After months of testing, US-based streaming service Netflix has launched its Netflix Mobile plan for only R50 a month. In addition to the new, cheaper option to stream content from the best in the biz, it’s launched a feature called ‘play partial download’.
How Netflix Mobile works
Similar to Showmax’s mobile-only package, Netflix Mobile will only function on mobile devices (ie that smartphone you’re toting or the tablet in the cupboard). You’ll pay a smaller fee than those equipped with a full Netflix subscription, but you’ll have access to all of its cool features. Bless.
This means you won’t be able to binge from anything like a smart TV, TV box or laptop/desktop. You may be able to get away with some third-party Android boxes, but that’s something we’d need to put to the test first.
“After several months of testing, we’re excited to launch a new mobile plan in South Africa at R49 per month,” said a Netflix spokesperson.
Playback resolution will be capped at a single active standard definition (520p). Bar the low resolution (which you shouldn’t even notice on the small screen, depending on your device), and you’ve still got access to other ‘Premium’ Netflix features like:
- Up to five different profiles, each with its own PIN
- Parental settings
- Smart downloads, so you can download the next episode when you’re connected to WiFi
- Adaptive Bitrate which should give you 6.5 hours playback on 1GB
More streams for Mobile users
In addition, Netflix has announced a ‘play partial download’ feature, aimed at helping mobile users save their precious data.
With this feature, mobile users will be able to start viewing a title that’s still in the download phase — that means you won’t have to wait for a full download before you start streaming. This feature is only available on supported Android devices for the time being, however.
To switch it on, head to the download menu or the ‘continue watching’ menu and switch on ‘play partial downloads’ from there. If you don’t have the options, your device isn’t supported at this point in time.
