[Update now live] Android 10 to resolve Widevine issue & fix Netflix HD support for Redmi Note 8 Pro

This story is being continuously updated…. New updates are being added at the bottom…..

Original story (from Dec 14) follows:

Here’s a crux of the story in a short video:

Here’s the complete story:

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has ruled the mid-range smartphone market for many years, and the latest addition to the series, i.e. Redmi Note 8 Pro, is no exception. This mid-range smartphone offers exceptionally great performance at a competitive price point. 

Well, if you are a Redmi Note 8 Pro user, then there’s a piece of good news for you. As you may know, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 Pro cannot play HD content on Netflix and Amazon Prime due to a botched up Widevine implementation.

That said, many different tests prove that the Redmi Note 8 Pro does come with Widevine L1 certification. However, due to a software glitch, apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime only support SD content on this device. 

A few months ago, French tech publication, FrAndroid, reported that a video streaming service MyCanal recognizes the Widevine L1 certification on this device, and it streams HD videos without any issue. This report further confirms the existence of Widevine L1 certification on Redmi Note 8 Pro. 

Cut to now. The General Manager of Xiaomi Indonesia, Alvin Tse replied to a tweet from Billy Dolmen (a Redmi Note 8 Pro user who inquired about Netflix HD support on the device) and cleared the air by stating that:

Thanks Billy, well noted. We believe this will be fixed in the Android Q update in 2020, working on it

Consequently, we can expect Xiaomi to fix the above-mentioned software glitch with the upcoming Android 10 software update. If this issue gets resolved, popular mainstream content streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime will be able to stream HD content on this device.

It is worth noting that the Pocophone F1 suffered from a similar issue. That said, the lack of HD playback is a server-side whitelisting issue, and a software update from the phone maker isn’t sufficient to resolve the matter.

However, in the case of Redmi Note 8 Pro, a software glitch is forcing the streaming apps to recognize Redmi Note 8 Pro as a Widevine L3 certification device. So if you are a Note 8 Pro user, then sooner or later, you will be able to stream HD content on Netflix.

Update 1 (March 13)

Android 10 for Redmi Note 8 Pro is now officially out for device users across the globe along with Netflix HD support. Complete coverage here.

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