Google Play Movies is now offering content in 4K HDR for TVs, with the High Dynamic Range content coming at no extra cost.
Google first added 4K movies to the store back in December and is now including the impressive HDR standard, which improves the vividness and accuracy of colour reproduction, on several movies.
So far, it’s only available in the US and Canada, with the other major caveat that the upgraded streaming will only be available on HDR-ready TVs with Google Cast functionality, as well as via Google’s own Chromecast Ultra dongle.
Among those films compatible with the new standard are Kong Skull Island, The Lego Batman Movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and Mad Max Fury Road. If you’re less concerned about the content being good, as well as looking pretty, you can also buy Suicide Squad in 4K HDR.
Related: What is HDR TV?
It’s great that Google isn’t charging more for HDR, although you’ll still have to fork over a ridiculous $29.99 for those titles.
That could be a smartphone like the LG G6 or a smart 4K HDR television, or one combined with a Chromecast Ultra or another compatible media streamer.
While Netflix and Amazon do have some HDR content available within their line-ups of original programming, Google is among the first companies to offer big time Hollywood movies.
Meanwhile, Apple isn’t even offering 4K movies through iTunes yet. We fully expect Tim Cook to announce it at some point within the next year, alongside a 4K Apple TV box, and act like he’s inventing the bread slicer.
Why is Apple delaying introducing 4K iTunes content? Drop us a line in the comments section below.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
