Mac owners are preparing to embrace a new version of macOS and the next version of the Safari browser this fall, and the combination brings with it a number of new features. It's also unlocking existing features other platforms enjoy, including the ability to stream Netflix in 4K with HDR.
Mac users have always been limited to 1080p Netflix streaming because until recently Apple didn't support the HEVC codec Netflix uses. However, even when HEVC support was added to new models of Mac hardware, the Safari browser didn't support it so 4K streams were still unavailable. As 9To5Mac reports, that all changes with macOS Big Sur.
Big Sur will include the next version of Safari (14), which includes the required support for watching Netflix in 4K with HDR through either Dolby Vision or HDR10. One limitation does remain, though, and that's if your Mac hardware is new enough for this to work. If you Mac is pre-2018, you're out of luck. If you do own a compatible Mac mini or Mac Pro, you're still going to require a monitor that's capable of displaying a 4K resolution and includes support for HDR.
The other surprise feature Safari 14 is set to introduce is Face ID and Touch ID support, which should help cut down on the number of passwords you need to remember by replacing them with you face or fingerprint for online logins. Before the end of the year you could be logging in to Netflix on your Mac without a password to watch a 4K HDR stream.
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