Adjustable Playback Speed
Control how fast or slow videos play - perfect for tutorials, lectures, or when you’re short on time.
How to Adjust Speed
Open Speed Controls
While watching a video, look for the speed indicator icon (gauge/speedometer) in the top row of the player controls.
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
Some playback speeds may cause frame drops on certain devices. This is a known limitation of the underlying video decoder.
Use Cases
Educational Content
Watch tutorials and lectures at 1.5x or 2x to save time while still absorbing information.
Slow Motion Analysis
Use 0.25x or 0.5x speed to study detailed movements in sports, dance, or technical demonstrations.
Language Learning
Slow down videos to 0.75x to better understand foreign language content or fast speakers.
Music Practice
Slow down music tutorials to learn difficult passages at your own pace.
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
8K Resolution Support
SmartTube supports 8K resolution playback on compatible devices.
- 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
- 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
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
- Talking head videos
- Vlogs
- Static content
- Tutorials with minimal motion
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.
Video Codec Support
SmartTube supports modern video codecs for optimal quality and bandwidth efficiency.Available Codecs
AV1 (AV01) - Best Compression
AV1 (AV01) - Best Compression
The newest and most efficient codecAdvantages:
- Best compression (lowest bitrate for same quality)
- Best for limited bandwidth
- Saves the most data
- Environmentally friendly (less data transfer)
- Requires hardware support (devices from 2020+)
- Not supported on most TVs and TV boxes
- May not play at all without hardware support
VP9 - Best Choice for Most Devices
VP9 - Best Choice for Most Devices
Modern codec with excellent efficiencyAdvantages:
- Better compression than AVC
- Supported on most devices since 2015
- Good balance of quality and compatibility
- Works smoothly with hardware support
- Older/cheaper devices may struggle without hardware support
- Not as efficient as AV1
AVC (H.264) - Maximum Compatibility
AVC (H.264) - Maximum Compatibility
Older codec with universal supportAdvantages:
- Supported on ALL devices
- Guaranteed smooth playback
- No hardware requirements
- Least efficient (highest bitrate)
- Uses more bandwidth
- Larger file sizes
Understanding Bitrate vs Quality
At the same resolution:- Newer codecs = lower bitrate = same quality = less bandwidth
- Older codecs = higher bitrate = same quality = more bandwidth
- 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
HDR Support
SmartTube supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) playback for enhanced color and contrast - if your hardware supports it.
HDR Requirements
HDR is complicated and requires ALL of the following:HDR-Compatible TV
Your TV must support HDR (check your TV’s specifications for HDR10, Dolby Vision, etc.).
HDR-Compatible Device
If using an external device (TV box, Fire Stick, etc.), it must support HDR output.
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
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
- 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)
AFR automatically adjusts your TV’s refresh rate to match the video’s frame rate for slightly smoother playback.
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
- Slight improvement in motion smoothness
- Reduces judder in some content
- More “cinematic” feel for 24fps content
- 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
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.
Buffering Settings
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
- 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)
Buffer is cleared when seeking backward, so you’ll need to rebuffer. This may be improved in future updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some speeds cause frame skipping?
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.
Can I set a default quality?
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.
Why doesn't it auto-select quality based on bandwidth?
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.
The debug info says 1080p but I have a 4K TV!
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.
Which codec should I choose?
Which codec should I choose?
Try this order:
- AV01 (if your device is from 2020 or later)
- VP9 (best for most devices from 2015+)
- AVC (only if VP9 is slow or stuttering)
Performance Tips
Choose the Right Codec
Use the newest codec your device supports smoothly. This reduces bandwidth and improves performance.
Match Your Display
Don’t select resolutions far beyond your TV’s capabilities. A 1080p TV won’t benefit much from 4K.
Consider Your Bandwidth
Use fast.com to test your speed, then choose a quality that’s comfortably within your bandwidth.
High Buffer
Keep buffer settings on high unless you have very limited RAM (unlikely on modern devices).