By
MJE60
This piece is about the problem of not obtaining DISNEY + streaming content at 4K on older LG 4K TV’s despite specifications showing they should. Examples include the LG Oled 55e6v or 65g6v. The piece may help other brands experiencing problems and applies to the LG webOS 3.0 Disney app but also applies to a number of android streaming devices if resolution is set to auto. This piece also provides a great tip on how to get 4K Dolby vision streamed content from Apple + and Disney + on 2106 LG Oled TV’s,
Firstly Disney plus will not stream 4k/uhd content unless your TV is 4k and HDR capable there is no workaround regardless of streaming device. if HDR is turned off then Disney plus only shows HD content as being available. For LG Oled TV’s which do NOT support 2160 / 4K with Dolby Vision at 60HZ, the DISNEY PLUS apps will show 4k content as available BUT actually stream at 1080p , the set appears to fail a 2160 Dolby Vision 60hz test. The LG webOS 3.0 Disney plus app is guilty of this flaw/bug on 55/65 C6 E6 G6 , namely showing 4k content available but only streaming 1080p regardless of connection speed. ( don’t believe me then press info button and check). I believe the problem is because older (2016 and earlier ) LG Oled TV’s c6 e6 and g6 support HDR10 at 2160 60HZ but only support Dolby vision up to 2160 30HZ. . This difference confuses the Disney plus app which reduces 4K content to Dolby vision at 1080p rather than HDR at 4k but still shows 4k as available. Disney plus claim app supports both HDR and Dolby vision. On streaming devices (not web os) this confusion also results in HDR having to be turned off in order to get 4K content showing as available via Netflix app. If a TV is not HDR capable most apps will stream 4K without HDR (except Disney plus) . If a TV (like 2016 LG Oled), does not support Dolby vision at 60hz other apps switch to HDR at 4K/UHD .
The solution / fix arises from the fact that despite the Disney streaming app checking for HDR10/Dolby vision capability up to a resolution of 2160@60hz it appears to be streaming all content at 24hz and then upscaling. I have found that if the streaming device output resolution is set to fixed rather than auto, e.g 2160@24HZ , 25HZ or 30hz then the app delivers 4k content with Dolby vision . The fixed resolution appears to bypass the problems arising from higher frame rate hdr test. This fix also works for Apple TV+ where uhd can be forced to stream at 4K with Dolby vision rather than HDR. In order to use this fix you will need a 4K streaming device which allows resolution and hdr to be manually set. I use an Amazon Firestick 4K max (nb: the resolution option for 2160 25HZ or 30HZ has to be accessed via hidden menu (select button up and rewind button held simultaneously for 5 seconds.) Fixing resolution above 2160@30hz also works but will provide Disney + at 4K with HDR but NOT Dolby vision, same for Apple TV+. For Netflix this appears not to work, and the app will show 4k content as not available when in auto resolution unless HDR is set to off however diagnostics show Netflix in fact displaying 2160 with HDR if a fixed resolution of 2160@60HZ is chosen (server delivering 2160@24hz at bitrate between approx 15000 to 20000 and then upscaling. Ironic that the bugs cause Disney plus app to show 4k as available when it streaming 1080p and Netflix showing only HD available when streaming at 4K! Please note Netflx 4K HDR requires 60HZ resolution to be set and will not play 4k at a lower resolution! Detailed diagnostics can be displayed by accessing Firestick hidden developer tools menu.
My recommendation for all LG Oled 55/65 C6,E6 and G6 users where using Firestick 4K max is to set resolution to fixed 2160@60hz for all apps or 2160@30Hz (not for Netflix) if Dolby vision preferred over HDR10 or if you are seeing judderat 60HZ in fast moving shots. Using an Amazon Firestick 4K max I have been able to get my LG Oled 65e6v to play Prime Viideo , Disney plus and Apple TV + content at 4K UHD with Dolby vision and Dolby Atmos ( using HD Arcana fury and Atmos soundbar).
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