How to use Netflix VR and what will you find?

There is a way to fully enjoy and experience all the interesting content on the Netflix platform with greater intensity. All thanks to virtual reality technology. We explain what it is Netflix VR and everything it offers to its users.

We all know that Netflix is ​​one of the world's largest VOD (video on demand) platforms. Also one of the most used. Now it also gives us the option to enjoy all its contents in virtual reality.

The truth is that, to this day, Netflix does not have a specific VR viewer application. However, there are many options, such as accessing the "Netflix virtual lounge" or use some external programs.

What are we going to need?

Of course, the first and essential requirement to watch Netflix with virtual reality is to have an active subscription. The type of subscription is the least, either will be worth it. It will also be necessary to have a mobile phone or device compatible with VR technology, such as glasses Oculus Quest or similar. Let's see one by one what these requirements are:

•  VR glasses: There are many models available on the market, with many different prices. One of the cheapest is the Oculus Quest 2, mentioned before, which sells for about 350 euros. Among the most expensive options are for example the virtual reality glasses HTC Vive Pro Eye, whose price goes above 1.300 euros (*).
• Smartphone, if possible with Android.
• Stable WiFi connection, since the Netflix VR app (like all virtual reality systems) does not allow downloading and storing content for offline viewing.
• Active subscription to Netflix: If you are a user of the platform, you will already know that there are three subscription modes depending on the number of devices where you want to use the service and the decision to opt for a high definition display or not:
  • To watch unlimited programs, series and movies on a single device at the same time (7,99 euros).
  • To view these contents on two screens simultaneously and in HD quality (€ 11,99).
  • Finally, to expand the number of screens to four + HD (15,99 euros).

(*) There are cheaper alternatives, although of lower quality, such as Google Cardboard viewer, which can be purchased for just 10 euros.

How to watch Netflix VR

Below we analyze the three simplest and most used methods to be able to enjoy Netflix content in virtual reality and enjoy a radically new experience:

On an Android device

The first thing to do to enjoy this virtual reality experience on a smartphone or any other Android device is Download the Netflix VR app from Google Play.

Once the application is shameless, to use it, open it, choose the option "Select Headset" and click on the devices available for viewing (one of the best options in Daydream View). Another way to access the app is to scan the QR code for other devices and from there log into our Netflix account.

The viewing experience will show us as a cozy living room equipped with a large screen, a large sofa and large windows from which you can see a beautiful snowy landscape. Exactly as shown in the image at the top of the post. If you prefer to eliminate this immersive mode, you just have to exit the «living room mode» and select the «empty mode».

Daydream is Google's virtual reality platform. Its users have a separate application called Netflix VR.

Mobile phones equipped with Daydream support already come with the factory-downloaded Netflix VR app. Of course, to use it you will need to buy a Daydream VR viewer compatible with Google Pixel and other mobile devices. There are many possibilities on the market, at very varied prices. A highly recommended one is the Daydream View glasses (in the image), the device «from the house», whose sale price is about 109 euros.

It should be noted that this device is the official Google viewer for Android virtual reality. It stands out for its ease of use, as well as for its compatibility with numerous applications and games. There are, however, many other models of VR glasses that are worth mentioning:

• BNEXTVR, compatible for both Android and iOS. A product with an excellent value for money, on sale for about 30 euros.
• VRShark X6, manufactured by the prestigious HiShock brand. The cheapest option: they cost about 50 euros.
• Oculus Quest 2. One of the most versatile models of virtual reality glasses that offer a higher quality. Its price is around € 349.

If we use low quality VR glasses models we may find some sharpness problems in the image. There is a little trick to improve this: you just have to access the IPD configuration and change it to 600.

Netflix VR on an iPhone

Although the process is a bit more complex, we can also enjoy the immersive experience of Netflix VR on iPhone and iPad. The main obstacle with respect to Android (where we have the Daydream solution) is that there is no specific app There is no specific application for virtual reality on iOS.

The method to use in these cases is to use the function of transmitting images. In this way, the virtual reality mode can be selected to transmit the content in question from the Windows software on our computer and to the screen of our Apple device. There are some very interesting software products to carry out this transmission. Among them, two stand out: Trinus VR y VR-Streamer.

So, to have Netflix VR on your iPhone, the first step is to download one of these applications on our PC and also the iOS version on our iPhone or iPad. Before continuing we have to make sure that both the computer and the iPhone are connected to the same WiFi network.

To link both versions of the app, the IP of the phone is entered in the phone app and then it is started on both devices. Then we access the Netflix website on the computer and log into our account. Once this is done, all that remains is to select the content we want and start transmitting it to our iPhone.

Sometimes the quality of the transmission of these contents for iPhone is not as good as we want. Luckily, there is a way to improve it, by installing a plug-in called opentracker. This tool is synchronized with VR-Streamer providing information about the sensor from our iPhone.

How is this synchronization done? It is a very simple process: first of all we will have to install a new linked application called VR-Streamer Server. On the other hand, we will install Opentracker on the iPhone.

Then, when starting VR-Streamer Server on our PC, we will look for the option "Notepad process" in the list that appears below. It is best to save the settings to avoid having to carry out this process every time we want to watch Netflix VR. Next, we activate VR-Streamer on the iPhone and click on the "Connect to server" option, thus completing the connection between the computer and the iPhone.

Finally, it only remains to connect the viewfinder or VR glasses to the iPhone and everything is ready to start enjoying.

Netflix VR content

Netflix offers its users all over the world a wide and varied catalog with more than 2.000 titles, a lot of movies and series in constant growth. All this content is also available in virtual reality mode with new layers of interactivity.

Taking this step, Netflix caught up, matching its services to those of other competing platforms such as HBO, which had been a pioneer in terms of offering VR content.

It is true that the technology associated with virtual reality is still in its early stages. There is a long way to go and many aspects to polish and improve. In the technical section there are some challenges to solve, such as avoiding overheating of devices and overcoming compatibility limitations, etc. However, every day there are new advances to find solutions to these and other problems. We are sure that in a very short time we will see big changes.

In fact, important milestones must already be highlighted, such as the possibility of viewing Netflix VR content on smartphones, as we have explained in the previous sections. The implementation of this technology is slow, but inexorable. Virtual reality, until now practically limited to the world of games, will be part of our daily lives in a very few years.