Recently, YouTube viewers saw something special in the video quality menu – an additional 1080p Premium option with the indication that it offers “Enhanced bitrate”. The inclusion of this new playback option was met with absolute joy and excitement. According to a spokesperson for The Verge, YouTube is conducting an experiment that only a select few Premium subscribers can experience – a high-resolution 1080p version. This increased bitrate per pixel significantly increases the quality for viewers and does not affect the resolution of the standard 1080p at all. However, some users may see this as more than just good news on behalf of the YouTube team.
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Based on several comments in the Reddit thread discussing the test, viewers are finding the site’s standard 1080p resolution to be poor quality. But a higher bitrate, which is used as a measurement for the amount of video data transferred within a given time frame, could mean getting better images without having to increase the resolution. According to XDA Developers, moving to 4K would give users access to a more visually stimulating experience with clearer, sharper videos, but the downside is that it would require a much larger file size, which could be costly or use up too much of data .
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Although currently in beta, it's possible that YouTube's enhanced 1080p feature will become available to the general public with a Premium subscription. With individual plans costing $12/month and family plans costing $23/month respectively, access to this amazing quality isn't far off!
Information source: engadget.com
