Netflix is updating its mobile apps to introduce 30-second video previews designed to make it easier for users to decide what to watch.
The company optimized the video previews for vertical viewing, which means that users can watch the short trailers with their phone in portrait mode, without having to flip it into landscape mode.
Netflix Video Previews On Mobile
These previews come in a slideshow format at the top of the screen, looking similar to Instagram or Snapchat stories, with circular thumbnails. Upon watching a preview, users can swipe or tap to play the next video without having to return to the main screen.
A button allows users to easily add the show they like to their list so they can watch it later. Netflix has already offered such feature on its TV app for more than a year now, making it easier for users to discover content.
The video previews appear as a recommendation based on the content one has watched on Netflix, and can be quite useful especially when the new shows come up and viewers don't know much about them.
Browse Less, Discover More With Netflix Mobile Previews
The feature is finally ready to hit mobile as well, with the iOS app getting it now while the Android version is set to get it soon.
"Years of testing has made it clear that video previews help our members browse less and discover new content more quickly," says Netflix. "With the launch of mobile previews, we are bringing a video browse experience to your mobile phone in a fun and mobile-optimized way."
The company adds that the video previews on mobile are easy to use, fun to watch, quick to load, and customized for each user's profile and preferences to help them discover the best content.
Netflix Mobile Apps
Netflix is one of the most popular on-demand video streaming services worldwide, with 125 million subscribers. While the web and TV apps may drive the most traffic, mobile apps are an essential part of the mix as well.
Mobile use is on the rise and people nowadays rely on their smartphones or tablets to do much of their browsing, streaming, or social media activity. When it comes to Netflix streaming, roughly 20 percent comes from mobile. Thus, improving the mobile apps is essential for keeping users engaged and delivering a high-quality experience.
Netflix has made notable investments in its mobile apps in recent years, most notably by adding the option to download Netflix shows for offline viewing. That was one of the most highly-requested Netflix features of all times and it marked an important milestone for the company.
The company wants to keep improving its mobile experience and vertical video previews on mobile are the latest move in this direction. Netflix mobile users on iOS should start seeing this new feature momentarily, that is if they haven't got it already.
