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SmartTube provides flexible video quality configuration to match your device capabilities, bandwidth, and preferences.

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Default Quality Configuration

By default, SmartTube automatically selects the highest available quality for your videos. You can configure a default video preset to control the maximum resolution used.
1

Open Video Settings

Navigate to Settings → Video player → Video presets
2

Select Your Preset

Choose from available presets:
  • None (default) - remembers your last manual selection
  • Specific resolutions (e.g., 1080p, 4K, 720p)
  • Quality profiles with codec preferences
3

Understanding Preset Behavior

If you set a preset:
  • SmartTube will use that profile initially for each video
  • If unavailable, the next best available option is used
  • You can still override the profile within each video player
The “none” preset option will remember your last quality selection within the video player and use it for subsequent videos.

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Choosing the Right Resolution

To decide the optimal resolution and video quality for your setup, consider these limiting factors:

Bandwidth

Choose only up to the bitrate that your bandwidth can handle. Test your speed at fast.com.

Display Resolution

Match or slightly exceed your TV’s native resolution (e.g., 1080p on a 720p display).

TV Capabilities

Consider HDR support, 60fps capability, and codec hardware decoding.

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Resolution Guidelines

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Bandwidth Considerations

ResolutionApproximate Bitrate (VP9)*Recommended Connection Speed
8K~45-80 Mbps100+ Mbps
4K (2160p)~15-25 Mbps35+ Mbps
1440p~9-15 Mbps20+ Mbps
1080p 60fps~5-8 Mbps15+ Mbps
1080p~3-5 Mbps10+ Mbps
720p~1.5-3 Mbps5+ Mbps
480p~0.5-1.5 Mbps3+ Mbps
*Bitrates are approximate and vary by content. AV1 uses ~30% less bandwidth than VP9. AVC uses ~30% more bandwidth than VP9.

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Display Resolution Matching

General Rule: Select a video resolution that matches your TV’s native display resolution.
  • 720p TV: Select 720p or 1080p video
  • 1080p TV: Select 1080p or 1440p video
  • 4K/UHD TV: Select 2160p (4K) or higher video
The quality might slightly improve if you select the next higher resolution (e.g., 1080p on a 720p display), but don’t expect a big difference. The improvement is usually minimal.
The debug information display resolution is often incorrect!
  • If it says “1080p” but you have a 4K display, don’t worry
  • SmartTube works fine above 1080p
  • You can verify by playing a 4K video - it will work correctly
  • The debug info bug is cosmetic only

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Automatic Quality Selection

Yes, by default! SmartTube automatically selects the highest available quality for your video.If you set a video profile under settings, that acts as a maximum for automatic selection.
1

Check Current Setting

Go to Settings → Video player → Video presets
2

Enable Highest Quality

To always get the highest quality, set the preset to “none”
Do not confuse quality with bitrate! See the video codecs section for more information on why lower bitrate can mean better efficiency, not worse quality.
Coming in a future update: Automatic resolution selection based on available bandwidth is planned but not currently available.
Current workaround:
  1. Test your bandwidth at fast.com
  2. Set a maximum resolution preset based on your speed
  3. Use the guidelines table above to choose appropriately

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Frame Rate Settings

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60fps vs 30fps

60fps Benefits

  • Smoother motion in action scenes
  • Better for gaming content and sports
  • More fluid camera movements
  • Requires ~50% more bandwidth

30fps Considerations

  • Lower bandwidth usage
  • Perfectly acceptable for most content
  • Save bandwidth and environment
  • Standard for most traditional video
Generally, 60fps is an improvement, but if you personally don’t notice (or mind) the difference, you can save bandwidth by not choosing 60fps options.

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Video Profile Settings

Video profiles combine resolution, frame rate, and codec preferences into a single preset.

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How to Change Video Profile

While watching a video:
  1. Press the HQ button in the bottom-left corner
  2. Select your preferred quality option
  3. Choose resolution, frame rate, and codec
  4. The video will reload with new settings
This override applies only to the current video.

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Troubleshooting Quality Issues

It does by default! If it’s not working:
  1. Check if you configured a video profile preset in settings
  2. That preset acts as a maximum for automatic selection
  3. To unset it, choose “none” in the preset menu
  4. Remember: lower bitrate ≠ lower quality (it means better compression)
Yes:
  1. Go to Settings → Video player → Video presets
  2. Select your maximum desired resolution
  3. SmartTube will pick that profile if available
  4. Otherwise, the next best available option will be used
  5. You can still change quality while watching any video
The issue might not be specific to SmartTube. YouTube appears to sometimes discriminate against 3rd party apps.Try these solutions:
  • Reduce the resolution (or change it back)
  • Change the video format to AVC
  • Increase the buffer in the settings (see Settings)
  • Hit the back button and try playing the video again
  • Switch to encrypted DNS like NextDNS (see FAQ in main documentation)

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Quality Optimization Tips

Match Your Display

Set your default preset to match your TV’s native resolution for the best balance of quality and bandwidth.

Test Your Connection

Use fast.com to measure your actual bandwidth before selecting high resolutions.

Use Modern Codecs

VP9 or AV1 codecs provide better quality at lower bitrates compared to AVC.

Adjust for Content

You can always override quality per-video - use higher quality for movies, lower for podcasts.

Video Codecs

Learn about AV1, VP9, and AVC codecs and which to choose for your device

HDR Settings

Configure HDR (High Dynamic Range) if your TV and device support it

Buffer Settings

Adjust buffering settings to prevent playback interruptions

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