Offline Viewing Lets You Watch Series Like Netflix's "The Defenders" Wherever You Want
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
No trip to the gym, no picnic in the park, not even the intermittent cell service on my hour-and-a-half train commute to work will stop me from binge-watching “The Defenders” this weekend.
Now that Netflix has released all eight episodes of the superhero series featuring Marvel's Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, I plan to watch them uninterrupted on my laptop.
If I have to venture outside, beyond the bounds of WiFi, I have a plan. It doesn't involve secret powers. I simply have to download the Netflix content for offline viewing, an option that many streaming services have added, making it possible to watch without the nuisance of buffering videos or the use of precious cellular data.
Amazon Prime Video: This service, included with a Prime subscription, offers many downloadable titles, including feature films like "Inception" and the acclaimed original series "Mozart in the Jungle." It's a bit of a hassle to get the Prime Video app onto Android devices given that it's not available in the Google Play Store, but the bounty of popular content makes it worth the trouble. The four-step process involves downloading the Amazon Underground app first and then the Prime Video app.
Netflix: The king of streaming services allows users to download some movies and series to mobile devices through the Netflix app. These titles include original series such as "13 Reasons Why," "Narcos," and "Grace and Frankie," and the company updates the list every month. You'll see a download button on the details page if a particular show can be downloaded. Users need to be using the latest version of the app.
YouTube Red: Google's monthly subscription service not only allows you to watch videos without ads but also gives you access to exclusive content such as "Lazer Team," not to mention songs on Google's Play Music. And yes, subscribers have the option to download videos to view offline. Users in India and a host of other countries receive the service free, but U.S. consumers have to dole out $10 per month ($15 for the family plan). Here's a tip, though: The free 30-day trial will get you through the rest of the summer.
Vimeo: Most of this content, including TED Talks and indie films, can be downloaded onto a smartphone or tablet. But content from the platform's TV partnerships with Lionsgate and Starz isn't available for offline viewing. So, sorry, no watching "Mad Men" or "Weeds."
iTunes, Google Play, VUDU, FandangoNOW and Amazon Prime Video store: These services all offer a large selection of rentals for a modest price, including free access to some content and videos you've purchased in the past. Better yet, the typical rental period is 30 days or longer. And once you've finished watching the content, it deletes itself. That allows you to load up on movies or TV shows for the outbound journey and then add all new content for the way home.
Before you hit the road, remember to:
• Check the storage space on your device. Your media file won't download if there's not enough room—simple as that. So take a little time to dispense with stuff you no longer need.
• Download your travel fare while you're at home instead of relying on your cellular data service. On my high-speed WiFi connection, for example, it took about 7 minutes to download "Up in the Air" from Amazon Prime Video.
• Consider opting for standard-definition downloads. It takes up less than half a GB of data for a 2-hour movie. If you're viewing on a smartphone, the quality drop isn't too noticeable.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include information on Netflix downloads.
More from Consumer Reports:
Top pick tires for 2016
Best used cars for $25,000 and less
7 best mattresses for couples
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2017, Consumer Reports, Inc.
