Netflix and Amazon Prime won't let the Poco F1 play HD videos, and an update won't fix this

I have terrible news for you if you are a Netflix aficionado who purchased the super-charged inexpensive flagship Poco F1 because of its gorgeous, notch display, which boasts excellent colors and sharpness. Although it can play Full HD movies on YouTube, the smartphone that is being praised for its incredible hardware does not support HD playback on applications like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.

This is due to the fact that the Poco F1 lacks what is referred to as a "Widevine L1" license. In essence, Google uses Widevine as a licensing mechanism for digital rights management (DRM). In case all those technical terms went unnoticed, Widevine is a certification standard that limits the resolution of videos on certain phones to avoid unlawful screen recording and distribution of copies by pirates. Poco F1 Can't Play HD Videos on Netflix, Amazon Prime and an OTA Won't Fix This According to this article explains, manufacturers must pass a test in order to be allowed to provide HD access on devices. Based on hardware support, they are ranked from L3 to L1, with L1 being the highest. Here, the Pooc F1 receives an L3 score, meaning that the maximum video resolution you can do with it is 540p.

Not OTA-fixable

For those who are curious, handsets can be updated to L1, which is necessary for 720p and greater playback. However, the Poco F1 has to be brought to the service center, or worse, it could need to be returned back to the business, in order to allow that. A shame, don't you think? According to Widevine's official documentation,

A secret key that is exclusive to the device and inaccessible to software or probing techniques outside of the TrustZone is required to encrypt the Widevine keybox. The Widevine key-box has to be sent to the device via an authorized secure delivery method or installed in the factory.

Overstock 5T and 5 customers had to deal with a similar struggle the previous year in order to activate the function and submit their smartphones to the firm; this kind of struggle usually included a recall of a certain automobile model.Using the DRM Info app on your smartphone, you may confirm this. Poco F1 Can't Play HD Videos on Netflix, Amazon Prime and an OTA Won't Fix This

Poco F1 Can't Play HD Videos on Netflix, Amazon Prime and an OTA Won't Fix This

As a result of reducing expenses? Not Really!

Manufacturers are not required to pay for Widevine DRM licensing, as explained in this article. Thus, at this time, the only explanations that come to mind are: Firstly, Xiaomi rushed the Poco F1 debut in an attempt to disrupt Honor Play's sales. Secondly, Xiaomi wanted to prevent the phone from leaking, which the phone did in any case.Essentially, because spec sheets often don't address it, there has to be some clarity in the way DRM rights are handled.In the meantime, we've written to Xiaomi to inquire about the possibility of a replacement program to activate the functionality on the many Poco F1s that people have already purchased.