YouTube gets a new look across all platforms | Video zoom and true dark mode

YouTube has announced a massive UI update across all platforms. Video zoom, true dark mode, and ambient mode.

YouTube gets a new look across all platforms | Video zoom and true dark mode
Image: YouTube

YouTube has announced a massive UI update across all platforms. Some parts of the new redesign have been tested previously with a limited number of users. Let's talk about the main updates.

New pinch-to-zoom feature and Precise seeking

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Video: YouTube

A specific area of a video can now be zoomed in with a zoom gesture. When you let go, the video stays zoomed.

YouTube also added an exact search for the right moment in the video. Swiping up from the playback status bar opens the video's storyboard to make it easier to jump to a specific location.

These two features are available for iOS and Android.

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Video: YouTube

True dark mode

Dark mode now uses true black for the background instead of grayish.

Ambient mode

YouTube has added an Ambient Mode: if you have a dark theme set, the space above and below the player will be highlighted to match the current frame of the video.

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Video: YouTube

Playlists now have a "header"

Each playlist will now have a large header image at the top with start and shuffle buttons.

Image: YouTube

The red Subscribe button is no longer red

The player page has also changed. Links turned into buttons, and the red "Subscribe" button is no longer red. Now it is white or black depending on the theme of the interface.

In general, it is noticeable that all elements of the YouTube interface
become more rounded. Among them, for example, video previews and various menu items.

Image: YouTube

Updates will be rolled out gradually to all YouTube users.

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