Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Just sign up for premium via some other country where it’s really cheap. I downloaded a free VPN app, picked a server in Argentina, logged in to my YoutTube account and signed up for premium. I pay $0.81 per month for premium now.
 
I wish they impoved bitrate in 720p videos again first. I’d pay for that if I must. 720p looks terrible and the worst part is that they used the pandemic as an excuse for lowering the bitrate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rovex
If 4k viewing is going to be subscription only, just you wait and see what the viewing figures will be. If they are low Youtube will more than likely ditch the idea BUT if the figures are high just you wait and see because they will roll it out to 1080p and 720p as well. That's what I think will happen.
 
How many of us really need to see YouTube videos in 4K? Most are watching on a laptop or tablet - when we only occasionally look at YouTube at all.
 
I am not advocating 4k being locked behind a paywall, but in the same light what would you guys suggest Google does incentivize paying for premium? While YouTube Originals was underrated in some areas it definitely fell short (as Google is killing it soon). What other ideas do you think could work?
 
How many people are really going to stop using YouTube?!
Get used to it. It’s not personal , just business. Correct me if I’m wrong, but everything is being monetized these days.
 
I am not advocating 4k being locked behind a paywall, but in the same light what would you guys suggest Google does incentivize paying for premium? While YouTube Originals was underrated in some areas it definitely fell short (as Google is killing it soon). What other ideas do you think could work?
Double or even triple the video bitrates would be more premium-worthy.
 
Got a link how to configure this?
Unfortunately I don't know exactly which guide I followed but I'm pretty sure it was just a Reddit post. I remember that it involved using a website that provided you with a valid address in any given country. If you search "youtubetv argentina reddit" there are multiple guides that come up.

The nice thing about it is that it doesn't mess with your Google account in any way. Like, I didn't have to change my Google account's address or language and the billing info for YouTube TV is completely separate from other Google services e.g. Google Workspace.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlackJacques
Exactly. Very few people (although they're ALL in this thread, I'm sure!) can tell the difference between 4K and 1080p on a large screen, let alone their phone.
You couldn’t be much more wrong if you tried, most people aren’t half blind.
 
I can tell the difference between 4K, HD and SD but to be honest, so what? I downgraded my Netflix to SD a few months back when the price increased and I haven’t once thought the picture quality was bad when watching things. These companies probably need to realise people are well over paying premiums just for slightly crisper picture quality in 2022.
 
FWIW, I can definitely tell the difference between 1080p and 4k on any screen larger than a phone. In fact, 1080p looks noticeably blurry on even a laptop display. The difference between 120hz and 240hz is also very noticeable to me despite claims that it's not (not as noticeable as 60 vs 120, though).
 
  • Like
Reactions: tonyr6
whilst 4K streaming may not be a requirement for everyone (especially as YouTube is used a lot on mobile devices/tablets/computers)
Even on devices that has far less pixels than 4k, I tend to use 4k option(if possible), since my devices’ downscaling algorithm tend to provide much better visual results than the space-optimized algorithm YouTube is using.

And like you mentioned, I would highly prefer that they do not bundle the 4k option with the existing premium subscription, as I really don’t need any of the current features they are providing.
 
So, they’re telling me, the reason it was so hard to find 4K content wasn’t because I needed YouTube Premium? Well then, I’m now convinced I won’t subscribe.
 
What we really need is a solid competitor to YouTube to make their product more appealing and less greedy.
The thing is Google now they have no viable competitor so they just try to push harder their monetisation. Seems kind of logic from an economic point of view but stupid greed at the same time.
They don't have a competitor because it's a really difficult service to provide long term.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.