Mac with T2 Security Chip required to play 4K Netflix streams in macOS Big Sur

AppleInsider · September 30, 2020 11:04PM

Those looking forward to streaming Netflix content in 4K HDR with the upcoming macOS Big Sur operating system will need a Mac with Apple's T2 Security Chip, limiting the feature to recently released hardware.

Netflix recently updated a Help Center webpage with new guidance on viewing 4K HDR content in Safari on macOS Big Sur, noting both operating system and hardware requirements, reports Apple Terminal.

According to the support document only "[s]elect 2018 or later Mac computer[s] with an Apple T2 Security chip" are compatible with Ultra HD streaming. Further, all external monitors must feature 60Hz 4K capabilities and an HDCP 2.2 compliant connection.

Netflix fails to explain why Macs need a T2 chip to play back 4K HDR streams when comparable Windows machines do not. The chip does integrate a number of critical controllers like the system's image signal processor and audio controller, which have been proven to lend a moderate boost to video encoding. It is possible that Netflix simply added the T2 requirement to ensure subscribers are using modern Macs with current graphics components.

Apple in a Support Document notes HDR video playback is limited to 2018 or later MacBook Pro models, 2018 or later MacBook Air models, the 2020 iMac, iMac Pro, 2018 Mac mini and Mac Pro, with 4K restricted to iMac and iMac Pro variants. T2 chip requirements are not mentioned.

Safari in Big Sur's forthcoming compatibility with Netflix Ultra HD content was first spotted in June, early in the beta testing period. At the time, testers discovered the web browser enables 4K video streams encoded using the HEVC codec.

Apple is expected to debut macOS Big Sur in the coming weeks.

mykem · September 30, 2020 11:21PM

The T2 chip is more than just a security chip. It incorporates everything from the System Management Controller (SMC), SSD Controller/Hardware Encryption/Secure Boot for system storage, ISP (image signal processor), audio controller and Security Enclave.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT208862

White Paper on the T2:

https://www.apple.com/euro/mac/shared/docs/Apple_T2_Security_Chip_Overview.pdf

hackintoisier · September 30, 2020 11:32PM

What about eschewing Safari and just use Chrome? I haven’t tried Netflix 4K on macOS but YouTube works at 4K in chrome on Catalina when safari doesn’t support 4k.

chasm · October 1, 2020 1:23AM

I note that this is specifically about 4K *HDR* content, so possibly the T2 is handling the image processing on that -- or, as the article posits, Netflix is over-generalizing to ensure that 2018 and later Macs are used when streaming Netflix to those devices.

Just my own opinion, but I spend plenty of time on my Mac and would rather not continue to sit there to watch a film. I can access services like Netflix on an iPad, on my Apple TV (or other streaming box, if I had one), and on every model I'm aware of Netflix is already built into the smart TV directly. A computer screen is the second-least desireable screen I would use for movie-watching (the first being a smartphone, though they'll do if you're stuck on a flight in economy class or some such).

F_Kent_D · October 1, 2020 1:55AM

chasm said:

I note that this is specifically about 4K *HDR* content, so possibly the T2 is handling the image processing on that -- or, as the article posits, Netflix is over-generalizing to ensure that 2018 and later Macs are used when streaming Netflix to those devices.

Just my own opinion, but I spend plenty of time on my Mac and would rather not continue to sit there to watch a film. I can access services like Netflix on an iPad, on my Apple TV (or other streaming box, if I had one), and on every model I'm aware of Netflix is already built into the smart TV directly. A computer screen is the second-least desireable screen I would use for movie-watching (the first being a smartphone, though they'll do if you're stuck on a flight in economy class or some such).

I may be completely incorrect but I believe Apple had to come up with something (A chip) to handle the heavy-hitting processes like these because of Intel’s failure in the chip development allowing their iWhatever processors to process said 4K content without totally overheating and cooking the computer it’s in and all other components without throttling. Hence the whole reason Apple is in the process of switching to their own silicon, Intel cannot handle all of it on their own. My opinion, that’s all.

viclauyyc · October 1, 2020 2:24AM

Stupid things like this is the reason why dumb people make fun of Mac and iOS.

apple tree · October 1, 2020 3:41AM

Wonderful. I am sure people will still continue to rip 4k video streams on computers of their choice.

hammeroftruth · October 1, 2020 3:48AM

I would reckon it has something to do with DRM if it involves the T2 chip. Worst chip, ever.
I wish Apple would get rid of it.

sflocal · October 1, 2020 4:07AM

I suppose it's an issue for one that use's their Mac as their sole streaming device. I prefer to watch it on a regular flatscreen TV (via AppleTV) on a comfy sofa than on an iMac or Macbook. When I do watch Netflix on my iMac, a always watch it in a window on my 2nd monitor while doing work on the other. Mainly for background noise.

I guess some don't?

matrix077 · October 1, 2020 4:40AM

viclauyyc said:

Stupid things like this is the reason why dumb people make fun of Mac and iOS.

Just because you can do something on Windows doesn't mean you will do it well. From my experience of decades of using Windows it can do almost everything but only a small subset of those is doing well. This is why people who's using Windows will get frustrated eventually and turns to Mac (if they have money and not a gamer).

cy_starkman · October 1, 2020 6:10AM

hammeroftruth said:

I would reckon it has something to do with DRM if it involves the T2 chip.

my guess is this also, esp since they also require hdcp compliant cables and displays.

possibly they are trying to prevent content ripping and (in my opinion) are using some data from the T2 chip to encode tracing information into the displayed content. this can then be detected and the person charged.

rotateleftbyte · October 1, 2020 6:25AM

Just another reason not to sign up to Netflix (or any other streaming service for that matter). I do have a T2 equipped Mac but like some others have said, I spend far too long in front of it each day (yes, writing novels is work) to want to watch stuff on it when I have a 50in Sony sitting idle. FreeSat (UK) gives me 100+ channels of free TV (no subscriptions) and there is plenty on my HDR to catch up on.

This Grumpy will carry on refusing subscriptions as long as possible.

indiekiduk · October 1, 2020 7:54AM

Apple's homegrown SMC (System Management Controller) aka T2 is also a hardware video decoder. But Intel's CPU and AMD's GPU are also hardware video decoders.

Dan_Dilger · October 1, 2020 8:09AM

The T2 chip includes Apple’s hardware accelerated video encoder for video. If Netflix were to “just use Chrome” it could perhaps “do” 4K video in software but it would be lower quality and cause a major implosion of battery life while the fans ran at full tilt as you’re trying to watch Netflix (and would force users to run Chrome.

Capture a 4K video on your iOS device and then try to play that on a pre-T2 Mac and it will be readily obvious.

As we have been noting for some time, T2 was the first step towards Apple Silicon.

foregoneconclusion · October 1, 2020 10:20AM

Why would 'HDR' be left out of the headline for this article?

MacPro · October 1, 2020 12:13PM

corrections said:

The T2 chip includes Apple’s hardware accelerated video encoder for video. If Netflix were to “just use Chrome” it could perhaps “do” 4K video in software but it would be lower quality and cause a major implosion of battery life while the fans ran at full tilt as you’re trying to watch Netflix (and would force users to run Chrome.

Capture a 4K video on your iOS device and then try to play that on a pre-T2 Mac and it will be readily obvious.

As we have been noting for some time, T2 was the first step towards Apple Silicon.

Microsoft's Edge Browser (I wouldn't let Chrome near my Macs) handles 4K on YouTube on a non-T2 iMac 27" i9 5K where Safari in limited to 2K, I wonder if it might be a Safari issue. After all, most of those things T2 does are handled elsewhere on a non-T2 modern Mac.

mr lizard · October 1, 2020 12:14PM

F_Kent_D said:

chasm said:

I note that this is specifically about 4K *HDR* content, so possibly the T2 is handling the image processing on that -- or, as the article posits, Netflix is over-generalizing to ensure that 2018 and later Macs are used when streaming Netflix to those devices.

Just my own opinion, but I spend plenty of time on my Mac and would rather not continue to sit there to watch a film. I can access services like Netflix on an iPad, on my Apple TV (or other streaming box, if I had one), and on every model I'm aware of Netflix is already built into the smart TV directly. A computer screen is the second-least desireable screen I would use for movie-watching (the first being a smartphone, though they'll do if you're stuck on a flight in economy class or some such).

I may be completely incorrect but I believe Apple had to come up with something (A chip) to handle the heavy-hitting processes like these because of Intel’s failure in the chip development allowing their iWhatever processors to process said 4K content without totally overheating and cooking the computer it’s in and all other components without throttling. Hence the whole reason Apple is in the process of switching to their own silicon, Intel cannot handle all of it on their own. My opinion, that’s all.

Intel machines running the Windows OS handle Netflix’s 4K HDR content, so it’s not specifically an Intel issue.

mr lizard · October 1, 2020 12:16PM

cy_starkman said:

hammeroftruth said:

I would reckon it has something to do with DRM if it involves the T2 chip.

my guess is this also, esp since they also require hdcp compliant cables and displays.

possibly they are trying to prevent content ripping and (in my opinion) are using some data from the T2 chip to encode tracing information into the displayed content. this can then be detected and the person charged.

Nope. Windows PCs display Netflix 4K HDR content and do not have a T2 chip inside them.

mr lizard · October 1, 2020 12:17PM

hammeroftruth said:

I would reckon it has something to do with DRM if it involves the T2 chip. Worst chip, ever.
I wish Apple would get rid of it.

Windows PCs display Netflix 4K HDR content without a T2 chip.

randominternetperson · October 1, 2020 2:05PM

hammeroftruth said:

I would reckon it has something to do with DRM if it involves the T2 chip. Worst chip, ever.
I wish Apple would get rid of it.

Fascinating. Do you have a top 10 list of worst chips ever? How did the Pentium with math errors do?

Mike Wuerthele · October 1, 2020 2:06PM

This is 100% forward thinking, and about Apple Silicon, as Apple Silicon won't have the assorted TPM modules that the Intel chips do.

Mac with T2 Security Chip required to play 4K Netflix streams in macOS Big Sur

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