Overview

• Google says the refresh introduces rounded, grouped controls and a cleaner player that covers less of the video.
• Layouts differ by device, with TV controls moved to the bottom of the screen and mobile controls remaining centered.
• Comments transition to threaded conversations and saving to Watch later or playlists gets a clearer, faster flow.
• New custom likes add content‑specific animations on selected videos, and double‑tap skipping is visually refined with smoother mobile tab transitions.
• The rollout started on October 13 and remains uneven, with the new web player visible in some editorial tests while many iOS devices and users in Germany have not yet received it.