Increase Your iPhone’s YouTube Video Quality by Using WiFi

By Gary Ng on December 23rd, 2008 14

With YouTube on your iPhone 3G coupled with the 6GB data plan (and even the 500MB data value pack), it’s a great way to waste some time. However, have you ever noticed how the quality of YouTube videos vary depending on your connection?

How to Increase YouTube Quality on your iPhone 3G: Use WiFi!

I’ve had a few friends who are iPhone 3G newbies ask me, “why is YouTube quality so bad on the iPhone?” To answer this question is very simple as it comes down to the 3G network and WiFi.

It seems as though when the iPhone 3G is using network data, YouTube automatically knows this and in response the videos streamed are of lesser quality compared to using WiFi. So if you’re dying to watch a YouTube video in high quality make sure you’re streaming it over WiFi. The 3G video quality is almost laughable at times to be honest.

Just take a look at these examples below of YouTube HD streamed over WiFi and 3G. Can you tell the difference (trust me, it’s not hard!)?

Shaq and the Phoenix Suns:

You can barely even tell who is playing here…

So, for all you YouTube fanatics out there, how do you find quality over 3G versus WiFi? Personally, if I’m stuck somewhere and I’m bored to death, I’ll take 3G YouTube quality anyday instead of having no YouTube at all. Don’t you agree? ;)

**Looking for an iPhone 3G case? Go get an invisibleSHIELD, the strongest protection for your iPhone backed by a 30 day moneyback guarantee, lifetime replacement warranty, and FREE shipping! Use coupon code iphoneinca for 20% off your purchase! Order today!**

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my RSS feed, so you won’t miss any updates! You can also subscribe via email and have daily updates sent to your Inbox! Want more? Find out what I’m doing right now! Follow me on Twitter!

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iPhoneinCanada.ca. Follow @iPhoneinCanada and on Google+. Click here to save 20% OFF at ZAGG.com with coupon 'iphoneinca'!

Did you like the post?

Related Posts

Recent Posts

  • Joseph

    The YouTube video quality was a hot topic at Apple’s pre-launch events. The quality of the video is actually dynamic, meaning that if the signal strength improves the quality of the video currently being viewed will increase and, likewise, if the signal strength degrades, the quality of the video will as well to ensure that the video does not pause and make the viewer wait for the buffer to load.

  • Joseph

    The YouTube video quality was a hot topic at Apple’s pre-launch events. The quality of the video is actually dynamic, meaning that if the signal strength improves the quality of the video currently being viewed will increase and, likewise, if the signal strength degrades, the quality of the video will as well to ensure that the video does not pause and make the viewer wait for the buffer to load.

  • Kevin

    There’s a great application on the app store called Truveo, it will stream youtube and other videos at full resolution over 3g, I use it over the youtube app when I’m away from wifi. I hate how the youtube app over 3g looks so bad.

  • Kevin

    There’s a great application on the app store called Truveo, it will stream youtube and other videos at full resolution over 3g, I use it over the youtube app when I’m away from wifi. I hate how the youtube app over 3g looks so bad.

  • Rey

    I was wondering why the videos were so grainy. Did they do this just recently? Or has it always been this way? It is definitely laughable and I hate it. I’m on the 6GB plan and I would take quality over speed any day, given how blurry it gets on low quality.

    Thanks for the app recommendation Kevin, i’ll have to check it out.

  • Rey

    I was wondering why the videos were so grainy. Did they do this just recently? Or has it always been this way? It is definitely laughable and I hate it. I’m on the 6GB plan and I would take quality over speed any day, given how blurry it gets on low quality.

    Thanks for the app recommendation Kevin, i’ll have to check it out.

  • Tony

    It’s actually always been this way, this is a pretty old topic. I don’t mind the grainy-ness, if it bothers you find a hotspot to connect to or don’t use it at all.

  • Tony

    It’s actually always been this way, this is a pretty old topic. I don’t mind the grainy-ness, if it bothers you find a hotspot to connect to or don’t use it at all.

  • atlong

    I just use mxtube and can stream wifi quality through 3g. BOOM. fixed.

  • atlong

    I just use mxtube and can stream wifi quality through 3g. BOOM. fixed.

  • http://viettelonline.com ADSL Viettel

    Thanks man, just what I was looking for. Thanks so much…

  • Guest

    Thanks man, just what I was looking for. Thanks so much…

  • Pingback: How to Watch HD YouTube Videos over 3G on iPhone | iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

  • HOLLYROXTAR

    Just asking but if it was 4g would it be better? Please reply, thank you
    (because I just bought one and I feel like it was a bad idea)