Apple’s iOS 14 update introduces support for Google’s VP9 codec, allowing users to watch YouTube videos in 4K resolution on the latest iPhone and iPad models.
YouTube videos in 4K can finally be watched on Apple devices. Not only will 4K content be available on Apple TV, but also on iPhone and iPad .
Are you wondering why it took so long for YouTube 4K videos to arrive on Apple devices? It is because the codec that Google uses for Ultra HD content, the VP9, was not supported by Apple by default .
Google obviously won’t change that codec to suit Apple, or its millions of users, so YouTube content on iPhone and iPad is always played at 1080p at most. With iOS 14, Apple has finally added support for this codec.
iOS 14 , iPadOS 14 and tvOS 14 all allow you to watch YouTube videos in 4K. Obviously, this could change before updates are released to everyone in the fall, but for now, 4K videos are available in early Apple beta releases.
However, it seems unlikely that Apple will remove VP9 codec support, especially for Apple TV. But it’s not as important on iPhone and iPad, where 4K content still can’t be played properly.
Users on Apple mobile devices will still not be able to take advantage of full 4K resolution . 4K video has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 , while Apple’s largest smartphone, iPhone 11 Pro, has a resolution of 2436 x 1125 and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a resolution of 2732 x 2048.
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