Vimeo announces 4K video streaming for all

Over the next several weeks, Vimeo will roll out 4K video streaming to all users.

The update will apply to Vimeo’s website, as well as its Android, iOS, Amazon TV,  and Roku apps. Users will not only be able to upload 4K video to the platform, they’ll also be able to stream 4K video. Vimeo uses adaptive streaming to automatically render high-quality video in a way that makes the most of a device’s network connection and data speed.

The video platform first introduced upload support for 4K-quality videos last year, but the service was limited to PRO users. Last month, Vimeo also started supporting 4K-quality video on its video-making app Cameo.

Vimeo is just the latest video platform to start offering 4K streaming. Netflix and Amazon Prime both already stream some content in 4K, though both of these video platforms are for paying customers only. YouTube first started demoing its 4K streaming capabilities at CES in 2014 and has since rolled out the service more broadly to all users.

Beyond high-resolution images, 4K is important to video platforms because of the technology that’s been developed to keep it playing smoothly regardless of network connection — no buffering. Overall, 4K has the potential to deliver a better viewing experience for users than standard definition video ever did.

Vimeo says its 4K streaming technology will be rolled out to all users within the first quarter of 2016.