X Continues To Bet On Vertical Video With Its Latest Update
X vertical video update brings swipe-up scrolling to iOS, sparking debate over full-screen viewing.
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X Continues To Bet On Vertical Video With Its Latest Update
What Is the X Vertical Video Update and Why Does It Matter? What is X's new video player update? The X vertical video update, rolling out to iOS in February 2026, introduces an immersive full-screen mode with swipe-up navigation. This refresh aims to make watching videos on X more engaging and mobile-friendly. But not everyone is convinced—some users worry the change sacrifices video quality for format consistency. Here's what you need to know about the redesign, how it works, and why it matters for how you consume content on the platform. Credit: Getty Images What's New in X's Immersive Video Player Experience X's head of product, Nikita Bier, confirmed the immersive player arrives after internal acknowledgment that the prior video interface "badly needed a refresh." The update prioritizes mobile-first viewing, letting users tap any video to expand it instantly to full screen. Once expanded, a simple upward swipe loads the next video in your feed, creating …