release: 0.78.3 (feature/plex-playback-class-filter)

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.78.2
+0.78.3

backend/alembic/versions/0077_plex_playback_class.py

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""plex_items playback-class facet (E7: filter the feed by Direct Play / Direct Stream / Transcode)
+
+Adds the columns the playback-class filter needs:
+  * transcode_hw   — for a `playable="transcode"` item, whether the prod iGPU can hardware-transcode it
+                     (codec HW-decodable AND 8-bit SDR) vs software-only. NULL for non-transcode items.
+  * video_bit_depth — the source video bit depth (from the Plex media Stream), NULL until probed.
+  * media_probed_at — watermark for the bit-depth backfill (NULL = not yet probed).
+
+Backfill for existing rows: `transcode_hw` is derived from the ALREADY-stored `codec_video` alone (the
+same HW-decodable allow-list `plex.sync.HW_DECODABLE_CODECS` / `plex.stream` use), so the filter works
+immediately after migration. Bit depth is unknown for existing rows (the cheap Plex listing doesn't
+carry it), so a 10-bit/HDR HEVC is provisionally 'hw' here and later refined to 'sw' by the bit-depth
+backfill (`plex.sync._probe_media_batch`) once its Stream is probed. `video_bit_depth`/`media_probed_at`
+start NULL.
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+revision: str = "0077_plex_playback_class"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "0076_media_asset_kind"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column("plex_items", sa.Column("transcode_hw", sa.Boolean(), nullable=True))
+    op.add_column("plex_items", sa.Column("video_bit_depth", sa.Integer(), nullable=True))
+    op.add_column(
+        "plex_items", sa.Column("media_probed_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
+    )
+    op.create_index("ix_plex_items_transcode_hw", "plex_items", ["transcode_hw"])
+    # Codec-only derivation for existing rows — keep this codec set identical to
+    # plex.sync.HW_DECODABLE_CODECS. Bit depth is unknown here, so provisionally 8-bit (→ hw for a
+    # decodable codec); the bit-depth backfill downgrades 10-bit/HDR HEVC to sw later.
+    op.execute(
+        """
+        UPDATE plex_items
+           SET transcode_hw = CASE
+               WHEN playable = 'transcode'
+               THEN lower(codec_video) IN ('h264','hevc','h265','vp9','vc1','mpeg2video')
+               ELSE NULL
+           END
+        """
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_index("ix_plex_items_transcode_hw", table_name="plex_items")
+    op.drop_column("plex_items", "media_probed_at")
+    op.drop_column("plex_items", "video_bit_depth")
+    op.drop_column("plex_items", "transcode_hw")

backend/app/models.py

@@ -1127,6 +1127,22 @@ class PlexItem(Base, TimestampMixin, UpdatedAtMixin):
     # Browser-playability class from ffprobe: "direct" | "remux" | "transcode" (None = unprobed).
     playable: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String(12), index=True)
     probed_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    # Transcode HW-capability facet (E7 playback-class filter). NULL for non-transcode items; for a
+    # `playable="transcode"` item: True = the prod iGPU can hardware-transcode it (codec is HW-decodable
+    # AND the source is 8-bit SDR), False = software libx264 only (AV1/XviD, or a 10-bit/HDR source that
+    # breaks the VAAPI nv12 pipeline — see plex/stream.py). Derived by `plex.sync.transcode_hw_capable`:
+    # set codec-only at sync (bit depth unknown from the cheap listing), then refined by the bit-depth
+    # backfill (`_probe_media_batch`) which downgrades a 10-bit/HDR HEVC to False. The one filterable
+    # home of the invariant `_want_hw`'s source gate computes at play time — kept in sync via the shared
+    # classifier so the catalog facet and the runtime encoder choice never disagree by codec.
+    transcode_hw: Mapped[bool | None] = mapped_column(Boolean, index=True)
+    # Video bit depth (8/10/12…) from the Plex media Stream, filled by the bit-depth backfill. NULL =
+    # not yet probed. Surfaced on the info page (e.g. "HEVC · 10-bit") and feeds `transcode_hw`.
+    video_bit_depth: Mapped[int | None] = mapped_column(Integer)
+    # Watermark for the bit-depth backfill: when this item's media Stream was last probed for
+    # bit-depth/HDR. NULL = never (the backfill's work-list). Only HW-decodable transcode items are
+    # probed (the rest are SW-only by codec and need no bit-depth); see `_probe_media_batch`.
+    media_probed_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
     # Intro/credit markers: [{"type": "intro"|"credits", "start_s": int, "end_s": int}, ...]
     markers: Mapped[list | None] = mapped_column(JSON)
     added_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True), index=True)

backend/app/plex/cards.py

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ def movie_card(it: PlexItem, st: PlexState | None) -> dict:
         "thumb": f"/api/plex/image/{it.rating_key}",
         "art": _art_url(it.rating_key, it.art_key),
         "playable": it.playable,
+        "transcode_hw": it.transcode_hw,  # HW/SW transcode split → the 4-way corner-dot badge
         "status": st.status if st else "new",
         "position_seconds": st.position_seconds if st else 0,
     }
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ def episode_card(e: PlexItem, st: PlexState | None) -> dict:
         "duration_seconds": e.duration_s,
         "thumb": f"/api/plex/image/{e.rating_key}",
         "playable": e.playable,
+        "transcode_hw": e.transcode_hw,  # HW/SW transcode split → the 4-way corner-dot badge
         "status": st.status if st else "new",
         "position_seconds": st.position_seconds if st else 0,
     }

backend/app/plex/query.py

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from sqlalchemy import and_, case, func, or_, select, type_coerce
 from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import JSONB
 
+from app.models import PlexItem
+
 TS_CONFIG = "public.unaccent_simple"
 
 # --- Language-aware column pickers (E5 S6) ----------------------------------
@@ -206,6 +208,33 @@ def apply_meta_filters(q, model, p: dict, lang: str = "en"):
     return q.where(*conds) if conds else q
 
 
+# --- Playback-class filter (E7) — MOVIE-ONLY (a show is an aggregate with no single class) ---------
+# The 4 classes the feed filter + facet expose, derived from the stored `playable` + `transcode_hw`.
+# ONE definition (this SQL CASE) so the filter WHERE and the facet counts can't drift: `playable_conds`
+# filters on it, `facets` groups by it. transcode_hw IS NOT True groups NULL (unprobed) with software.
+# Public — it is the shared source of truth imported by routes.plex.browse (facet order + zero-fill).
+PLAYBACK_CLASSES = ("direct", "remux", "transcode_hw", "transcode_sw")
+
+
+def playback_class_expr():
+    """SQL CASE mapping a PlexItem (movie) to its playback-class string, or NULL. The HW branch must
+    precede the generic transcode branch (ordered evaluation)."""
+    return case(
+        (PlexItem.playable == "direct", "direct"),
+        (PlexItem.playable == "remux", "remux"),
+        (and_(PlexItem.playable == "transcode", PlexItem.transcode_hw.is_(True)), "transcode_hw"),
+        (PlexItem.playable == "transcode", "transcode_sw"),
+        else_=None,
+    )
+
+
+def playable_conds(sel: list[str]) -> list:
+    """A one-element condition list (or empty) selecting the given playback classes — an OR via
+    `class IN (...)` over the shared CASE. Unknown keys are dropped."""
+    keep = [c for c in sel if c in PLAYBACK_CLASSES]
+    return [playback_class_expr().in_(keep)] if keep else []
+
+
 @dataclass
 class LibraryFilters:
     """The shared sidebar filter query-params for /library + /facets, declared once and injected via
@@ -228,6 +257,7 @@ class LibraryFilters:
     keywords: str | None = None  # TMDB keyword chips (E5 S5), CSV; language-neutral
     collections: str | None = None  # CSV of collection rating_keys
     collection_mode: str = "any"  # how multiple collections combine: any (OR, default) | all (AND)
+    playable: str | None = None  # CSV of playback classes: direct|remux|transcode_hw|transcode_sw
 
     def as_dict(self) -> dict:
         return {
@@ -247,6 +277,7 @@ class LibraryFilters:
             "keywords": self.keywords,
             "collections": self.collections,
             "collection_mode": self.collection_mode,
+            "playable": self.playable,
         }
 
 

backend/app/plex/stream.py

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from app.config import settings
 from app.downloads.edit import encode_thread_cap
 from app.models import PlexItem
 from app.plex import paths
+from app.plex.sync import HW_DECODABLE_CODECS
 
 log = logging.getLogger("siftlode.plex")
 
@@ -159,9 +160,11 @@ _VAAPI_DEVICE = "/dev/dri/renderD128"
 # here; its presence is the precondition for the HW HDR→SDR tonemap graph (see _opencl_present).
 _OPENCL_ICD_DIR = Path("/etc/OpenCL/vendors")
 # Codecs the prod iGPU (UHD 630 / Quick Sync Gen 9.5) can hardware-DECODE — the precondition for the
-# full-GPU VAAPI pipeline. A source outside this set (AV1, MPEG-4 ASP/XviD…) falls back to software even
-# when the render node is present, because the GPU can't decode it to feed its own encoder.
-_HW_DECODABLE = {"h264", "hevc", "h265", "vp9", "vc1", "mpeg2video"}
+# full-GPU VAAPI pipeline. A source outside it (AV1, MPEG-4 ASP/XviD…) falls back to software even with
+# the render node present, because the GPU can't decode it to feed its own encoder. THE single source is
+# plex.sync, so the runtime encoder choice here and the catalog `transcode_hw` facet can't disagree by
+# codec; aliased to the old name to keep the call sites below unchanged.
+_HW_DECODABLE = HW_DECODABLE_CODECS
 # Color-transfer values that mark a true-HDR source (PQ / HLG). A HW-decodable HDR source can't take the
 # plain scale_vaapi=format=nv12 path (Gen 9.5 VPP refuses it) — it needs the OpenCL tonemap graph
 # (_venc_opts tonemap branch) when the OpenCL runtime is present, else software libx264. A 10-bit source

backend/app/plex/sync.py

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ item-detail/player path (P2), not here.
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy import func, select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from app import sysconfig
@@ -58,6 +58,57 @@ def classify_playable(vcodec: str | None, acodec: str | None, container: str | N
     return "direct"
 
 
+# Video codecs the prod iGPU (UHD 630 / Quick Sync Gen 9.5) can hardware-DECODE — the precondition for
+# the full-GPU VAAPI transcode pipeline. THE single source of this set: plex.stream imports it here so
+# the runtime encoder choice (`_want_hw`) and this catalog facet can never disagree by codec. A source
+# outside it (AV1, MPEG-4 ASP/XviD…) is software-only even on the iGPU (it can't decode it to feed its
+# own encoder).
+HW_DECODABLE_CODECS = frozenset({"h264", "hevc", "h265", "vp9", "vc1", "mpeg2video"})
+# Color-transfer values marking an HDR source (PQ / HLG). A 10-bit/HDR source breaks the VAAPI
+# scale=nv12 path on Gen 9.5 (see plex.stream) → software transcode, so it counts as NOT HW-capable.
+_HDR_TRANSFERS = frozenset({"smpte2084", "arib-std-b67"})
+
+
+def transcode_hw_capable(
+    playable: str | None,
+    vcodec: str | None,
+    bit_depth: int | None = None,
+    hdr: bool = False,
+) -> bool | None:
+    """The stored `PlexItem.transcode_hw` facet: for a `playable="transcode"` item, whether the prod
+    iGPU can HARDWARE-transcode it (else software libx264 only); None for a non-transcode item. HW needs
+    a HW-decodable codec AND an 8-bit SDR source — a 10-bit/HDR source (bit_depth>8 or an HDR transfer)
+    breaks the VAAPI nv12 pipeline and falls back to software. `bit_depth`/`hdr` are unknown at sync
+    time (the cheap listing carries no Stream), so they default to 8-bit SDR (codec-only) and the
+    bit-depth backfill refines a 10-bit/HDR HEVC to False later."""
+    if playable != "transcode":
+        return None
+    if (vcodec or "").lower() not in HW_DECODABLE_CODECS:
+        return False
+    if bit_depth is not None and bit_depth > 8:
+        return False
+    return not hdr
+
+
+def _video_stream_props(meta: dict) -> tuple[int | None, bool]:
+    """(bit_depth, is_hdr) from a FULL Plex metadata dict's video Stream (Media→Part→Stream, streamType
+    1). Only the rich metadata call carries Stream; the cheap listing does not — so this is read by the
+    bit-depth backfill, not the listing sync. (None, False) when absent/unparseable."""
+    for m in meta.get("Media") or []:
+        for part in m.get("Part") or []:
+            for s in part.get("Stream") or []:
+                if s.get("streamType") != 1:  # 1 = video
+                    continue
+                bd = s.get("bitDepth")
+                try:
+                    depth = int(bd) if bd else None
+                except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                    depth = None
+                hdr = str(s.get("colorTrc") or "").lower() in _HDR_TRANSFERS
+                return depth, hdr
+    return None, False
+
+
 def _epoch(v) -> datetime | None:
     try:
         return datetime.fromtimestamp(int(v), tz=timezone.utc) if v else None
@@ -217,6 +268,13 @@ def sync(db: Session) -> dict:
                 stats["people_enriched"] = _enrich_people_batch(db, plex)
             except Exception as e:  # best-effort — never fail the sync over the backfill
                 log.warning("Plex people enrich batch failed: %s", e)
+            # Probe a bounded batch of HW-decodable transcode items for bit-depth/HDR, so the
+            # playback-class filter's HW/SW split is precise (a 10-bit/HDR HEVC → software) over
+            # successive runs. Only HW-decodable-codec transcodes are probed — the rest are SW by codec.
+            try:
+                stats["media_probed"] = _probe_media_batch(db, plex)
+            except Exception as e:  # best-effort — never fail the sync over the backfill
+                log.warning("Plex media probe batch failed: %s", e)
     except PlexNotConfigured as e:
         return {"skipped": str(e)}
     except PlexError as e:
@@ -236,6 +294,49 @@ def sync(db: Session) -> dict:
 # How many titles to rich-fetch per sync run for the cast backfill — bounds the extra Plex load; the
 # whole library is covered over successive runs (each fetched item is stamped people_enriched_at once).
 _ENRICH_BATCH = 60
+# Same bounded-per-run pattern for the bit-depth probe. Only HW-decodable-codec transcode items are
+# probed (typically a small minority — the bulk of transcodes are old codecs that are SW by codec), so
+# a modest batch covers the work-list in a run or two; a stuck item retries next run (watermark unset).
+_PROBE_BATCH = 60
+
+
+def _probe_media_batch(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, limit: int = _PROBE_BATCH) -> int:
+    """Rich-fetch up to `limit` not-yet-probed HW-decodable transcode items, read the video Stream's
+    bit-depth + HDR, and store `video_bit_depth` + the refined `transcode_hw` (a 10-bit/HDR HEVC →
+    False/software). Stamps `media_probed_at` on every attempt (success OR a Plex miss with no Stream),
+    so an item is probed once and not re-fetched every sync; a transient fetch FAILURE leaves the
+    watermark unset to retry. Oldest-id first. Returns how many items were probed this run."""
+    rows = (
+        db.execute(
+            select(PlexItem)
+            .where(
+                PlexItem.playable == "transcode",
+                func.lower(PlexItem.codec_video).in_(HW_DECODABLE_CODECS),
+                PlexItem.media_probed_at.is_(None),
+            )
+            .order_by(PlexItem.id)
+            .limit(limit)
+        )
+        .scalars()
+        .all()
+    )
+    now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    n = 0
+    for row in rows:
+        try:
+            meta = plex.metadata(row.rating_key) or {}
+        except Exception as e:  # transient — leave media_probed_at NULL so it retries next run
+            log.debug("Plex media probe fetch failed for %s: %s", row.rating_key, e)
+            continue
+        bit_depth, hdr = _video_stream_props(meta)
+        row.video_bit_depth = bit_depth
+        row.transcode_hw = transcode_hw_capable("transcode", row.codec_video, bit_depth, hdr)
+        row.media_probed_at = (
+            now  # probed (even if Plex carried no Stream — don't re-fetch forever)
+        )
+        n += 1
+    db.commit()
+    return n
 
 
 def _enrich_people_batch(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, limit: int = _ENRICH_BATCH) -> int:
@@ -369,15 +470,41 @@ def _apply_item(row: PlexItem, lib_id: int, kind: str, meta: dict) -> None:
     row.added_at = _epoch(meta.get("addedAt"))
     _apply_facet_fields(row, meta)  # filterable/orderable extras (shared with shows)
     mf = _media_facts(meta)
+    new_vcodec = mf.get("codec_video")
+    new_part_key = mf.get("part_key")
+    # The physical file was replaced when its video codec changes OR — for a SINGLE-version item — when its
+    # Plex Part key changes (a re-encode / quality upgrade gets a new part id). Either way any probed
+    # bit-depth is stale, so reset the probe watermark and re-derive transcode_hw from codec alone until the
+    # backfill re-probes. Codec alone is NOT enough: a same-codec bit-depth re-encode (8-bit→10-bit HEVC)
+    # keeps the codec `hevc` but flips the HW class, and only the part-key move catches it.
+    #
+    # The part-key check is gated on single-version because `_media_facts` reads media[0]/part[0], and for a
+    # MULTI-version item (an original + a Plex "Optimized" copy) that order isn't guaranteed stable across
+    # listings — an unguarded part-key compare would then reset+re-probe every sync and oscillate the
+    # transcode_hw bucket between the two versions. A multi-version same-codec re-encode not self-healing is
+    # an acceptable rare edge; a per-sync re-probe loop is not.
+    single_version = len(meta.get("Media") or []) <= 1
+    codec_changed = (row.codec_video or "").lower() != (new_vcodec or "").lower()
+    if codec_changed or (single_version and row.part_key != new_part_key):
+        row.video_bit_depth = None
+        row.media_probed_at = None
     row.file_path = mf.get("file_path")
-    row.part_key = mf.get("part_key")
+    row.part_key = new_part_key
     row.container = mf.get("container")
-    row.codec_video = mf.get("codec_video")
+    row.codec_video = new_vcodec
     row.codec_audio = mf.get("codec_audio")
     row.size_bytes = mf.get("size_bytes")
     row.playable = classify_playable(
         mf.get("codec_video"), mf.get("codec_audio"), mf.get("container")
     )
+    # transcode_hw: keep the bit-depth backfill's authoritative value (it folds in bit-depth + HDR) once
+    # probed; otherwise (re)derive the provisional codec-only class. A non-transcode item is always None,
+    # even if it had been probed as a transcode before (an audio/container flip to remux without a codec
+    # change wouldn't reset the watermark, so pin it here).
+    if row.playable != "transcode":
+        row.transcode_hw = None
+    elif row.media_probed_at is None:
+        row.transcode_hw = transcode_hw_capable("transcode", row.codec_video, row.video_bit_depth)
 
 
 def _prune_stale(

backend/app/routes/plex/browse.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Query
 from sqlalchemy import (
+    Boolean,
     Integer,
     String,
     and_,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ from app.plex import rollup
 from app.plex.cards import episode_card
 from app.plex.query import (
     FIELD_COLUMNS,
+    PLAYBACK_CLASSES,
     TS_CONFIG,
     LibraryFilters,
     apply_meta_filters,
@@ -36,6 +38,8 @@ from app.plex.query import (
     genres_col,
     meta_filter_conds,
     movie_status_case,
+    playable_conds,
+    playback_class_expr,
     show_status_case,
     split_csv,
     summary_col,
@@ -135,6 +139,7 @@ def unified_library(
                 PlexItem.originally_available_at.label("rel"),
                 PlexItem.duration_s.label("duration_s"),
                 PlexItem.playable.label("playable"),
+                PlexItem.transcode_hw.label("transcode_hw"),
                 cast(null(), Integer).label("season_count"),
                 func.coalesce(st.position_seconds, 0).label("position_seconds"),
                 m_status.label("status"),
@@ -156,6 +161,8 @@ def unified_library(
             mq = mq.where(PlexItem.duration_s >= f.duration_min)
         if f.duration_max is not None:
             mq = mq.where(PlexItem.duration_s <= f.duration_max)
+        # Playback-class filter (movie-only — a show is an aggregate with no single class).
+        mq = mq.where(*playable_conds(split_csv(f.playable)))
         if tsq is not None:
             mq = mq.where(vector_match(PlexItem, lang, tsq))
         if recheck is not None:
@@ -179,6 +186,7 @@ def unified_library(
                 PlexShow.originally_available_at.label("rel"),
                 cast(null(), Integer).label("duration_s"),
                 cast(null(), String).label("playable"),
+                cast(null(), Boolean).label("transcode_hw"),
                 PlexShow.child_count.label("season_count"),
                 literal(0).label("position_seconds"),
                 s_status.label("status"),
@@ -237,6 +245,7 @@ def unified_library(
                         "duration_seconds": r.duration_s,
                         "thumb": f"/api/plex/image/{r.rk}",
                         "playable": r.playable,
+                        "transcode_hw": r.transcode_hw,
                         "status": r.status,
                         "position_seconds": r.position_seconds,
                     }
@@ -312,6 +321,7 @@ def facets(
         "genres": [],
         "content_ratings": [],
         "studios": [],
+        "playable": [],
         "year_min": None,
         "year_max": None,
         "rating_max": None,
@@ -338,6 +348,9 @@ def facets(
                 query = query.where(model.duration_s >= pp["duration_min"])
             if with_dur and pp.get("duration_max") is not None:
                 query = query.where(model.duration_s <= pp["duration_max"])
+            # Playback-class filter (movie-only) — applied for the OTHER groups so an active class
+            # narrows them; the playable facet itself passes pp with playable=None (self-exclusion).
+            query = query.where(*playable_conds(split_csv(pp.get("playable"))))
             # Join watch-state and reuse the grid's exact movie state filter (unified_library) —
             # hidden movies never appear in the grid, so they must not inflate facet counts/bounds either.
             st = aliased(PlexState)
@@ -356,6 +369,7 @@ def facets(
     genre_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
     cr_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
     studio_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
+    playable_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
     years: list[int] = []
     ratings: list[float] = []
     durs: list[int] = []
@@ -420,6 +434,23 @@ def facets(
         )
         for s, c in db.execute(stq).all():
             studio_counts[s] = studio_counts.get(s, 0) + c
+        # Playback class (movie-only) — exclude its own so each class stays an addable OR option.
+        if kind_movie:
+            pcls = playback_class_expr()
+            pcq = (
+                wsq(
+                    select(pcls.label("cls"), func.count()),
+                    model,
+                    ids,
+                    {**p, "playable": None},
+                    kind_movie,
+                    True,
+                )
+                .where(pcls.isnot(None))
+                .group_by(pcls)
+            )
+            for cls, c in db.execute(pcq).all():
+                playable_counts[cls] = playable_counts.get(cls, 0) + c
         # Year bounds — exclude the year filter.
         by = db.execute(
             wsq(
@@ -477,6 +508,11 @@ def facets(
     # Same for the actively-selected studios, so a selected studio stays removable even at zero matches.
     for s in split_csv(f.studios):
         studio_counts.setdefault(s, 0)
+    # Keep an actively-selected playback class visible even at zero matches (the sidebar hides the whole
+    # section when its facet list is empty, which would trap a zero-result selection with no way to undo).
+    for c in split_csv(f.playable):
+        if c in PLAYBACK_CLASSES:
+            playable_counts.setdefault(c, 0)
     return {
         "genres": [
             {"value": g, "count": c} for g, c in sorted(genre_counts.items(), key=lambda kv: kv[0])
@@ -488,6 +524,12 @@ def facets(
             {"value": s, "count": c}
             for s, c in sorted(studio_counts.items(), key=lambda kv: (-kv[1], kv[0]))
         ],
+        # Fixed good→heavy order (not by count), so the class list reads as a severity scale.
+        "playable": [
+            {"value": c, "count": playable_counts[c]}
+            for c in PLAYBACK_CLASSES
+            if c in playable_counts
+        ],
         "year_min": min(years) if years else None,
         "year_max": max(years) if years else None,
         "rating_max": max(ratings) if ratings else None,

backend/app/routes/plex/detail.py

@@ -411,6 +411,10 @@ def item_detail(
         "year": it.year,
         "duration_seconds": it.duration_s,
         "playable": it.playable,
+        # Playback-class detail: HW/SW transcode split + the codec/bit-depth the info-page chip shows.
+        "transcode_hw": it.transcode_hw,
+        "codec_video": it.codec_video,
+        "video_bit_depth": it.video_bit_depth,
         "thumb": f"/api/plex/image/{it.rating_key}",
         "art": f"/api/plex/image/{it.rating_key}?variant=art",
         "library": _lib_key(db, it.library_id),

backend/tests/test_plex_playback_class.py

@@ -0,0 +1,495 @@
+"""The playback-class filter (E7): filter the Plex feed by Direct Play / Direct Stream / Transcode·HW /
+Transcode·SW. Covers the shared classifier + Stream parsing (unit), the sync derivation + codec-change
+reset, the bit-depth backfill, and the /library filter + /facets counts (DB lane).
+
+The HW/SW split is derived from the stored `transcode_hw` facet (codec at sync, refined by the bit-depth
+backfill). These tests pin that a 10-bit/HDR HEVC lands in SW even though its codec is HW-decodable —
+the exact case the runtime VAAPI path (plex.stream) also special-cases.
+"""
+
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import app.state as state
+from app.auth import current_user
+from app.db import get_db
+from app.main import app
+from app.models import PlexItem, PlexLibrary, User
+from app.plex import sync
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+
+class TestTranscodeHwCapable:
+    """The single classifier both the catalog facet and (by codec) the runtime encoder choice key off."""
+
+    def test_non_transcode_items_are_none(self):
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("direct", "h264") is None
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("remux", "h264") is None
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable(None, "hevc") is None
+
+    def test_hw_decodable_8bit_sdr_is_hw(self):
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("transcode", "hevc") is True
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("transcode", "vp9", bit_depth=8) is True
+
+    def test_non_decodable_codec_is_sw(self):
+        # AV1 / MPEG-4 ASP (XviD) can't be HW-decoded on Gen 9.5 → software regardless of bit depth.
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("transcode", "av1") is False
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("transcode", "mpeg4", bit_depth=8) is False
+
+    def test_10bit_or_hdr_hevc_is_sw(self):
+        # A HW-decodable codec that is 10-bit or HDR still breaks the VAAPI nv12 pipeline → software.
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("transcode", "hevc", bit_depth=10) is False
+        assert sync.transcode_hw_capable("transcode", "hevc", bit_depth=8, hdr=True) is False
+
+
+class TestVideoStreamProps:
+    def test_reads_bit_depth_and_hdr_from_the_video_stream(self):
+        meta = {
+            "Media": [
+                {
+                    "Part": [
+                        {
+                            "Stream": [
+                                {"streamType": 2, "codec": "eac3"},  # audio — skipped
+                                {"streamType": 1, "bitDepth": 10, "colorTrc": "smpte2084"},
+                            ]
+                        }
+                    ]
+                }
+            ]
+        }
+        assert sync._video_stream_props(meta) == (10, True)
+
+    def test_8bit_sdr_stream(self):
+        meta = {"Media": [{"Part": [{"Stream": [{"streamType": 1, "bitDepth": 8}]}]}]}
+        assert sync._video_stream_props(meta) == (8, False)
+
+    def test_absent_stream_is_none_false(self):
+        assert sync._video_stream_props({}) == (None, False)
+        assert sync._video_stream_props({"Media": [{"Part": [{}]}]}) == (None, False)
+
+
+class TestSyncDerivation:
+    """`_apply_item` sets transcode_hw codec-only at sync (bit depth unknown from the listing), and a
+    changed video codec resets the probe watermark so a stale bit-depth can't linger."""
+
+    def _meta(self, vcodec, *, key="/parts/1/file.mkv", file="/m.mkv"):
+        return {
+            "title": "X",
+            "Media": [{"videoCodec": vcodec, "Part": [{"file": file, "key": key}]}],
+        }
+
+    def test_codec_only_derivation_at_sync(self):
+        row = PlexItem(rating_key="x", kind="movie")
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("hevc"))
+        assert row.playable == "transcode" and row.transcode_hw is True  # decodable, 8-bit assumed
+        row2 = PlexItem(rating_key="y", kind="movie")
+        sync._apply_item(row2, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("av1"))
+        assert row2.transcode_hw is False  # av1 not HW-decodable
+
+    def test_probed_value_survives_resync_when_codec_unchanged(self):
+        row = PlexItem(rating_key="x", kind="movie")
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("hevc"))
+        # Simulate the backfill downgrading this 10-bit HEVC to software.
+        row.transcode_hw = False
+        row.video_bit_depth = 10
+        row.media_probed_at = sync.datetime.now(sync.timezone.utc)
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("hevc"))
+        assert row.transcode_hw is False  # NOT re-derived back to True
+        assert row.video_bit_depth == 10 and row.media_probed_at is not None
+
+    def test_codec_change_resets_the_probe(self):
+        row = PlexItem(rating_key="x", kind="movie")
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("hevc"))
+        row.transcode_hw = False
+        row.video_bit_depth = 10
+        row.media_probed_at = sync.datetime.now(sync.timezone.utc)
+        # The file was replaced with an h264 remux — the stale 10-bit probe must be cleared.
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("h264"))
+        assert row.video_bit_depth is None and row.media_probed_at is None
+
+    def test_same_codec_reencode_with_a_new_part_resets_the_probe(self):
+        # A same-codec bit-depth re-encode (e.g. 8-bit→10-bit HEVC) keeps codec 'hevc' but replaces the
+        # physical file, so its Plex Part key changes. Codec-only reset would miss this and keep the stale
+        # 8-bit/HW verdict forever (the backfill only re-probes media_probed_at IS NULL rows) — the
+        # part-key move must reset the watermark so the new bit depth is re-probed.
+        row = PlexItem(rating_key="x", kind="movie")
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("hevc", key="/parts/1/f.mkv"))
+        row.transcode_hw = True
+        row.video_bit_depth = 8
+        row.media_probed_at = sync.datetime.now(sync.timezone.utc)
+        # Re-encoded in place: same codec 'hevc', but a new Part key (new file).
+        sync._apply_item(row, lib_id=1, kind="movie", meta=self._meta("hevc", key="/parts/2/f.mkv"))
+        assert row.video_bit_depth is None and row.media_probed_at is None  # re-probe scheduled
+
+
+def test_migration_codec_set_matches_hw_decodable_codecs():
+    # Migration 0077 hardcodes the HW-decodable codec set in raw SQL and its comment mandates it stay
+    # identical to plex.sync.HW_DECODABLE_CODECS. A comment isn't enforcement (house rule) — pin the
+    # equality so adding/removing a codec from the frozenset without editing the migration fails here
+    # (else already-migrated prod rows keep a wrong transcode_hw the runtime derivation wouldn't catch).
+    mig = (
+        Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+        / "alembic"
+        / "versions"
+        / "0077_plex_playback_class.py"
+    )
+    m = re.search(r"lower\(codec_video\)\s+IN\s+\(([^)]*)\)", mig.read_text())
+    assert m, "could not find the codec IN(...) list in migration 0077"
+    codecs = {c.strip().strip("'\"").lower() for c in m.group(1).split(",")}
+    assert codecs == {c.lower() for c in sync.HW_DECODABLE_CODECS}
+
+
+class _FakePlex:
+    """Stands in for PlexClient.metadata — returns a canned full-metadata dict per rating_key."""
+
+    def __init__(self, by_key):
+        self.by_key = by_key
+
+    def metadata(self, rating_key, markers=False):
+        return self.by_key.get(rating_key)
+
+
+def test_probe_media_batch_refines_hw_to_sw_for_10bit(db):
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    hevc8 = PlexItem(
+        rating_key="h8",
+        library_id=lib.id,
+        kind="movie",
+        title="8bit",
+        playable="transcode",
+        codec_video="hevc",
+        transcode_hw=True,
+    )
+    hevc10 = PlexItem(
+        rating_key="h10",
+        library_id=lib.id,
+        kind="movie",
+        title="10bit",
+        playable="transcode",
+        codec_video="hevc",
+        transcode_hw=True,
+    )
+    xvid = PlexItem(
+        rating_key="xv",
+        library_id=lib.id,
+        kind="movie",
+        title="xvid",
+        playable="transcode",
+        codec_video="mpeg4",
+        transcode_hw=False,
+    )
+    db.add_all([hevc8, hevc10, xvid])
+    db.commit()
+    plex = _FakePlex(
+        {
+            "h8": {"Media": [{"Part": [{"Stream": [{"streamType": 1, "bitDepth": 8}]}]}]},
+            "h10": {"Media": [{"Part": [{"Stream": [{"streamType": 1, "bitDepth": 10}]}]}]},
+        }
+    )
+    probed = sync._probe_media_batch(db, plex)
+    db.refresh(hevc8)
+    db.refresh(hevc10)
+    db.refresh(xvid)
+    # Only the two HW-decodable HEVC items are probed; the XviD is SW-by-codec and never fetched.
+    assert probed == 2
+    assert hevc8.video_bit_depth == 8 and hevc8.transcode_hw is True and hevc8.media_probed_at
+    assert hevc10.video_bit_depth == 10 and hevc10.transcode_hw is False  # downgraded to software
+    assert xvid.media_probed_at is None  # not in the work-list
+    # A second run has nothing left to do (watermarks set).
+    assert sync._probe_media_batch(db, plex) == 0
+
+
+def test_probe_stamps_even_when_plex_has_no_stream(db):
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    item = PlexItem(
+        rating_key="ns",
+        library_id=lib.id,
+        kind="movie",
+        title="nostream",
+        playable="transcode",
+        codec_video="hevc",
+        transcode_hw=True,
+    )
+    db.add(item)
+    db.commit()
+    plex = _FakePlex({"ns": {"Media": [{"Part": [{}]}]}})  # no Stream array
+    assert sync._probe_media_batch(db, plex) == 1
+    db.refresh(item)
+    # Probed (watermark set so it isn't re-fetched forever); bit depth unknown → stays codec-HW.
+    assert item.media_probed_at is not None and item.video_bit_depth is None
+    assert item.transcode_hw is True
+
+
+def test_probe_media_batch_is_bounded_and_oldest_first(db):
+    # The per-run bound (limit) caps Plex load; oldest-id-first means successive runs cover the whole
+    # backlog without starving any item. Seed 3 eligible items, probe with limit=2.
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    items = [
+        PlexItem(
+            rating_key=f"h{i}",
+            library_id=lib.id,
+            kind="movie",
+            title=f"m{i}",
+            playable="transcode",
+            codec_video="hevc",
+            transcode_hw=True,
+        )
+        for i in range(3)
+    ]
+    db.add_all(items)  # inserted in order → ascending ids
+    db.commit()
+    plex = _FakePlex(
+        {
+            f"h{i}": {"Media": [{"Part": [{"Stream": [{"streamType": 1, "bitDepth": 8}]}]}]}
+            for i in range(3)
+        }
+    )
+    assert sync._probe_media_batch(db, plex, limit=2) == 2  # exactly the bound
+    for it in items:
+        db.refresh(it)
+    # The two LOWEST-id rows were probed; the third waits for the next run.
+    assert items[0].media_probed_at is not None and items[1].media_probed_at is not None
+    assert items[2].media_probed_at is None
+    # The next run continues with the remaining item.
+    assert sync._probe_media_batch(db, plex, limit=2) == 1
+    db.refresh(items[2])
+    assert items[2].media_probed_at is not None
+
+
+class _RaisingPlex:
+    """metadata() raises for `bad_key`, returns a canned dict otherwise — to exercise the transient
+    fetch-failure branch (leave the watermark NULL so the item retries next run)."""
+
+    def __init__(self, by_key, bad_key):
+        self.by_key = by_key
+        self.bad_key = bad_key
+
+    def metadata(self, rating_key, markers=False):
+        if rating_key == self.bad_key:
+            raise RuntimeError("plex timeout")
+        return self.by_key.get(rating_key)
+
+
+def test_probe_media_batch_leaves_a_transient_failure_unstamped_to_retry(db):
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    good = PlexItem(
+        rating_key="g",
+        library_id=lib.id,
+        kind="movie",
+        title="good",
+        playable="transcode",
+        codec_video="hevc",
+        transcode_hw=True,
+    )
+    bad = PlexItem(
+        rating_key="b",
+        library_id=lib.id,
+        kind="movie",
+        title="bad",
+        playable="transcode",
+        codec_video="hevc",
+        transcode_hw=True,
+    )
+    db.add_all([good, bad])
+    db.commit()
+    plex = _RaisingPlex(
+        {"g": {"Media": [{"Part": [{"Stream": [{"streamType": 1, "bitDepth": 10}]}]}]}}, bad_key="b"
+    )
+    # The raise on 'b' must not abort the batch: 'g' is still probed and counted; 'b' stays NULL.
+    assert sync._probe_media_batch(db, plex) == 1
+    db.refresh(good)
+    db.refresh(bad)
+    assert good.media_probed_at is not None and good.transcode_hw is False  # 10-bit → SW
+    assert bad.media_probed_at is None  # transient failure → retried next run, not stamped
+
+
+def _seed_classes(db):
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    db.add_all(
+        [
+            PlexItem(
+                rating_key="d1", library_id=lib.id, kind="movie", title="Direct", playable="direct"
+            ),
+            PlexItem(
+                rating_key="r1", library_id=lib.id, kind="movie", title="Remux", playable="remux"
+            ),
+            PlexItem(
+                rating_key="thw",
+                library_id=lib.id,
+                kind="movie",
+                title="HW",
+                playable="transcode",
+                codec_video="hevc",
+                transcode_hw=True,
+            ),
+            PlexItem(
+                rating_key="tsw",
+                library_id=lib.id,
+                kind="movie",
+                title="SW",
+                playable="transcode",
+                codec_video="mpeg4",
+                transcode_hw=False,
+            ),
+        ]
+    )
+    return lib
+
+
+def _client(db, user, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(state, "_configured_cache", True)
+    app.dependency_overrides[get_db] = lambda: db
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user] = lambda: user
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+
+def test_library_filters_by_playback_class(db, monkeypatch):
+    _seed_classes(db)
+    user = User(email="pclass@example.com")
+    db.add(user)
+    db.commit()
+    client = _client(db, user, monkeypatch)
+    try:
+        # Software-only transcodes.
+        sw = client.get("/api/plex/library?scope=movie&playable=transcode_sw")
+        assert sw.status_code == 200, sw.text
+        assert {i["id"] for i in sw.json()["items"]} == {"tsw"}
+        # HW transcode + Direct Play, OR-combined.
+        both = client.get("/api/plex/library?scope=movie&playable=transcode_hw,direct")
+        assert {i["id"] for i in both.json()["items"]} == {"thw", "d1"}
+        # The HW card carries the transcode_hw flag for the 4-way badge.
+        card = next(i for i in both.json()["items"] if i["id"] == "thw")
+        assert card["transcode_hw"] is True
+        # No filter → everything.
+        allm = client.get("/api/plex/library?scope=movie")
+        assert {i["id"] for i in allm.json()["items"]} == {"d1", "r1", "thw", "tsw"}
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+
+
+def test_facets_count_playback_classes_in_severity_order(db, monkeypatch):
+    _seed_classes(db)
+    user = User(email="pclassfacet@example.com")
+    db.add(user)
+    db.commit()
+    client = _client(db, user, monkeypatch)
+    try:
+        resp = client.get("/api/plex/facets?scope=movie")
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+    playable = resp.json()["playable"]
+    # Fixed good→heavy order (not by count), one per seeded class.
+    assert [p["value"] for p in playable] == ["direct", "remux", "transcode_hw", "transcode_sw"]
+    assert {p["value"]: p["count"] for p in playable} == {
+        "direct": 1,
+        "remux": 1,
+        "transcode_hw": 1,
+        "transcode_sw": 1,
+    }
+
+
+def test_unprobed_transcode_folds_into_sw(db, monkeypatch):
+    # transcode_hw NULL is the COMMON initial state (before the bit-depth backfill runs). The query's
+    # CASE has no explicit NULL arm — it relies on the `playable=='transcode'` else folding NULL in with
+    # software. Pin that fold for BOTH the filter and the facet, so a reorder can't silently drop the
+    # item from the feed (an honest-state violation).
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    db.add(
+        PlexItem(
+            rating_key="tnull",
+            library_id=lib.id,
+            kind="movie",
+            title="Unprobed",
+            playable="transcode",
+            codec_video="hevc",
+            transcode_hw=None,
+        )
+    )
+    user = User(email="pnull@example.com")
+    db.add(user)
+    db.commit()
+    client = _client(db, user, monkeypatch)
+    try:
+        sw = client.get("/api/plex/library?scope=movie&playable=transcode_sw")
+        assert {i["id"] for i in sw.json()["items"]} == {"tnull"}  # NULL → SW bucket
+        hw = client.get("/api/plex/library?scope=movie&playable=transcode_hw")
+        assert hw.json()["items"] == []  # never HW
+        facets = client.get("/api/plex/facets?scope=movie")
+        counts = {p["value"]: p["count"] for p in facets.json()["playable"]}
+        assert counts.get("transcode_sw") == 1 and counts.get("transcode_hw", 0) == 0
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+
+
+def test_facet_playable_self_excludes_the_active_selection(db, monkeypatch):
+    # A selected playable class must NOT narrow the playable facet's OWN counts (facet self-exclusion),
+    # otherwise picking one class would collapse the list and you couldn't OR-add a second. Selecting
+    # 'direct' must still return all four classes at their full, unnarrowed counts.
+    _seed_classes(db)
+    user = User(email="pself@example.com")
+    db.add(user)
+    db.commit()
+    client = _client(db, user, monkeypatch)
+    try:
+        resp = client.get("/api/plex/facets?scope=movie&playable=direct")
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+    counts = {p["value"]: p["count"] for p in resp.json()["playable"]}
+    assert counts == {"direct": 1, "remux": 1, "transcode_hw": 1, "transcode_sw": 1}
+
+
+def test_active_playable_narrows_the_other_facets(db, monkeypatch):
+    # The flip side of self-exclusion: an active playable class DOES narrow the OTHER facet groups (so
+    # e.g. the year range reflects only the selected class). Seed a Direct movie (2000) and a
+    # software-transcode movie (2020); selecting playable=direct must collapse the year facet to 2000.
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    db.add_all(
+        [
+            PlexItem(
+                rating_key="d2000",
+                library_id=lib.id,
+                kind="movie",
+                title="Direct2000",
+                playable="direct",
+                year=2000,
+            ),
+            PlexItem(
+                rating_key="s2020",
+                library_id=lib.id,
+                kind="movie",
+                title="SW2020",
+                playable="transcode",
+                codec_video="mpeg4",
+                transcode_hw=False,
+                year=2020,
+            ),
+        ]
+    )
+    user = User(email="pnarrow@example.com")
+    db.add(user)
+    db.commit()
+    client = _client(db, user, monkeypatch)
+    try:
+        wide = client.get("/api/plex/facets?scope=movie").json()
+        narrow = client.get("/api/plex/facets?scope=movie&playable=direct").json()
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+    assert (wide["year_min"], wide["year_max"]) == (2000, 2020)  # both classes span the range
+    assert (narrow["year_min"], narrow["year_max"]) == (2000, 2000)  # narrowed to the Direct subset

frontend/src/components/PlexInfo.tsx

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import i18n from "../i18n";
 import { Carousel } from "./Carousel";
 import PlexCollectionEditor from "./PlexCollectionEditor";
 import PlexPlaylistAdd from "./PlexPlaylistAdd";
+import { PLAYABLE_TINT, playableClass } from "./plexCards";
 
 // The rich "media info" surface for a Plex item — poster/art, IMDb score + link, content rating,
 // genres, director, cast (with photos), summary. Reused in TWO places: a full-page view opened from
@@ -253,6 +254,33 @@ function CrewPanel({
   );
 }
 
+// The playback-class chip (dot + Plex-native label), with a muted codec · bit-depth subtitle when
+// known. Class + colour are derived through the SAME shared helper the browse-card corner dot uses,
+// so the two surfaces can't drift. `overlay` tints the label for the dark player background.
+function PlaybackChip({ detail, overlay }: { detail: PlexItemDetail; overlay: boolean }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  if (!detail.playable) return null;
+  const cls = playableClass(detail.playable, detail.transcode_hw);
+  const sub = [
+    detail.codec_video ? detail.codec_video.toUpperCase() : null,
+    detail.video_bit_depth != null ? `${detail.video_bit_depth}-bit` : null,
+  ]
+    .filter(Boolean)
+    .join(" · ");
+  return (
+    <span
+      className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 text-xs ${
+        overlay ? "bg-white/10 text-white/90" : "bg-surface text-muted"
+      }`}
+      title={t(`plex.playable.${cls}`)}
+    >
+      <span className={`h-2 w-2 shrink-0 rounded-full ${PLAYABLE_TINT[cls] ?? "bg-gray-400"}`} />
+      <span className="font-medium">{t(`plex.filter.playableOpt.${cls}`)}</span>
+      {sub && <span className="opacity-70">{sub}</span>}
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
 type Props = {
   detail: PlexItemDetail;
   variant: "page" | "overlay";
@@ -479,6 +507,7 @@ export default function PlexInfo({
                     {detail.studio}
                   </Filterable>
                 )}
+                <PlaybackChip detail={detail} overlay={overlay} />
               </div>
 
               {/* Multi-source ratings row (E5 S5): IMDb / TMDb / audience, whichever are present. */}

frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx

@@ -296,6 +296,28 @@ export default function PlexSidebar({ layout, setLayout, collapsed, onToggleColl
           },
         ]
       : []),
+    // Playback class (Direct Play / Direct Stream / Transcode HW/SW) — movie-only (shows have no
+    // class), and dropped when the facet is empty. Labels are localized (the facet ships class keys).
+    ...(scope === "movie" && facets && facets.playable.length > 0
+      ? [
+          {
+            id: "playable",
+            title: t("plex.filter.playable"),
+            body: (
+              <Combobox
+                label={t("plex.filter.playable")}
+                options={facets.playable.map((p) => ({
+                  value: p.value,
+                  label: t(`plex.filter.playableOpt.${p.value}`),
+                  count: p.count,
+                }))}
+                selected={filters.playable}
+                onChange={(next) => patch({ playable: next })}
+              />
+            ),
+          },
+        ]
+      : []),
   ];
 
   return (

frontend/src/components/plexCards.tsx

@@ -8,14 +8,23 @@ import type { PlexCard, PlexCastMember, PlexFilters, PlexSeasonDetail } from "..
 // Presentational Plex cards + strips, split out of PlexBrowse (all purely prop-driven, no shared
 // state). Rendered by the browse grid, the person page, and the series show/season views.
 
-// Playback cost, escalating good→heavy: direct (green) → remux, a light repackage
-// (amber) → transcode, a full re-encode (red). Reuses the status trio as a gradient;
-// all three stay visually distinct.
-const PLAYABLE_TINT: Record<string, string> = {
+// Playback cost, escalating good→heavy: Direct Play (green) → Direct Stream / remux, a light
+// repackage (blue) → Transcode · HW, a hardware re-encode (amber) → Transcode · SW, a software
+// re-encode (red). transcode splits HW vs SW by card.transcode_hw. Reuses the semantic tokens as a
+// gradient; all four stay visually distinct in light + dark.
+export const PLAYABLE_TINT: Record<string, string> = {
   direct: "bg-success",
-  remux: "bg-warn",
-  transcode: "bg-danger",
+  remux: "bg-info",
+  transcode_hw: "bg-warn",
+  transcode_sw: "bg-danger",
 };
+// Collapse the wire `playable` (direct|remux|transcode) + transcode_hw flag into one of the 4 display
+// classes, so the corner dot's colour + tooltip can't drift from the sidebar filter's option keys.
+// Shared with the info-page playback chip (PlexInfo) so both surfaces derive the class identically.
+export function playableClass(playable: string, transcodeHw?: boolean | null): string {
+  if (playable === "transcode") return transcodeHw ? "transcode_hw" : "transcode_sw";
+  return playable; // direct | remux
+}
 
 // The reveal class for a status pill (watched / in-progress) that shares a corner with a hover-reveal
 // control (the watched-toggle). When that control is present it takes over on touch, so the pill yields
@@ -82,13 +91,22 @@ export function PlexPosterCard({
           decoding="async"
           className="w-full h-full object-cover group-hover:scale-105 transition-transform duration-200"
         />
-        {/* Playable-cost tint (always shown — a quick "will it direct-play" cue). */}
-        {card.playable && (
-          <span
-            className={`absolute top-1.5 left-1.5 w-2 h-2 rounded-full ring-2 ring-black/40 ${PLAYABLE_TINT[card.playable] ?? "bg-gray-400"}`}
-            title={t(`plex.playable.${card.playable}`)}
-          />
-        )}
+        {/* Playable-cost tint (always shown — a quick "will it direct-play" cue). z-20 keeps the dot
+            ABOVE the full-card hover-reveal overlay below (absolute inset-0, no pointer-events-none):
+            without it the overlay sits on top and swallows the cursor, so the dot's native `title`
+            tooltip never fired on hover (a regression once the reveal overlay was added). */}
+        {card.playable &&
+          (() => {
+            const cls = playableClass(card.playable, card.transcode_hw);
+            return (
+              <span
+                role="img"
+                aria-label={t(`plex.playable.${cls}`)}
+                className={`absolute top-1.5 left-1.5 z-20 w-2 h-2 rounded-full ring-2 ring-black/40 ${PLAYABLE_TINT[cls] ?? "bg-gray-400"}`}
+                title={t(`plex.playable.${cls}`)}
+              />
+            );
+          })()}
         {/* Rest-state watched badge (top-right). Yields to the hover quick-actions on a playable card
             (reveal-idle: gone on touch where the toggle is always shown); a watched show keeps it. */}
         {card.status === "watched" && (

frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.ts

@@ -110,6 +110,13 @@ export function buildPlexActiveFilters(
       remove: () => patch({ studios: filters.studios.filter((x) => x !== s) }),
     });
   }
+  for (const p of filters.playable) {
+    out.push({
+      key: `playable:${p}`,
+      label: t(`plex.filter.playableOpt.${p}`),
+      remove: () => patch({ playable: filters.playable.filter((x) => x !== p) }),
+    });
+  }
   for (const k of filters.keywords) {
     out.push({
       key: `keyword:${k}`,

frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/plex.json

@@ -104,6 +104,13 @@
     "collectionEmpty": "No collections",
     "matchLabel": "Match",
     "studio": "Studio",
+    "playable": "Playback",
+    "playableOpt": {
+      "direct": "Direct Play",
+      "remux": "Direct Stream",
+      "transcode_hw": "Transcode · HW",
+      "transcode_sw": "Transcode · SW"
+    },
     "moreRefine": "{{count}} more — refine with search"
   },
   "count": "{{count}} titles",
@@ -285,8 +292,9 @@
   },
   "playable": {
     "direct": "Plays directly in the browser",
-    "remux": "Needs a light remux (no video re-encode)",
-    "transcode": "Needs transcoding (heavier)"
+    "remux": "Direct Stream — a light remux (no video re-encode)",
+    "transcode_hw": "Transcoded on the hardware encoder",
+    "transcode_sw": "Transcoded in software (heaviest)"
   },
   "playlistAdd": {
     "manage": "Add to playlist",

frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/plex.json

@@ -104,6 +104,13 @@
     "collectionEmpty": "Nincs kollekció",
     "matchLabel": "Egyezés",
     "studio": "Stúdió",
+    "playable": "Lejátszás",
+    "playableOpt": {
+      "direct": "Közvetlen lejátszás",
+      "remux": "Közvetlen streamelés",
+      "transcode_hw": "Átkódolás · HW",
+      "transcode_sw": "Átkódolás · SW"
+    },
     "moreRefine": "még {{count}} — finomíts kereséssel"
   },
   "count": "{{count}} cím",
@@ -285,8 +292,9 @@
   },
   "playable": {
     "direct": "Közvetlenül játszható a böngészőben",
-    "remux": "Könnyű remux kell (nincs videó-újrakódolás)",
-    "transcode": "Transcode kell (nehezebb)"
+    "remux": "Közvetlen streamelés — könnyű remux (nincs videó-újrakódolás)",
+    "transcode_hw": "Hardveres kódolóval átkódolva",
+    "transcode_sw": "Szoftveresen átkódolva (legnehezebb)"
   },
   "playlistAdd": {
     "manage": "Listához adás",

frontend/src/lib/api/plex.dom.test.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
 import {
   coercePlexFilters,
   plexFiltersSignature,
+  plexFiltersToParams,
+  parsePlexFilters,
+  plexFilterCount,
   EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS,
   type PlexFilters,
 } from "./plex";
@@ -54,12 +57,14 @@ describe("plexFiltersSignature", () => {
       directors: [],
       actors: [],
       studios: [],
+      playable: [],
       keywords: [],
       collections: ["A"],
     };
     const b: PlexFilters = {
       collections: ["A"],
       keywords: [],
+      playable: [],
       studios: [],
       actors: [],
       directors: [],
@@ -81,4 +86,28 @@ describe("plexFiltersSignature", () => {
     const b: PlexFilters = { ...base(), genres: ["Comedy"] };
     expect(plexFiltersSignature(a)).not.toBe(plexFiltersSignature(b));
   });
+
+  it("differs when the playback-class filter differs", () => {
+    const a = base();
+    const b: PlexFilters = { ...base(), playable: ["direct", "transcode_hw"] };
+    expect(plexFiltersSignature(a)).not.toBe(plexFiltersSignature(b));
+  });
+});
+
+describe("playable filter round-trip + count", () => {
+  it("serializes playable as a CSV param and parses it back", () => {
+    const f: PlexFilters = { ...EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS, playable: ["direct", "transcode_sw"] };
+    const params = plexFiltersToParams(f);
+    expect(params.get("playable")).toBe("direct,transcode_sw");
+    expect(parsePlexFilters(params).playable).toEqual(["direct", "transcode_sw"]);
+  });
+
+  it("omits the playable param when empty", () => {
+    expect(plexFiltersToParams(EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS).has("playable")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("counts each selected playback class like studios", () => {
+    const f: PlexFilters = { ...EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS, playable: ["remux", "transcode_hw"] };
+    expect(plexFilterCount(f)).toBe(2);
+  });
 });

frontend/src/lib/api/plex.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export interface PlexCard {
   art?: string | null; // wide backdrop (movies/shows) for rails + crossfading hero; null when no art_key
   rating?: number | null; // Plex audience score (~IMDb), shown on the card hover-overview
   playable?: string; // direct | remux | transcode
+  transcode_hw?: boolean | null; // transcode items only: true = HW-capable, false = SW-only, null = n/a
   status?: string; // new | watched | hidden
   position_seconds?: number;
   season_count?: number | null; // show
@@ -139,6 +140,9 @@ export interface PlexItemDetail {
   year?: number | null;
   duration_seconds: number | null;
   playable: string; // direct | remux | transcode
+  transcode_hw?: boolean | null; // transcode items only: true = HW-capable, false = SW-only, null = n/a
+  codec_video?: string | null; // e.g. "hevc" / "h264" (info-chip subtitle)
+  video_bit_depth?: number | null; // e.g. 8 / 10 (info-chip subtitle)
   thumb: string;
   art: string;
   library?: string | null; // Plex section key (for the admin collection editor)
@@ -253,6 +257,7 @@ export interface PlexFilters {
   actors: string[]; // OR (any) by default, or AND (all) via actorMode
   actorMode?: "any" | "all"; // how multiple actors combine (default any = OR)
   studios: string[]; // OR — from any selected studio
+  playable: string[]; // OR — playback class (direct | remux | transcode_hw | transcode_sw); movie-only
   keywords: string[]; // AND — TMDB keyword chips from the detail page (E5 S5)
   collections: string[]; // Plex collection rating_keys; a title can be in several
   collectionMode?: "any" | "all"; // how multiple collections combine (default any = OR)
@@ -264,6 +269,7 @@ export const EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS: PlexFilters = {
   directors: [],
   actors: [],
   studios: [],
+  playable: [],
   keywords: [],
   collections: [],
 };
@@ -309,6 +315,7 @@ export function plexFilterCount(f: PlexFilters): number {
     f.directors.length +
     f.actors.length +
     f.studios.length +
+    f.playable.length +
     f.keywords.length +
     f.collections.length
   );
@@ -330,6 +337,7 @@ function appendPlexFilters(u: URLSearchParams, f: PlexFilters): void {
   if (f.actors?.length) u.set("actors", f.actors.join(","));
   if (f.actorMode === "all") u.set("actor_mode", "all");
   if (f.studios?.length) u.set("studios", f.studios.join(","));
+  if (f.playable?.length) u.set("playable", f.playable.join(","));
   if (f.keywords?.length) u.set("keywords", f.keywords.join(","));
   if (f.collections?.length) u.set("collections", f.collections.join(","));
   if (f.collectionMode === "all") u.set("collection_mode", "all");
@@ -371,6 +379,7 @@ export function parsePlexFilters(p: URLSearchParams): PlexFilters {
   f.actors = csv("actors");
   if (p.get("actor_mode") === "all") f.actorMode = "all";
   f.studios = csv("studios");
+  f.playable = csv("playable");
   f.keywords = csv("keywords");
   f.collections = csv("collections");
   if (p.get("collection_mode") === "all") f.collectionMode = "all";
@@ -380,6 +389,8 @@ export interface PlexFacets {
   genres: { value: string; count: number }[];
   content_ratings: { value: string; count: number }[];
   studios: { value: string; count: number }[]; // studio vocabulary for the sidebar picker (E5 S7)
+  // Playback-class facet (movie-only): value ∈ direct|remux|transcode_hw|transcode_sw. Empty on shows.
+  playable: { value: string; count: number }[];
   year_min: number | null;
   year_max: number | null;
   rating_max: number | null;

frontend/src/lib/plexUrlState.dom.test.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const RICH_FILTERS: PlexFilters = {
   actors: ["Bale", "Caine"],
   actorMode: "all",
   studios: ["Warner"],
+  playable: ["direct", "transcode_hw"],
   keywords: ["heist"],
   collections: ["1234"],
   collectionMode: "all",

frontend/src/lib/releaseNotes.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ export interface ReleaseEntry {
 }
 
 export const RELEASE_NOTES: ReleaseEntry[] = [
+  {
+    version: "0.78.3",
+    date: "2026-08-30",
+    summary:
+      "A new Plex filter: narrow the movie library by how each title plays — Direct Play, Direct Stream, or Transcode (hardware or software). See at a glance which titles are light on the server and which need a re-encode.",
+    features: [
+      "Filter movies by playback class in the sidebar: Direct Play (plays as-is), Direct Stream (a light remux), Transcode · HW (re-encoded on the GPU) and Transcode · SW (re-encoded on the CPU — the heaviest). Pick several to combine them. A small coloured dot on each movie card shows its class at a glance.",
+    ],
+    chores: [
+      "The class is derived at sync from the codec, then refined by a bounded background probe that reads each transcode title's real bit depth/HDR — so a 10-bit HEVC that needs the heavier software path is labelled correctly. Went through several multi-agent deep-review rounds (probe-freshness on file replacement, facet self-exclusion, HU/EN parity, an accessibility label on the class dot) — re-reviewed until a round came back clean.",
+    ],
+  },
   {
     version: "0.78.2",
     date: "2026-08-30",