Disney+ removes 4K and HDR even in the most expensive subscription

Disney+ has removed support for 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR) even from its most expensive premium subscription in Germany, according to multiple reports. The change became apparent over the weekend, with users unable to access content in 4K or HDR, despite paying 16 euros per month for the top-tier plan. The move was confirmed by several editors using their devices, who noted that videos are now streamed in maximum 1080p standard dynamic range (SDR). The Consumer Center Lower Saxony is considering legal action against the streaming service. The labels indicating “4K Ultra HD” and “HDR” have been systematically removed from the app interface, affecting all device categories. Initially, the change was reported by Caschys blog, and as of now, there is no direct mention of the restriction on Disney’s official help pages regarding video quality. While Disney continues to promote 4K for its premium subscription, there is no reference to HDR anymore. When contacted by heise online, Disney did not immediately respond. There appears to be a connection with the ongoing patent dispute involving Disney+. Since early this year, Disney had previously removed Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 3D content from its German offerings before eliminating standard HDR10. At the time, Disney cited a court proceeding before a German patent court. The dispute involves InterDigital, a U.S.-based company. In November last year, the Munich Regional Court ruled that Disney+ violated InterDigital's rights by streaming videos with dynamic HDR imagery, issuing an interim injunction. Although Disney later reinstated HDR10, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ remain unavailable in Germany. In July, InterDigital secured another injunction from the Düsseldorf Local Chamber of the Unified Patent Court (UPC), targeting Disney’s use of HEVC encoding. According to a press release, the chief legal officer of InterDigital stated, “HEVC encoding is central to the high-quality viewing experience that streaming services like Disney use to justify higher subscription fees.” The premium subscription of Disney+ costs 16 euros per month or 160 euros annually. It differs from the standard subscription priced at 11 euros primarily through features such as 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and four simultaneous streams. Currently, only the audio format and the number of streams remain unchanged. The Consumer Center Lower Saxony is now examining potential legal actions, as revealed by legal expert Markus Hagge upon inquiry. Previously, consumer advocates had already filed complaints against Disney for misleading advertising related to Dolby Atmos sound, which is available in many films only in English. When HDR formats were removed earlier this year, the Consumer Center Lower Saxony advised subscribers to reclaim part of their paid subscription fees. A spokesperson for the organization told dpa that the exact reason for the reduced quality was irrelevant to customers. “Legally, Disney+ is solely responsible for ensuring the advertised and paid-for quality,” she stated. As of July 28, 2026, the Consumer Center Lower Saxony is still evaluating legal options against Disney. This update was added to the article accordingly.