YouTube has commenced the rollout of a significant update to its video player interface, designed to offer a more intuitive user experience across all devices.
New Interface Features
The refreshed video player introduces a clean, immersive layout. The play/pause button is now centered on the bottom control bar, while the channel icon, description, and subscribe button are positioned on the left. Thumbs up/down, comments, save, CC, and settings have moved to the right, with UI elements becoming largely transparent to minimize disruption.
Enhanced Mobile Experience
Android users will notice smoother transitions and improved motion between tabs, enhancing the overall flow of navigation. Additionally, double-tap seeking has been refined to be less intrusive, ensuring more seamless video interaction.
Comment Threading and Custom Animations
The update introduces threaded comments, aimed at improving conversation clarity. The saving process for Watch Later and playlists has been redesigned for ease. Unique Like animations will appear, particularly in music and sports videos, adding a playful touch to user interactions.
Introduction of YouTube Labs
Within this update, YouTube Labs has been unveiled to testers, beginning with an AI music hosts experiment, offering a glimpse into future AI integration on the platform.
