Netflix 'will no longer be available on this device' this week
Today we're taking a peek at a list of devices that won't run Netflix by the end of the year 2019. Earlier literature from Netflix suggested that many of these devices would no longer run Netflix as of December 2, 2019. Some of these devices seem to have a big of lag in the cutting of this proverbial cord – but rest assured, they won't work without some hacking by the end of this month.
Samsung Devices
Samsung was part of the end-of-2019 Netflix announcement, suggesting that "Netflix streaming service will no longer be supported on several consumer electronics devices." For Samsung this includes "select 2010 and 2011 Samsung Smart TV models that were sold in the U.S. and Canada."
Every Samsung Smart TV produced after 2011 "will be unaffected by this change." That generally means pretty much every television that is also considered a "Smart TV" – but you might run into some less-than-enthusiastic grandparents or parents this holiday season when you go for a visit. Expect bouts of "this TV is supposed to be smart!" and the likes of "Why do I pay for this thing every month if I can't watch it?!"
Samsung Galaxy S and Note devices (and every other Android device made by Samsung) will need Android 2.3 or later, at the VERY least. That's for the oldest still-operational Netflix app in existence. For the newer wave, the most updated version of the Netflix app requires Android 5.0 or later. These same rules apply for all other Android devices, too.
Apple Devices
Apple TV shouldn't have an issue downloading and using the Netflix app, just so long as the Apple TV itself is as updated as possible here at the end of 2019. iOS devices – iPhone, iPad, iPod touch – need iOS 12.0 or later to download the latest version of Netflix.
If you have an iOS device that's already downloaded the Netflix app in past years need iOS 5.0 or higher. Netflix's exact wording on this is: "Netflix is available on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch models running iOS 12.0 or later, and is compatible with devices running iOS 5.0 or later that have already downloaded the Netflix app."
Roku devices
If you have one of the first two Roku devices released, you'll no longer be able to roll with Netflix starting in December of 2019. That includes the big boxy Roku streaming player that was released in 2008 – and likely the nest several through the year 2011.
Vizio TVs
If you own a Vizio smart TV released in 2015 or earlier, you'll probably have no access to Netflix starting here in December 2019. If you see a Vizio smart TV available for sale somewhere, and you want a smart TV specifically for services like Netflix, make sure the TV was released after the year 2015.
What can I do?
You can always buy a new TV, of course, but the cheapest route will be to buy a device like an NVIDIA SHIELD – that'll connect to any TV with an HDMI input. There's also a compatible devices chart at Netflix for their current app, if you need to double-check.
You might also want to check in the latest state of licensing for the most-streamed content on Netflix, while you're at it. We're talking The Office, Parks & Rec, and Seinfeld. And basically all Disney content, while we're at it!