> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Advanced Playback Features

> Experience high-quality playback with adjustable speed, 8K support, 60fps, HDR, and modern video codecs

SmartTube offers advanced playback capabilities that rival and often exceed the official YouTube app on Android TV.

## Adjustable Playback Speed

<Info>
  Control how fast or slow videos play - perfect for tutorials, lectures, or when you're short on time.
</Info>

### How to Adjust Speed

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Speed Controls">
    While watching a video, look for the **speed indicator icon** (gauge/speedometer) in the top row of the player controls.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Your Speed">
    Click the icon to open the speed selection menu. Choose from various preset speeds:

    * **0.25x** - Quarter speed (extreme slow motion)
    * **0.5x** - Half speed (slow)
    * **0.75x** - Three-quarter speed
    * **Normal** - Original speed (1.0x)
    * **1.25x** - Slightly faster
    * **1.5x** - One and a half times faster
    * **1.75x** - Nearly double speed
    * **2.0x** - Double speed
    * And more options available
  </Step>

  <Step title="Speed Persists">
    Your selected speed is **remembered across videos**, so you don't need to adjust it every time.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Some playback speeds may cause frame drops on certain devices. This is a known limitation of the underlying video decoder.
</Note>

### Use Cases

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Educational Content" icon="graduation-cap">
    Watch tutorials and lectures at 1.5x or 2x to save time while still absorbing information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Slow Motion Analysis" icon="magnifying-glass">
    Use 0.25x or 0.5x speed to study detailed movements in sports, dance, or technical demonstrations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Language Learning" icon="language">
    Slow down videos to 0.75x to better understand foreign language content or fast speakers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Music Practice" icon="music">
    Slow down music tutorials to learn difficult passages at your own pace.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## High Resolution Support

SmartTube supports the highest quality video resolutions available on YouTube.

### Resolution Options

* **8K (4320p)** - Ultra-high definition (if available and supported by your device)
* **4K/UHD (2160p)** - Four times 1080p resolution
* **1440p** - 2K resolution
* **1080p** - Full HD (standard high quality)
* **720p** - HD
* **480p** - Standard definition
* **360p and lower** - Lower quality options for slower connections

<Warning>
  Your actual viewing quality depends on:

  * Video availability (not all videos are uploaded in 8K)
  * Your TV's display capabilities
  * Your device's hardware support
  * Your internet bandwidth
</Warning>

### 8K Resolution Support

<Info>
  SmartTube supports **8K resolution** playback on compatible devices.
</Info>

**Requirements for 8K:**

* TV or display with 8K support (7680 x 4320 pixels)
* Android TV device with 8K video decoding capability
* HDMI 2.1 cable (for external devices)
* Sufficient internet bandwidth (typically 50+ Mbps)
* Video must be available in 8K on YouTube

**Current 8K Reality:**

* Very few devices currently support 8K playback
* Limited 8K content available on YouTube
* Requires significant bandwidth
* Most users will use 4K as the maximum quality

## 60fps Support

<Tip>
  SmartTube fully supports **60fps (frames per second)** playback for smoother motion.
</Tip>

### Benefits of 60fps

* **Smoother motion** - especially noticeable in gaming, sports, and action content
* **Reduced motion blur** - clearer fast-moving subjects
* **More immersive** - closer to real-life motion

### When to Use 60fps

**Great for:**

* Gaming videos and streams
* Sports highlights
* Action-packed content
* Tech reviews with camera panning
* Dance and movement

**Less important for:**

* Talking head videos
* Vlogs
* Static content
* Tutorials with minimal motion

<Note>
  If you don't notice or mind the difference, you can save bandwidth by choosing non-60fps versions. Both provide the same resolution, just different frame rates.
</Note>

## Video Codec Support

SmartTube supports modern video codecs for optimal quality and bandwidth efficiency.

### Available Codecs

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="AV1 (AV01) - Best Compression" icon="star">
    **The newest and most efficient codec**

    **Advantages:**

    * Best compression (lowest bitrate for same quality)
    * Best for limited bandwidth
    * Saves the most data
    * Environmentally friendly (less data transfer)

    **Disadvantages:**

    * Requires hardware support (devices from 2020+)
    * Not supported on most TVs and TV boxes
    * May not play at all without hardware support

    **Recommendation:** Use if your device supports it (check if AV1 videos play smoothly)

    **Example bitrate:** \~1.6 Mbps for 1080p @ 25fps
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="VP9 - Best Choice for Most Devices" icon="check">
    **Modern codec with excellent efficiency**

    **Advantages:**

    * Better compression than AVC
    * Supported on most devices since 2015
    * Good balance of quality and compatibility
    * Works smoothly with hardware support

    **Disadvantages:**

    * Older/cheaper devices may struggle without hardware support
    * Not as efficient as AV1

    **Recommendation:** **Best choice for most devices** - widely supported with good efficiency

    **Example bitrate:** \~2.1 Mbps for 1080p @ 25fps
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="AVC (H.264) - Maximum Compatibility" icon="mobile">
    **Older codec with universal support**

    **Advantages:**

    * Supported on ALL devices
    * Guaranteed smooth playback
    * No hardware requirements

    **Disadvantages:**

    * Least efficient (highest bitrate)
    * Uses more bandwidth
    * Larger file sizes

    **Recommendation:** Only use for old or slow hardware that struggles with VP9

    **Example bitrate:** \~2.7 Mbps for 1080p @ 25fps
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Understanding Bitrate vs Quality

<Warning>
  **Lower bitrate is BETTER with modern codecs!**

  Do not confuse bitrate with quality. YouTube targets the same quality regardless of codec.
</Warning>

At the same resolution:

* **Newer codecs** = lower bitrate = **same quality** = less bandwidth
* **Older codecs** = higher bitrate = **same quality** = more bandwidth

You should use the **newest codec your device supports**, not the one with the highest bitrate.

**Why lower bitrate is better:**

* Uses less bandwidth
* Reduces internet costs (if you have data caps)
* More environmentally friendly
* Faster buffering
* Smoother playback on slower connections

### How to Select Codec

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Video Quality Menu">
    While watching a video, press the **HQ button** in the bottom-left corner.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Video Formats">
    Choose **"Video formats"** from the menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Codec">
    Select your preferred codec:

    * Try AV01 first (if available)
    * Fall back to VP9 if AV01 doesn't work
    * Use AVC only if VP9 struggles
  </Step>
</Steps>

## HDR Support

<Info>
  SmartTube supports **HDR (High Dynamic Range)** playback for enhanced color and contrast - **if your hardware supports it**.
</Info>

### HDR Requirements

HDR is complicated and requires **ALL** of the following:

<Steps>
  <Step title="HDR-Compatible TV">
    Your TV must support HDR (check your TV's specifications for HDR10, Dolby Vision, etc.).
  </Step>

  <Step title="HDR-Compatible Device">
    If using an external device (TV box, Fire Stick, etc.), it must support HDR output.
  </Step>

  <Step title="HDR-Compatible Cable">
    Your HDMI cable must support HDR. Yes, different HDMI versions have different capabilities:

    * HDMI 2.0a or higher for HDR10
    * HDMI 2.1 for advanced HDR formats
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compatible HDR Format">
    The device must support YouTube's specific HDR format. Some devices (like **NVIDIA Shield**) support HDR but **not** YouTube's HDR format.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  **NVIDIA Shield** does not support YouTube's HDR format, despite having general HDR support.
</Warning>

### Troubleshooting HDR

**If HDR videos look dim or washed out:**

* Your TV's HDR mode may need adjustment
* Check your TV's picture settings
* See [this guide from WIRED](https://www.wired.com/story/hdr-too-dark-how-to-fix-it/)

**If HDR is not working at all:**

* Verify all hardware supports HDR (TV, device, cable)
* Check device-specific HDR guides online
* It's probably not SmartTube's fault - it's a hardware limitation

## Auto Frame Rate (AFR)

<Info>
  AFR automatically adjusts your TV's refresh rate to match the video's frame rate for slightly smoother playback.
</Info>

### What is AFR?

**Auto Frame Rate** matches your display's refresh rate to the content:

* 24fps video → 24Hz display
* 30fps video → 30Hz display
* 60fps video → 60Hz display

**Benefits:**

* Slight improvement in motion smoothness
* Reduces judder in some content
* More "cinematic" feel for 24fps content

**Drawbacks:**

* Very small difference (most people barely notice)
* May cause screen flickering on some devices
* Brief black screen when switching frame rates
* Doesn't work well on all hardware

<Note>
  Recommendation: Try it out to see if it works on your device. If it causes issues or you don't notice a difference, turn it **off**.
</Note>

## Buffering Settings

<Tip>
  Adjust your buffer settings to optimize playback for your connection and device.
</Tip>

### High Buffer vs Low Buffer

**High Buffer (Recommended):**

* Preloads more video ahead of your current position
* Smooths out network fluctuations
* Prevents pauses due to buffering
* Higher RAM usage (usually not an issue)
* **Best for:** Stable viewing experience

**Low Buffer:**

* Minimal preloading
* Slightly reduced bandwidth if you skip around frequently
* May pause more often on unstable connections
* Lower RAM usage
* **Best for:** Limited RAM devices (rare)

<Note>
  Buffer is cleared when seeking backward, so you'll need to rebuffer. This may be improved in future updates.
</Note>

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why do some speeds cause frame skipping?">
    Frame drops at certain speeds are caused by limitations in the underlying video decoder. This is a known issue that's difficult to fix at the app level. Try different speeds to find which work best on your device.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I set a default quality?">
    Yes! Go to **Settings > Video Player > Video Presets** and select your preferred default quality. SmartTube will use it when available, or the next best option if not.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why doesn't it auto-select quality based on bandwidth?">
    Automatic quality selection based on bandwidth is planned but not yet available. For now, set a maximum quality preset that your bandwidth can handle.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The debug info says 1080p but I have a 4K TV!">
    Don't worry - the debug information is often incorrect about display resolution. SmartTube works fine with 4K and above. Just play a 4K video to verify.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which codec should I choose?">
    Try this order:

    1. **AV01** (if your device is from 2020 or later)
    2. **VP9** (best for most devices from 2015+)
    3. **AVC** (only if VP9 is slow or stuttering)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Performance Tips

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Choose the Right Codec" icon="microchip">
    Use the newest codec your device supports smoothly. This reduces bandwidth and improves performance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Match Your Display" icon="tv">
    Don't select resolutions far beyond your TV's capabilities. A 1080p TV won't benefit much from 4K.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Consider Your Bandwidth" icon="wifi">
    Use [fast.com](https://fast.com) to test your speed, then choose a quality that's comfortably within your bandwidth.
  </Card>

  <Card title="High Buffer" icon="database">
    Keep buffer settings on high unless you have very limited RAM (unlikely on modern devices).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>