@ Drumster wrote:

I just bought a Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, updated everything I could (the latest version I have is TB-X606F_S300320_210716_BMP) and I still only have Netflix in SD quality and it shows me Widevine L3. I am very angry at Lenovo. I will be returning the tablet because it's useless to me without Netflix. Very stupid situation and it's a shame they still haven't resolved it.

Try this version of Netflix:

https://github.com/jonas-coded/netflix_hd_patch

If you don't trust random apk (which you totally should NOT!) you can patch the Netflix app yourself..

Note: you need to uninstall Play Store Netflix first.

I just realized I'm using patched version of Netflix, that did not work before, but after the FW update it works. 

I tried this, but none of these versions work for me. The latest version 5.12.3 cannot be installed. Some of the older versions could be installed, but the quality was still only SD. Of course I uninstalled Netflix from Google Play and turned off automatic updates.

BTW Kodi app on this tablet works great. 15 gb HD videos are playing without lags or any other issue. 

@ Drumster wrote:

I tried this, but none of these versions work for me. The latest version 5.12.3 cannot be installed. Some of the older versions could be installed, but the quality was still only SD. Of course I uninstalled Netflix from Google Play and turned off automatic updates.

Hmm sucks! This version works for me https://github.com/longseespace/netflix_patch/releases/download/v0.2/signed_netflix_4.16.3.apk

Remember to uninstall any previous version.

Note that your tablet needs to actually have L1 widevine. Use this app to check DRM Info - Apps on Google Play

The definitive check of HD/SD is you search for test pattern on Netflix, it will show you the current playing resolution.

Good luck.

Yes! The version from the link you sent me finally works in HD. It's weird, I've installed this version before and it didn't work. Thanks for the help. I've even thought about rooting the tablet :D

@ Whizz wrote:

Hmm sucks! This version works for me https://github.com/longseespace/netflix_patch/releases/download/v0.2/signed_netflix_4.16.3.apk

Remember to uninstall any previous version.

Note that your tablet needs to actually have L1 widevine. Use this app to check DRM Info - Apps on Google Play

I don't actually trust random .apks.  But this link is part of a github repo that shows how it is done.  https://github.com/longseespace/netflix_patch/

The previously posted github repo is no longer maintained.  It points at a post describing how that apk was made https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/app-netflix-hd-for-widevine-drm-l1-devices.3307241/#post-72178861

It is annoying that Netflix requires that devices be on its "whitelist" on top of Widevine L1.  My current understanding is that it is up to Lenovo to negotiate with Netflix to add this device to the list.  Why have they not done it?  Perhaps to differentiate their cheap tablets from their more expensive ones.  This is really dumb because Amazon Fire HD tablets are even less expensive and can play Netflix.

Also dumb because a tablet with FHD in its name should be able to play the most popular streaming services in FHD

@ HughR wrote:

I don't actually trust random .apks.  But this link is part of a github repo that shows how it is done.  https://github.com/longseespace/netflix_patch/

 

The previously posted github repo is no longer maintained.  It points at a post describing how that apk was made https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/app-netflix-hd-for-widevine-drm-l1-devices.3307241/#post-72178861

 

It is annoying that Netflix requires that devices be on its "whitelist" on top of Widevine L1.  My current understanding is that it is up to Lenovo to negotiate with Netflix to add this device to the list.  Why have they not done it?  Perhaps to differentiate their cheap tablets from their more expensive ones.  This is really dumb because Amazon Fire HD tablets are even less expensive and can play Netflix.

You have just summed the situation perfectly.

To make the situation worse, the patched Netflix did not even work until the last FW update. Lenovo had some buggy implementation of DRM video decoding that shows only black screen. Apparently this bug also plagues playback with Disney+ and some other apps. Except, unlike official Netflix, these apps just play blank video rather than degrading to SD playback.

Probably they are forced to fix the blank screen bug because it hurts sales, and IMHO it's a legit ground to claim the product is defective..

@ Whizz wrote:

 

To make the situation worse, the patched Netflix did not even work until the last FW update. Lenovo had some buggy implementation of DRM video decoding that shows only black screen. Apparently this bug also plagues playback with Disney+ and some other apps. Except, unlike official Netflix, these apps just play blank video rather than degrading to SD playback.

 

Probably they are forced to fix the blank screen bug because it hurts sales, and IMHO it's a legit ground to claim the product is defective..

 

Interesting!

Is there a good bug report for this (perhaps in this forum)?

Do you happen to have an example of a free service that demonstrates this blank-screen problem?

@ HughR wrote:

Interesting!

 

Is there a good bug report for this (perhaps in this forum)?

 

Do you happen to have an example of a free service that demonstrates this blank-screen problem?

Yeah, it's right here in this forum:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-Android-based-Tablets-and-Phablets/Lenovo-M10-Plus-2nd-Gen-Disney-does-not-play-video-after-android-10-update/m-p/5050995?page=1

Some other affected services:

https://forums.lenovo.com/topic/findpost/1088/5050995/5294898

https://forums.lenovo.com/topic/findpost/1088/5050995/5390491

Lenovo employee posting news about FW updates that fixes this problem:

https://forums.lenovo.com/topic/findpost/1088/5050995/5423220

Incidentally this FW also fixes the blank screen problem in the patched Netflix, as I said it used to be not working.