YouTube says its app works best on these 19 phones

by Alan Friedman / Aug 10, 2018, 9:32 AM

YouTube says its app works best on these 19 phones

YouTube released on Thursday, its inaugural "Signature Devices" report. These are handsets that use next-gen technology to provide users with a "best-in-class YouTube experience." The phones on the list "support high dynamic range, high frame rate, reliable DRM performance, 4K decoding, and use next generation video codecs." They also use less bandwidth to stream content from Google's video streaming app.

Now you might notice the absence of any Apple iPhone model on the list, which seems odd considering that the original iPhone was the first smartphone to offer a YouTube client. But the current batch of iPhone models do not support Google's VP9 video codec, which prevents those with an iOS powered handset from watching YouTube video in 4K. And it eliminates the iPhone from consideration as a YouTube Signature Device.

The phones that YouTube says work best with the current version of the app include:

These phones are considered YouTube Signature Devices

source: YouTube

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20 Comments

1. Shazam777

Posts: 42; Member since: Aug 08, 2018

I love the absence of the OG Pixels on the list.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 9:41 AM 4

9. worldpeace

Posts: 3135; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

OG pixels is older than all of these phones. Newer phone = newer hardware = better performance.. And HDR screen isn't a thing in OG Pixels era.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 11:09 AM 0

17. Atechguy0

Posts: 918; Member since: Aug 03, 2018

Samsung S8 and S8+ are older. Plus the original Pixels have HDR.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 6:09 PM 0

19. worldpeace

S8 and S8+ released March 2017, while OG Pixels released Nov 2016.. It's not real HDR, they did it thru software update.https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/09/11/google-added-youtube-hdr-support-pixels-entirely-software/

posted on Aug 11, 2018, 5:27 AM 0

2. KonaStang4.6

Posts: 285; Member since: Nov 04, 2011

*goes back to watching Non 4K videos on iPhone X*

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 9:45 AM 10

8. piyath

Posts: 2445; Member since: Mar 23, 2012

On a better calibrated better looking quality display made TO MATCH Apple's quality by Samsung workers? Oh yeah!

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 11:02 AM 0

10. cmdacos

Posts: 4321; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

S8 and note 8 were before iPhone eks display yet are still on the list so your calibration comment means nothing (aligns with all of your comments actually, keep it up!!)

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 11:22 AM 5

16. tedkord

Posts: 17463; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Except when compared to the S9 and up. And the display was 100% designed and manufactured by Samsung. Apple ordered them off the shelf, other than specifying resolution and size.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 2:37 PM 1

3. fyahking

Posts: 1146; Member since: Jan 28, 2015

No essential phone?

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 9:49 AM 2

4. Chris_ABN

Posts: 198; Member since: May 16, 2018

Youtube HDR videos like great on my S9 Plus. "Ha ha" in my Nelson's voice at Apple.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 10:02 AM 1

5. Humanoid

Posts: 1226; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

The " best screen" and " top3 speakers" phone is not on the list. Too sad, let's all cry an ocean.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 10:12 AM 0

6. asirfaysal

Posts: 98; Member since: Jul 19, 2016

Raise your hands, Oneplus 6 user

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 10:34 AM 0

7. Rager722 unregistered

Yet, still dark mode is taking too long..

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 10:56 AM 1

11. dazzmichael

Posts: 71; Member since: Sep 15, 2014

I concur, it really works well on S8+

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 11:27 AM 0

12. libra89

Posts: 2314; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Hm, maybe it's time to get a new phone...

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 12:16 PM 0

13. kevv2288

Posts: 309; Member since: Jul 30, 2015

How can you watch 4K video on a phone with 1440p resolution?

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 12:29 PM 0

14. Humanoid

Iphone X is between Full HD and QHD. Maybe the iOS allows user to choose it just like the youtube website. My Dell is HD and it lets me set 4K. But screen limits quality in the end.

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 12:46 PM 0

15. taz_chaz

Posts: 135; Member since: Aug 29, 2014

no nokia 3330?im hurt...

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 2:21 PM 0

18. bassembm

Posts: 143; Member since: Dec 27, 2015

very fun on S8 screen

posted on Aug 10, 2018, 6:25 PM 0

20. karan1402d

Posts: 89; Member since: May 28, 2015

Youtube app on iOS is a sore, atleast on iPad Pro 10.5. The app lags like hell when scrolling through the comment section in Youtube App. I don't encounter such stutters even on a 4 year old Android device like OP1. iPad Pro 10.5 being my first introductory device to iOS has been a pretty lame experience compared to Android. All those claims of Apple iOs devices being lag free smooth 60 fps experience fall flat when there are frame drops even in App store.