What video resolution can your WiFi network handle? Test it with Speedtest

Do you already know whether your (Wi-Fi) network is fast enough to stream 4K video? If you trade in a Full HD television or telephone for a QHD+ or 4K model, you actually want to know whether you can use all the pixels. Speedtest now lets you determine the maximum streaming resolution of your WiFi or mobile network via its Android and iOS mobile apps.

Test the streaming capabilities

Ookla – the company behind Speedtest – announced in February that its Speedtest app could now determine the optimal streaming resolution for the network you are connected to. At first, the function was only available on iOS, but this time Android users can also perform the so-called Video Test.

When testing your data connection with the ‘Video Test’, Speedtest focuses on the bitrate achieved while streaming video. A nice detail is that Speedtest shows an animation when running its Video Test, in contrast to the graphs it normally shows during speed tests.

Speedtest goes through several steps in its Video Test. First, it determines the bitrate of your network. Based on the measured bit rate, Speedtest determines which video resolution is tested. Speedtest then starts testing for example 1440p video, followed by testing for 4K video. Both tests passed on my network, leading Speedtest to conclude that the network is suitable for 2160p (4K) video.

Which subscription do I need?

On the results page of the Video Test, Speedtest also shows a diagram with the devices on which you will have the ultimate streaming experience. Do you get the result that your network is suitable for 360p video? Then it is recommended, for example, to only stream video on your phone. If you receive such a notification, it makes little sense to increase your Netflix subscription to the 4K subscription, unless you want to stream on more devices at the same time.

In addition, this result may be a cause of the low-resolution videos that you see when you watch your favorite movies and series via streaming services. As a solution, you could check with your carrier to see if higher subscription speeds are available, or look for any Wi-Fi issues that are causing the slow network speed and, subsequently, the low video resolution.

Download Speedtest

Speedtest’s Video Test is now widely available via the Speedtest app in the Google Play Store. What is your maximum streaming resolution? Does that also match the experiences you have via Netflix, YouTube or Disney+? Be sure to let us know in the comments at the bottom of the article.