Youtube also lies regularly about the current quality. I often see 1080p (Auto) or 720p (Auto) which it selects by default. But when I reselect it manually, because it’s clear that it’s not, it suddenly starts rebuffering. Happens all the time.
This is why i prefer to force high-res in the first place, and have it buffer enough to play the entire video without stopping. Unfortunately, google considers this wasted bandwidth, or something...this option is not available unless you use browser mods to do it.
That is another thing, which I don’t mind (if I understand it right). Sometimes internet becomes worse temporarily and that approach is okay.
But in the described case it plays a whole video in this hypothetical “mode”, never trying to go up. My internet is not greatest, but when I switch from “720p (Auto)” to “720p” it takes only a couple of seconds to then play it without any further interruptions. It doesn’t add up. I believe they are simply saving traffic on those who look at the quality setting and either think “well, maybe it’s just shitty bitrate 720/1080p” or have no clue at all.