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Netflix at 1080p is the best reason to switch to Microsoft Edge

Tired of sub-standard 720p Netflix streams in your current web browser? Then you clearly need to take Microsoft Edge for a spin.

The Windows 10 default browser is the only one promising HTML5 streams at full HD 1080p resolution for a ‘premium video site’ (read: Netflix), although Apple’s Safari does so within Mac OS X (via Engadget).

Chrome, Firefox and Opera only received 720p streams at a much lower maximum bitrate.

According to a post on the Windows blog, Microsoft is also promising these streams will optimise battery life thanks to the way it is built to work with Windows 10.

Related: Best VPNs for streaming video

Microsoft says edge keeps CPU usage in low power states during video and audio playback by offloading processing to other peripheral hardware designed to handle it.

Microsoft recently ran a test showing Edge offered three hours longer battery life than the same Surface device when streaming video in Chrome.

Related:
Watch Microsoft Edge smash Chrome and Firefox

The fact that Microsoft Edge received 1080p content in our power test means it actually ran a somewhat higher power draw than it otherwise would have playing 720p content like the other browsers. Microsoft Edge provided the highest quality content and also delivered the longest battery life,” the company wrote.

In future Microsoft is promising upcoming improvements that’ll cater for Ultra HD 4K video, while also protecting content-owners DRM security.

“Chipsets that support hardware based DRM have been shipping in newer PCs.  The full support system awaits completion of software components that are coming in Fall of 2016,” Microsoft added.

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