YouTube started supporting HDR video streaming for select Android smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Google Pixel last year, and now it's extending the same courtesy to Apple's latest smartphones.
As of now, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X can all stream HDR video on YouTube, albeit the available content might be limited. Nevertheless, it's a neat addition and brings the YouTube app for iOS more in line with its Android counterpart.
YouTube HDR Videos
When HDR video streaming first became available for select Android flagships more than eight months ago, it sparked plenty of interest. The videos shot in HDR are more vibrant, radiant, and colorful compared to full HD ones, allowing for a more immersive experience.
On the downside, while YouTube creators usually post a slew of videos in full HD or 4K, there's not a lot of content available in HDR. You can find a few demo videos here and there if you search for HDR, just to get a taste of it and see the difference, but the options are limited for now.
With wider YouTube support for HDR video streaming on both Android and iOS, maybe more HDR videos will soon become available on the platform. HDR works even for videos in lower resolutions, such as 480p, and it can significantly improve the visuals by adding better color, brightness, and contrast.
YouTube HDR Video Streaming On iOS
Those who have an iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone X can start enjoying HDR videos immediately, without having to update the application from the App store. The feature comes as an automatic update behind the scenes, so the eligible iOS smartphone should be able to switch over to HDR automatically when you hit play on such a video.
At this point, demo HDR videos on YouTube include some great footage of animals, exotic scenery, food, cities, and more. If the video doesn't automatically switch to HDR on your compatible iPhone, you can also enable it manually by tapping the three dots icon and selecting HDR.
To fully enjoy the beauty of HDR, one also needs a high-quality display that can truly show the vibrant footage, but this is not an issue with the latest iPhones or the Android smartphones that support the feature.
Are you excited to watch YouTube HDR videos on your iPhone? If you already tried it out, drop by our comments section below and let us know what you think of it.
