Before you buy
How much data Netflix and streaming series use on a phone
Watching a series abroad on mobile data is the fastest way to finish off a plan. The figures, the settings, and what to download beforehand.
Bea Nogales 5 min Photo by Robert Lukeman on Unsplash Streaming platforms are, by a distance, the heaviest thing you can do on a phone. A fifty minute episode at good quality weighs more than a whole week of maps and messaging.
The figures
| Quality | Per hour, roughly |
|---|---|
| Low, to save data | 250 to 350 MB |
| Medium | 600 MB to 1 GB |
| High | 2 to 3 GB |
| Very high or 4K | 5 to 7 GB |
4K makes no sense at all on a phone screen, and yet it switches itself on when the network is good. It's the setting that costs the most money without anyone noticing.
The same three settings
- In the app's settings, set mobile data usage to save data or to the lower automatic option.
- Download episodes on wifi before you leave. Every major platform allows it.
- Turn off autoplay of the next episode, which is what makes the evening stretch on by itself.
The catalogue-by-country detail
While you're abroad, platforms serve you the catalogue of the country you're in, not your usual one. That's a consequence of licensing and not a problem with your connection: the series you were following may not be available there.
What does work is downloads made before you left, which play anywhere until they expire.
For the plane and the train
Long journeys are the best reason to download. A ten hour flight with two films downloaded costs zero data; streamed, it would take the whole trip's plan.
The figures for the other apps are in how much data you actually use on a trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much data does Netflix use per hour?
Between 250 and 350 MB at low quality, around 1 GB at medium and 2 to 3 GB at high. In 4K, far more.
Can I watch series without using data?
Yes, by downloading episodes on wifi before you leave. They play offline until the download expires.
Why can't I find my series abroad?
Because platforms serve the catalogue of the country you're in, due to licensing. Downloads made beforehand do play.
How do I stop it going to maximum quality?
In the app's data usage settings, set the saving option for mobile data and keep high quality for wifi only.
How much space does a downloaded film take?
Between 1 and 3 GB of phone storage depending on quality. That's memory, not data, if you download on wifi.
