YouTube abandons experiment limiting 4K playback to Premium users only

18 October 2022
All viewers now have access to high-quality videos.

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  • b
  • banjo
  • 0$L
  • 27 Oct 2022

export all your 1080p videos in 8K for best image quality.

    8k can be limited to premium if desired, but 4k should be free for everyone.

      • a
      • arorium
      • wd8
      • 23 Oct 2022

      77, 20 Oct 2022You Asia are poor, that's why, we in Europe uk USA Sau... moreThen what about samsung, honor flagships which cost similar or costlier than apple products lol.

        • L
        • Luka
        • JFk
        • 21 Oct 2022

        Experiment my ass... They're greedy and it's only the matter of time when they'll start charging for it all. Adds are sick! Use alternatives!!!

          • 77
          • Jax
          • 20 Oct 2022

          AnonD-454049, 18 Oct 2022and google used to have a slogan called "don't be... moreYou Asia are poor, that's why, we in Europe uk USA Saudi don't rely or want free trash garbage adds every 10 minutes seeing 29 seconds

          No wonder Apple users call android users pooooor get a life

            • 77
            • Jax
            • 20 Oct 2022

            Anonymous, 19 Oct 2022I spend 0 cents and still have 4k/ ad-free youtube. :)Yeas adds every 10 too 16 minutes is very annoying. Don't rely on free cheap poor junk trash.
            We in UK USA Europe Middle East don't go so low. We pay premium.
            Netflix, Amazon prime I pay ,

              • D
              • AnonD-454049
              • X%B
              • 20 Oct 2022

              AnonD-1037771, 20 Oct 20224K resolution (on Xperia) = 3840x1644 FHD+ display resolut... morequite the spiel about math when you only use flawed logic. If there were skipped frames, the playback would be noticeably choppy, but it isn't. I do agree with the resizing but there is probably some kind of super sampling involved because there is an improvement in detail/resolution.

                • D
                • AnonD-1037771
                • 0Ca
                • 20 Oct 2022

                AnonD-454049, 19 Oct 2022 You don't know anything about tech so you assume thin... more4K resolution (on Xperia) = 3840x1644
                FHD+ display resolution = 1920x1080
                In order for a FHD phone to play a 4k video, it will load it from the internet (in 4k - because that's what you clicked), but when it is time to render it onto the display, the cpu/gpu realize the video resolution is larger than the display, thus resizing the video to FHD or rather said downsizing it. If you look closely, there will also be frame skipping involved, especially if the gpu is weak.
                Just think it logically: can you hang on a 2x2 wall a 4x4 painting without resizing the painting or the wall?
                If one side or the display has maximum 1080 pixels, please explain how the phone will display 1644 pixels in 1080 pixels. Where are the rest of the pixels behind rendered on? This is math 101 dude...
                🎤💧

                  • S
                  • Sin
                  • pJw
                  • 19 Oct 2022

                  Hell no Linus Tech Tips

                  Linus is trying too get google too PAYWALL us because he think 4k is overkill

                  youtube is greedly and owned by google that is very rich it don't need more money

                  don't people have too already have too put up with enough crap
                  from google with ads and crap and slowing down browser that are not google chrome
                  like palemoon browser very slow but only on YouTube

                    • D
                    • AnonD-454049
                    • X%B
                    • 19 Oct 2022

                    AnonD-1037771, 18 Oct 2022Your FHD+ phone may be able to play 4k videos , but not in ... more You don't know anything about tech so you assume things. The indicator says it is in 4K when i play 4K, there is a noticeable increase in video resolution and my router shows increased bandwidth use. so, like i said you should try to think

                      99% videos on youtube are 1080p so this strategy would hardly get them any money.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • sUS
                        • 19 Oct 2022

                        77, 18 Oct 2022Not made or catred for poor tramp people like you. I pay £... moreI spend 0 cents and still have 4k/ ad-free youtube. :)

                          • Y
                          • YU000
                          • 6i%
                          • 19 Oct 2022

                          I think 4k playback behind a paywall is not such a bad idea as long as we're able to play content in 1440p. Also, YT should give a cheaper subscription which removes midroll ads & possibly initial 2nd ad and of course, allow 4k playback. Then a higher tier subscription should include remaining all premium features.
                          This is only fair because not everyone owns 4k devices or can watch in 4k all the time. So, someone who can afford these can also afford to pay a lower tier premium for 4k and less ads. Less ads and 4k playback on TVs & tablets where installing an adblocker is not an easy option. So this makes even more sense.

                            Mihail White, 18 Oct 2022Seems fair, my display is HD+ not even wqhd 2k. 4k is for r... moremy god HD+ display is terrible. you should upgrade slowly to 1080p :)) also there are phones with 4k display. you should look at the sony xperia xz premium. small though but worth it. you might look at their newer xperia models with 4k displays. but overpriced

                              • c
                              • cyber
                              • S2D
                              • 18 Oct 2022

                              they should do something about the ads,at least limiting their appearance more than once in the video clips no matter how long they are

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 7k0
                                • 18 Oct 2022

                                The leadership team gave up way early. Bad business decision but good for end users

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Twq
                                  • 18 Oct 2022

                                  As long as YouTube Vanced works, I will watch Youtube videos. If it doesn't, I'm out, don't care.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • ygC
                                    • 18 Oct 2022

                                    AnonD-454049, 18 Oct 2022relax pleb. I can see 4K videos without ads and i have neve... moreBased

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • ygC
                                      • 18 Oct 2022

                                      DrakeX, 18 Oct 2022Even when I'm not using a 4K display, I still stream Q... moreYup me too, YouTube 4K = higher bitrate + less compression + more colours

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-1037771
                                        • 0Ca
                                        • 18 Oct 2022

                                        AnonD-454049, 18 Oct 2022>The only smartphones that can actually play 4K videos a... moreYour FHD+ phone may be able to play 4k videos , but not in native 4k resolution. It will resize the video to FHD and play it like that. You're the one who should be using his brain before commenting.