Not even speaking about all the ads in the default YouTube app without a subscription.
The app is basically useless in my opinion. It defaults to freaking 240p for every video. My phone is definitively not the problem, also not the Internet connection. Watching in Firefox on the same connection gives me normal expected quality.
This was better on some “feature phones” without touchscreen!!! YouTube app works and playback is in 720p / 1080p
I would not be able to use YouTube without premium these days since there are so many ads . I find on my phone it usually plays 720 if I’m connected to wifi , there is an option in the settings to pick what quality it will play for wifi or data