The new media player on Android 13 is already supported by three Google apps, and the fourth is now the primary YouTube client.
Update 8/18: The stable channel of YouTube is now rolling out version 17.32.38, which supports the new Android 13 media player. It comes after the release of Android 13 for Pixel phones on Monday.
Version 17.32.32 of YouTube for Android, which targets API 33, is currently in beta. Original 8/9 While the majority of users will notice the upgraded player while casting videos, YouTube Premium subscribers who employ background (audio-only) play should also take note.
The shift is less noticeable for the primary YouTube app as compared to YouTube Music, Google Podcasts, and even Chrome. A rounded square pause/play button is there, and the progress bar takes up nearly the full width of your screen.
While YouTube eliminated the x for rapidly canceling a Cast session or closing a notification, the other available button is adjacent to the scrubber (but return appears when in a playlist). That specific setback is regrettable because swiping only gets rid of the notification rather than stopping what is playing. Finally, you notice a little less of the video title due to the position of the play/pause button being more apparent.
Currently in beta, YouTube 17.32.32 with this updated controls UI should become available to all Android 13 users in the stable channel (currently 17.30.x) over the following weeks. There is still time before the public debut on Pixel phones, but popular streaming applications like Spotify (or lesser ones like Pocket Casts) haven’t been updated yet.
FTC: We employ income-generating auto-affiliate connections. MORE ON YOUTUBE. More.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:
