⚡ Quick answer: A single stable 4K stream needs roughly 25 Mbps of steady bandwidth, a 4K-capable device and player, and a channel that is actually broadcast in 4K.
4K is included on every plan, not gated behind a higher tier — but actually getting a stable 4K picture depends on your connection and device as much as the subscription itself.
What Your Connection Needs
At least 25 Mbps for a single stable 4K stream, with headroom above that recommended rather than treated as a hard ceiling — see our full internet speed guide for the complete breakdown by resolution.
Not Every Channel Is 4K
Stream quality depends on what the original broadcast supports — channels are available in 4K UHD, Full HD, or HD depending on the source, not uniformly across the entire lineup.
If 4K Buffers
4K has the least bandwidth headroom of any quality tier, so it is the first thing to stutter on a busy network. Switch to the HD version of the channel, move the device to a wired connection, or follow the buffering checklist. Check that your device decodes HEVC (H.265), which most 4K streams use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much speed do I need for 4K?
At least 25 Mbps for a single stable 4K stream, with headroom above that recommended rather than treated as a hard ceiling.
Are all channels available in 4K?
Stream quality depends on the source channel — live channels are available in 4K UHD, Full HD, and HD depending on what the original broadcast supports.
What should I do if 4K keeps buffering?
Switch to the HD version of the channel, use a wired connection, and confirm your device and player support HEVC (H.265) decoding.
Every tier, no upgrade required
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