iOS/iPadOS 14 and VP9 support [Merged]

[Smici]

We have a 11” and 12.9” iPad Pro 2020 model running the beta as well as my iPhone 11 Pro Max. The 11 Pro Max has 4K youtube while logged into my YT Premium account. Weirdly, both iPads won’t show 4k video as an option if I’m logged into the same YT account, but if I log out, boom, there’s 4K. Weird. Looks gorgeous, especially on the 12.9“ iPP, and the iPads don’t seem to be breaking a sweat even with multitasking. I’d have to imagine this selective appearance is all beta bug based and that this is likely worthy of an official formal announcement in the fall.

No 4k on 2018 pro 12.9 logged in, out, updated youtube app yesterday.

 

[vobele]

No 4k on 2018 pro 12.9 logged in, out, updated youtube app yesterday.

Same on 2020 pro 12.9. But I don't have YouTube Premium. Just logged in and out of my regular YT account.

 

[The Game 161]

If YouTube allows 4K then allow PIP in the app damn it.

 

[Birkan]

I think 4K on YouTube only works on HDR videos such as this one (see the screenshot below) using VP9.2 codec which is used for HDR videos on YouTube. I suspect that you probably need a HDR capable device to watch it. If your device is not HDR compatible, you won't be shown the option for it. Unfortunately, they do not appear to support normal SDR 4K videos on iOS or iPadOS yet. At least, I couldn't get them to work yet on my iPhone Xs running iOS14 DP1. Also, YouTube on Safari only goes up to 720p using H.264 so Safari doesn't seem to take advantage of this functionality yet. They recently added HDR media capabilities to Safari on v14 but they do not mention if it's only limited to HEVC.

View attachment 929083

In addition to my previous message, today I saw on Reddit that an 2018 iPad Pro can get a non-HDR 4K VP9 (not VP9.2) version of this 4K video. So apparently, YouTube app can show both VP9 (SDR) and VP9.2 (HDR) videos. Google seems to be testing this on account basis. Hopefully, it will rollout to everyone soonish.

 

[vobele]

Testing this on account basis in iPad OS 14 - wtf? Why don‘t they just test it with all iPad beta users? In iOS 14 for iPhone it‘s open for ALL users and works with appropriate iPhones (like the 11 Max) where it makes almost no sense compared to the much larger modern iPads.

 

[Birkan]

Not really iOS related but they recently added VP9 decoding support to latest version of Safari Tech Preview on macOS.

So I tested VP9 support using a website that checks media mime support and STP release 110 indeed supports VP9 on the browser side. However, YouTube did not load any VP9 video in my limited testing so far. The nice thing is VP9 decoding is provided by VideoToolbox (VT) which can be used by any macOS app (video player, transcoder etc) going forward which is great. Hopefully, they will also expose VP9 encoding functionality in VT as well.

View attachment 934491
View attachment 934492

 

[xxray]

I seem to be able to watch any 4K YouTube video on my iPhone XS Max now with Beta 3. Not yet able to test out my iPad Pro 10.5.

 

[Jacksavage13579]

We have a 11” and 12.9” iPad Pro 2020 model running the beta as well as my iPhone 11 Pro Max. The 11 Pro Max has 4K youtube while logged into my YT Premium account. Weirdly, both iPads won’t show 4k video as an option if I’m logged into the same YT account, but if I log out, boom, there’s 4K. Weird. Looks gorgeous, especially on the 12.9“ iPP, and the iPads don’t seem to be breaking a sweat even with multitasking. I’d have to imagine this selective appearance is all beta bug based and that this is likely worthy of an official formal announcement in the fall.

Thank you so much for this suggestion.

YouTube accounts appear to be the problem. I went into incognito mode in the YouTube app by clicking on the profile icon and was able to load up 2160p videos fine but if I sign back in to watch the same video the option disappears.

 

[Ansath]

Thank you so much for this suggestion.

I’ve now discovered that the YouTube accounts appear to be the problem. If you go into incognito mode in the YouTube app by clicking on your profile icon you should be able to load up 2160p videos fine but if you sign back in to watch the same video the option disappears.

That wasn't the fix for all devices, as my iPad Pro wouldn't go above 1080p, even incognito or signing out or in but my iPhone 11 Pro did. Now with iOS 14 Beta 3, both devices get 2160p videos whilst signed in fine.

 

[Jacksavage13579]

That wasn't the fix for all devices, as my iPad Pro wouldn't go above 1080p, even incognito or signing out or in but my iPhone 11 Pro did. Now with iOS 14 Beta 3, both devices get 2160p videos whilst signed in fine.

Just tried it again and now it’s gone. Shame... seems to be very buggy then

 

[Ansath]

Just tried it again and now it’s gone. Shame... seems to be very buggy then

You on Beta 3? Check if you have any app updates for YT. I changed nothing with my accounts, and as of Beta 3, both do 2160p

 

[Jacksavage13579]

I'm on iPadOS 14. There isn’t any new update for the YouTube app

Edit: Tried another Google account and now it’s working even if I switch accounts.

 

[hovscorpion12]

I was able to get higher than 1080p in the YT App on a 2020 iPad Pro On beta 3

 

[Ansath]

iPad 11" 2018 here....

 

[LFC2020]

2160p is Working on my iPad Pro, PB2.

Also showing 2160p on my xs max, PB2.

 

[Smici]

IPP 2018 12.9, dev beta 3
YT app 4k works only with my second google account, not my primary.

 

[Mac Rules]

Youtube app showing 4K SDR videos as well as 4K HDR videos on my Pro Max under 14b3. ?

Nothing coming up for my iPhone X or iPad Air 2.

 

[Smici]

If you curious the difference between 1080p and 4k on the 12.9 ipad pro these are screenshots from youtube ?

200%:

[automerge]1595493275[/automerge]
If you curious the difference between 1080p and 4k on the 12.9 ipad pro these are screenshots from youtube ?

https://imgur.com/C0cEG4s

200%:

https://imgur.com/odobqTK

 

[originalmagneto]

iPadOS/iOS/tvOS 14 dev. beta 3 | YouTube app

iPad Pro 11” ➡︎ 4k ✅ / HDR ❌

iPhone X ➡︎ 4k ❌ / HDR ✅

TV 4k | LG OLED B7 ➡︎ 4k ❌ / HDR ❌

 

[gotluck]

so ios does have vp9 hardware acceleration? I wonder where the cut off is for which A series chips support it?

i have success on ipad mini 5 ios 14b3 in 'incognito mode' in the youtube app

wonder if webm files will play in browser now? havent tried yet

dang if it was that easy why didnt apple break down earlier and just support vp9?...

 

[EugW]

dang if it was that easy why didnt apple break down earlier and just support vp9?...

It was a format war. Apple is finally admitting defeat, albeit only partially. Still no VP9 support in Safari in macos Big Sur.

 

[EugW]

Which is the best set of YouTube videos to test this on? So far I am still maxing out at 1080p60 on my iPad Pro 10.5, in iPadOS 14 beta 3.

This is both with Safari and with the YouTube app. I tried the Costa Rica 4K HDR 60 Hz one plus a couple of others.

 

[gotluck]

Which is the best set of YouTube videos to test this on? So far I am still maxing out at 1080p60 on my iPad Pro 10.5, in iPadOS 14 beta 3.

This is both with Safari and with the YouTube app. I tried the Costa Rica 4K HDR 60 Hz one plus a couple of others.

try going into settings inside the youtube app and turning on incognito mode

someone on reddit mentioned it and it worked on my mini 5, was not getting higher res prior to trying it

 

[dmooreco]

iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The World in HDR in 4K (ULTRA HD):

In my opinion, HDR is more significant than the resolution increase on this small of a screen.

 

[EugW]

try going into settings inside the youtube app and turning on incognito mode

someone on reddit mentioned it and it worked on my mini 5, was not getting higher res prior to trying it

Thanks, but still no joy on my iPad Pro.

In my opinion, HDR is more significant than the resolution increase on this small of a screen.

Yes, I'd really like to get the HDR support, but 4K couldn't hurt.