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Netflix UK review

 Review: January 2016  
 

Last updated December 2016

Rating: 4 stars

In a nutshell: Netflix offers a choice of thousands of TV series and movies, available in HD or UHD. You can stream to your TV, PC, phone or tablet, and all the content is available for a flat monthly fee. Netflix is a streaming content pioneer, offering original series not available elsewhere.



 

Streaming content

We're huge fans of streaming video content here at S21. It's what we've been waiting for since, well, forever. Now it's here, it's widely available, and it's not expensive. Where do we sign?

But hold on. It seems that you have to wait a lifetime for streaming video to arrive, then two options come at once. Netflix or Amazon? That is the question.

Subscription options

Netflix is available for a monthly fee, and at the time of writing there are 3 options.

In each case, you can trial the service for one month free, and you can cancel your subscription at any time.

Devices and portability

Of course you can watch Netflix on a Smart TV, and it's also available via PlayStation, Xbox, Chromecast, Apple TV, and some Blu-ray players. So most UK homes probably have one or more ways to access the Netflix app on TV. You'll also need a fast internet connection for streaming content. A minimum of 5Mbps is recommended for HD content, and 25Mbps is the recommendation for 4K streaming.

As well as watching Netflix on TV, you can view it on a PC, mobile or tablet. The Netflix app is available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices. From December 2016 you can now also download content to an iPhone, iPad or Android device to watch offline.

Choice of programmes

Netflix was the first streaming content provider, and it has a good choice of content. It tends to be strongest at TV series rather than movies, and has pioneered its own original content, such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.

Content tends to appear on Netflix some time after it first airs on TV or in the cinema, and old shows are removed to make way for new ones. In our experience there is quite a lot of duff content, as well as some good stuff. The user interface doesn't always make it easy to find something to watch. It's common to spend ages scrolling through Netflix's lists, before finding something appealing. Amazon Instant Video is much better in this respect.

Verdict

The basic Netflix option is cheap, but gives you low resolution standard definition content only. The mid-range tier will be best for most people, but costs more than Amazon's equivalent service. The premium tier is the most expensive streaming service, but still costs less than Sky.

When it comes to usability, we tend to prefer Amazon's user interface, which makes it far easier to find content you'll enjoy, but perhaps that's a matter of personal preference.

The first month is free, so you have nothing to lose. Perhaps the best way to choose between Netflix and Amazon is to try both and decide. Either way, streaming is the way forward, and is by far the best way to watch TV drama, comedy and action that you enjoy.


Netflix UK features include:

User questions

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With 2 TVs set up for Netflix do you have to watch the same channels on both TVs.?

Asked by Dave Hurford from England on 22nd Jan 2017



Netflix UK user reviews

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