No, Netflix Does Not Currently Stream Content at 120fps

As a passionate gamer and streaming content creator, I know first-hand how much of a difference high framerates can make. Seeing games and videos buttery smooth at 120fps or 144fps is a truly cinematic visual experience that feels extremely responsive and vivid.

So it‘s common for gamers to wonder – as streaming platforms like Netflix push the envelope into 4K resolution, can we expect support for buttery smooth 120fps streaming as well in the near future?

The short answer is no – the vast majority of Netflix content across all tiers and devices currently streams at a maximum of 60fps for test content, with 24fps or 30fps still being far more common due to creative intent and technical limitations.

Here‘s a full breakdown:

Now let‘s dig deeper on why 120fps content is still scarce, and what needs to change for this to become more viable across Netflix and beyond in the streaming landscape.

Why We Haven‘t Seen Widespread Adoption of 120fps Streaming

While devices like the PS5, Xbox Series X, modern smartphones, HDMI 2.1 equipped TVs, gaming monitors, and PCs make 120fps gaming a reality – streaming video content at 4x a traditional 30fps framerate poses some unique challenges:

File Size and Bandwidth

• Doubling the framerate means nearly doubling the amount of data that must be sent over the network continuously. Most residential internet connections still top out well under 100 Mbps, making flawless 120fps 4K streaming unreliable.

Encoding Complexity

• New codecs like H.266 and AV1 aim to reduce bandwidth demands for quality video, but encrypting, transmitting, and decoding 120fps content at scale is still extremely hardware-intensive.

Lack of Source Material

• While games can render graphics at whatever framerates their engines allow, film and TV used for streaming is still overwhelmingly shot natively at 24fps or 30fps as a creative standard.

In other words – while streaming platforms like Netflix certainly could allow some 120fps content for capable devices, current technical realities make this impractical as a mainstream offering.

But things are evolving quickly…

The Cutting Edge: Where We Could See More 120fps Streaming

While 120fps video streaming isn‘t viable yet as a mainstream standard, rapid improvements across internet infrastructure, encoding, and display technology point to an imminent inflection point:

1. 5G and Multi-Gigabit Connections

• New cellular and residential internet offerings reach peak transfer speeds 10-20x faster than existing standards. This could provide room for 120fps streaming buffers.

2. HDMI 2.1 and Display Specs

• Major TV brands now manufacture displays with 120Hz panels and HDMI ports that can interface with gaming consoles and players at up to 8K resolution and 120fps.

3. AV1 and Future Codecs

• 40% better compression than H.265 could help make 120fps streaming feasible for more users in coming years even at 4K resolution.

4. Cloud Gaming Services

• Netflix may not lead the 120fps charge, but cloud-based game streaming platforms are already offering up to 1080p 120fps streams to compatible displays.

5. User-Generated Content

As more consumer cameras and smartphones gain high framerate video capture, user-generated streaming content at 120fps will push platforms to support higher playback.

In essence – all the foundational building blocks are falling into place to turn 120fps streaming video from a technical curiosity into a mainstream reality before 2025 for well-equipped consumers.

Netflix may still take a wait-and-see approach given 24fps and 30fps likely remain the creative targets for most originals…but they now face competition from every angle that could push them to offer 120fps streaming:

How Netflix Compares to Other Streaming Services on Framerates

Here‘s a quick overview of how some popular streaming platforms and services compare to Netflix based on max supported framerates:

YouTube already allows streaming up to 4K 120fps for high frame rate test clips on supported devices. And we see gaming-focused streaming platforms like Twitch leading the way making 1080p 120fps streaming available to more users across more clips and streams.

This competitive streaming landscape suggests services like Netflix will feel increasing pressure to keep pace supporting not just higher resolutions but higher framerates available on more displays and devices…

When Could Netflix Stream Select Content at 120fps?

This is purely my speculation as an avid gamer and streaming industry follower – but based on the evolution of complementary technologies across 5G networks, consumer devices, and real-time encoding/decoding…

I predict Netflix enables limited 120fps streaming support by 2024.

Initially, this would be restricted to their own test clips (think moving demo reels). But by 2025 and beyond, I expect we‘ll see the occasional major action release or animated film streamed at up to 4K 120fps for users with premium connections and devices.

And while video games still provide the gold standard for buttery smooth 120fps+ framerates, more Netflix originals tailored to core gamer and entertainment enthusiast audiences will press creators to capture and stream native 4K 120fps content moving forward.

The days of movies and cinematic stories experienced at higher framerates once reserved only for the theater is fast approaching!

So in summary – while Netflix streaming 120fps content broadly across their entire catalog is still years away thanks to technical hurdles and the primacy of 24fps…

Rapid consumer tech improvements point to 120fps streaming getting its foot in the door by 2024, with steadily increasing adoption pulling more platforms and creators to push the envelope over 30fps in coming years!

What do you think? When will Netflix take the plunge into 120fps streaming? Let me know your thoughts and predictions in the comments!