It appears that YouTube is testing a new option for users to stream YouTube from the mobile app. As noted by Reddit user u/KZedUK (through This is the technology today), a new stream quality option called “1080p Premium” has appeared and is described as having “improved bitrate”. This new streaming option will be available to YouTube Premium users and exists alongside the “regular” 1080p option which is quite generously compressed.
This is the technology today speculates that the new “high bitrate” 1080p option could satisfy users’ desire to watch higher quality video, which they address by switching to a 1440p or 2160p (4K) streaming option when available. This new option could offset YouTube’s operating costs to satisfy users’ desire to view higher-quality video on mobile devices.
Source: Reddit u/KZedUK
This comes shortly after news of Susan Wojcicki’s departure as YouTube CEO, although whether the change is a result of hiring Neil Mohan as the new CEO has yet to be confirmed. Android police it also speculates that the “1080p Premium” video option can also put 60fps and 120fps video behind the YouTube Premium paywall.
We are curious to hear more about YouTube’s new strategy with YouTube Premium in the future. In December, YouTube was testing an “add to queue” feature from mobile devices for Android and iOS users with a Premium subscription.
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