With the Chromecast Ultra starting to ship out, Google is starting to ramp up support for Ultra HD (4K) videos in the Google Play Movies & TV app. A check of the store this morning shows that several movies are now available in UHD as well as the already offered HD and SD versions. The number of movies will only increase as Google licenses out the UHD versions from the production studios and makes them available to end users.
But, if you have the Chromecast Ultra and a 4K television, be prepared to pay for these UHD versions. In my research this morning, nearly every movie in UHD was twice the price of the HD version. For example, one of my all time favorite movies, The Fifth Element, is $12.99 in HD but it is $24.99 in UHD. Also, if you already own the HD version of the movie, there is no option for now to upgrade to UHD – at least for now.
Just to clear up any confusion on those who aren’t sure if they will benefit from the UHD versions. If you don’t have a Chromecast Ultra or Mi Box as well as a 4K television, there is zero point in
UHD Movies in Google Play Movies & TV
buying the UHD versions (unless you are going to upgrade really soon). An HD television and standard Chromecast won’t be able to pump out the higher resolution of UHD so you would be wasting your money.
Finally, not all movies in Google Play Movies & TV are available in UHD yet and I’ve yet to find any television series in UHD (if you do, drop me a comment to let me know). But again, this will be ramping up quickly as the Chromecast Ultra starts selling in mass.
