Asus ROG 3, Asus ZenFone 7 Series Smartphone Users Unable to Play HD Videos on Netflix

Some users say their Asus ROG 3 and ZenFone 7/ ZenFone 7 Pro devices have Widevine L3 status.

By Sourabh Kulesh | Updated: 31 December 2020 18:35 IST

Asus ROG 3, Asus ZenFone 7 Series Smartphone Users Unable to Play HD Videos on Netflix

Widevine L1 DRM technology is required for users to stream videos from Netflix in high-definition

Highlights

ROG Phone 3 and ZenFone 7 owners told to visit service centres
Asus says problem due to bug in Qualcomm SoC firmware
ROG Phone 3 and ZenFone 7 have Snapdragon 865 SoC

ROG Phone 3 and ZenFone 7 series smartphone users have complained about not being able to play HD videos on Netflix on Asus forums. Some of the affected users claim that their devices have lost the Widevine L1 status that allows devices to stream videos in HD from OTT platforms such as Netflix. As per one user, the problem is because the “Widevine L1 key is deleted from the device”. Asus has acknowledged that a small number of users are affected and has said that the problem is due to a bug in the SoC firmware of the phones. The company has asked affected users to take their phones to an Asus service centre.

Several users of ROG Phone 3, ZenFone 7 as well as Zenfone 7 Pro have taken to Asus forums to complain that they are unable to play videos in HD quality on Netflix on their handsets. While some say that this is because the “widevine key is deleted from the device”, others say that their Widevine L1 status has been downgraded to Widevine L3. The Widevine L1 DRM technology is used by several streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It allows users to stream videos from Netflix in HD quality. Without it, the video quality is capped at 540p.

As reported by XDADevelopers, Asus has asked the affected users to visit an Asus service centre to get their ROG Phone 3, ZenFone 7/ ZenFone 7 Pro handsets fixed. The Taiwanese company also said on its forum that the problem is caused by a bug in the phones' SoC firmware and can only be fixed at a service centre.

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“Asus is aware of this issue which affects a small number of users and is caused by a bug from our SOC vendor Qualcomm. If this has happened we urge you to contact Asus customer service in your region,” the report quotes Asus as saying.

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Asus ROG Phone 3

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Excellent performance in games
AirTriggers, side-mounted USB port, large accessory ecosystem
Good cameras
Bright, vibrant display

Bad
Gets warm when stressed
Bulky and heavy
No IP rating or wireless charging

Read detailed Asus ROG Phone 3 review

Display 6.59-inch

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+

Front Camera 24-megapixel

Rear Camera 64-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 6000mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1080x2340 pixels

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Asus ZenFone 7

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.67-inch

Rear Camera 64-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 8-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 5000mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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Asus ZenFone 7 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.67-inch

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+

Front Camera Unspecified

Rear Camera 64-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 8-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB

Battery Capacity 5000mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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