Almost always the device’s DRM certification level rather than its processor: a box certified at Widevine L3 is restricted to low resolution on services that require L1, whatever hardware is inside it.
What the levels mean
L1 performs the decryption inside a secure hardware environment, and services allow HD and 4K. L3 does it in software, and the same services cap the stream — often at 540p.
Same app, same network, same television, entirely different picture.
Why it catches people out
Nothing on screen explains it. The app runs, the picture appears, and it simply looks worse than it does on the television’s own app — which is usually L1.
The other reason a stream looks soft
Bitrate, from the network or from the service tier. A device on Wi-Fi at the far end of a house may be receiving a lower-quality stream than the same device on ethernet, and an entry subscription tier caps resolution regardless of hardware.
What to check before buying a streaming box
The DRM certification level, the HDR formats it supports individually, whether it can pass audio through untouched to a receiver, and whether it has an ethernet port. Those four answer most of what goes wrong on this shelf.
Questions people actually ask
How do I find out a device's DRM level?
Some Android devices report it in a diagnostic app; otherwise the manufacturer states it in the specification, and services state the requirement in their own help pages. It is worth checking before buying rather than after.
Would a faster processor fix it?
No. It is a licensing and certification question rather than a performance one, which is why two boxes with identical hardware can behave differently on the same service.
Last reviewed 4 September 2026