PONG// pong.com v3.0OPERATIONAL
pong@pong-com speed-test/4k-streaming$

Speed Test for 4K Streaming

4K is bandwidth hungry: Netflix, Disney Plus, and YouTube TV all require around 25 Mbps sustained per stream. HDR content can push that higher. If your speed dips, the player drops to 1080p mid show, then back up, then down again, which is the visible quality flicker that ruins movie nights. Multiple TVs in a household compound the problem.

Use case: 4KTypical load: 1 to 4 concurrent 4K streams in a typical household

// Required speeds for 4K Streaming

Download
25 Mbps
sustained
Upload
3 Mbps
sustained
Ping
< 100 ms
to regional server
Jitter
< 30 ms
stable connection

// Run the test

// INTERNET SPEED TEST

Internet Speed Test: Test Your Speed, Ping & Latency

16 GLOBAL SERVERSFREE, NO SIGNUPDOWNLOAD, UPLOAD, PING, JITTER, BUFFERBLOATSINCE 2024

Pong is a free internet speed test that measures download speed, upload speed, ping, latency, jitter, bufferbloat, and packet loss in real time.

The most comprehensive speed test on the internet.

01002505007501G
0.0
Mbps  DOWNLOAD
// READY TO TEST
// OPEN DASHBOARD →
// ARCADE BREAK

Enjoy a game while we test your speed.

This will not affect your speed test results.

LOADING GAME...
NOW PLAYING: PONG (random pick, 4 games available)

// How to test for 4K Streaming

  1. 01
    Test on the device you stream from
    Run the test on your smart TV browser if it has one, or on a laptop sitting next to the TV using the same Wi-Fi network. The TV's actual speed is what matters, not your phone in another room.
  2. 02
    Confirm sustained 25 Mbps download per concurrent stream
    One 4K stream needs 25 Mbps. Two TVs simultaneously need 50 Mbps. A household with two 4K streams plus background devices realistically needs 100 Mbps service.
  3. 03
    Check jitter under 30ms
    Adaptive bitrate streaming switches resolution every few seconds based on connection stability. High jitter causes constant resolution flicker even if your average speed is fine.
  4. 04
    Run during peak hours (7pm to 11pm)
    ISP networks are most congested during evening prime time, which is exactly when you want to watch 4K. Test then to see your real movie night speed, not your 2pm speed.

// Tips for 4K Streaming

  • Confirm your streaming service plan supports 4K. Netflix Premium, Disney Plus, and YouTube TV 4K Plus all require the top tier. A speed test will not help if the account is on a 1080p plan.
  • Hardwire your main TV with Ethernet if possible. Modern TVs have a gigabit port and 4K over Wi-Fi is unreliable past one wall.
  • Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi 6 for streaming devices, never 2.4 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band is congested by neighbors and microwaves and rarely sustains 25 Mbps.
  • If you stream multiple 4K shows in parallel, upgrade to a higher tier or to fiber. Cable plans throttle aggressively during congestion.
  • Restart your router and your streaming device once a month. Most quality issues are caching or memory leaks, not your ISP.
  • Avoid VPN when streaming 4K. VPN adds latency, throttles throughput, and triggers bitrate drops.
  • If you keep getting 1080p instead of 4K, run a speed test from inside the TV's browser if available. The TV's actual reported speed is the truth.

// Related tools

Jitter Test
Detect latency variance that wrecks real time apps.
Bufferbloat Test
See if your router holds latency under heavy load.
ISP Throttling Test
Spot when your ISP slows specific traffic types.
Ping Test
Measure round trip latency to regional servers.

// Frequently asked questions

?>What internet speed do I need for 4K streaming?
25 Mbps sustained download per concurrent 4K stream. Netflix recommends 15 Mbps as a floor for Ultra HD but 25 is the realistic target. Disney Plus also lists 25 Mbps for 4K. YouTube TV recommends 25 Mbps. HDR and Dolby Vision can push that to 30 plus Mbps. Households with multiple 4K viewers should plan on 100 plus Mbps service.
?>Why does my Netflix keep dropping out of 4K?
Adaptive bitrate is sensing instability and protecting playback by lowering quality. Common causes: jitter or packet loss on Wi-Fi (move closer to the router or hardwire), ISP congestion at peak hours (test during 8pm to confirm), bufferbloat (run our test under load), or a VPN adding latency. Restart your router and the streaming device first as a sanity check.
?>Is Wi-Fi fast enough for 4K?
Modern Wi-Fi 6 in the same room as the router will sustain a single 4K stream comfortably. Older 802.11n or 2.4 GHz often will not. If you stream 4K on multiple TVs, hardwire at least your main TV with Ethernet. Walls and floors cut Wi-Fi by half each, and 4K has zero tolerance for dips.
?>How much speed do I need for 2 simultaneous 4K streams?
Plan on 50 Mbps minimum for the streams alone. Add headroom for everyone else in the house using phones, laptops, and IoT devices, and a realistic target is 100 Mbps service. The streams are bursty, not steady, so peaks matter as much as averages.
?>Why does YouTube TV say my connection is too slow for 4K?
YouTube TV runs a brief check before high resolution playback. If it sees less than 25 Mbps sustained, it caps you at 1080p. Run our speed test on the same device, hardwire if Wi-Fi is borderline, and avoid VPN. If your plan should support more than 25 Mbps but you are not getting it, restart the router and contact your ISP.

// More speed test use cases

  • Run the main Pong.com speed test Full test with download, upload, ping, and jitter.
  • Speed Test for Zoom Targeted requirements and tips.
  • Speed Test for Twitch Streaming Targeted requirements and tips.
  • Speed Test for Working From Home Targeted requirements and tips.