the now discontinued OnePlus 5 is also plagued with the same issue.
The problem surfaced for the first time on the OnePlus forum where a user made the revelation. It was the same user who confirmed that the YouTube app didn’t face any issue with playing HD videos. The lack of Level 1 certification is only affecting the DRM protected streaming services that include some of the popular ones like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
A OnePlus spokesperson has confirmed to The Verge that they would be fixing it with the next software update. The company also confirmed the fact that both the 2017 OnePlus flagships lack the certification. However, the exact reason for omitting this crucial feature in a phone that gets so much attention wasn’t told.
What’s stranger is the fact that the OnePlus 5 has been around for such a long time and the issue never came out. Until OnePlus releases a fix, the users of both the phones will have to stick with SD streaming even thought the phone sports a striking 1080p AMOLED panel. Not only the display, even the hardware of the base model with 6GB RAM and Snapdragon 835 is more than capable of streaming HD videos.
OnePlus is expected to roll out Android 8.0 Oreo update to the OnePlus 5T starting early next year. While the last year’s OnePlus flagships have already started receiving it. Launched last month, the OnePlus 5T brought the company at par with other flagships in the market that came with thinner bezels and taller displays. The phone was priced the same as its predecessor, leading to the discontinuation of the OnePlus 5.
