diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d5b8151055..23c088c95a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 ## Changelog
 
+### next
+* Added support for automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling property (iOS) [#1723](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1723)
+
 ### Version 5.0.2
 * Fix crash when RCTVideo's superclass doesn't observe the keyPath 'frame' (iOS) [#1720](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1720)
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9be9cc268e..4b0a87546e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ var styles = StyleSheet.create({
 ### Configurable props
 * [allowsExternalPlayback](#allowsexternalplayback)
 * [audioOnly](#audioonly)
+* [automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling](#automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling)
 * [bufferConfig](#bufferconfig)
 * [controls](#controls)
 * [filter](#filter)
@@ -370,6 +371,13 @@ For this to work, the poster prop must be set.
 
 Platforms: all
 
+#### automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling
+A Boolean value that indicates whether the player should automatically delay playback in order to minimize stalling. For clients linked against iOS 10.0 and later
+* **false** - Immediately starts playback
+* **true (default)** - Delays playback in order to minimize stalling
+
+Platforms: iOS
+
 #### bufferConfig
 Adjust the buffer settings. This prop takes an object with one or more of the properties listed below.
 
diff --git a/Video.js b/Video.js
index 7dc2ab61f1..f518f4a4c4 100644
--- a/Video.js
+++ b/Video.js
@@ -428,6 +428,7 @@ Video.propTypes = {
   poster: PropTypes.string,
   posterResizeMode: Image.propTypes.resizeMode,
   repeat: PropTypes.bool,
+  automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling: PropTypes.bool,
   allowsExternalPlayback: PropTypes.bool,
   selectedAudioTrack: PropTypes.shape({
     type: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
diff --git a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
index 8b5cfcacba..39bf7b5f4a 100644
--- a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
+++ b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ @implementation RCTVideo
   float _rate;
   float _maxBitRate;
 
+  BOOL _automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling;
   BOOL _muted;
   BOOL _paused;
   BOOL _repeat;
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ - (instancetype)initWithEventDispatcher:(RCTEventDispatcher *)eventDispatcher
     inView = true;  // ZEROLABS
     _separateAudioTrack = YES;  // ZEROLABS
     
+	  _automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling = YES;
     _playbackRateObserverRegistered = NO;
     _isExternalPlaybackActiveObserverRegistered = NO;
     _playbackStalled = NO;
@@ -565,6 +567,9 @@ - (void)crankVideo2 {
       _isExternalPlaybackActiveObserverRegistered = YES;
         
       [self addPlayerTimeObserver];
+      if (@available(iOS 10.0, *)) {
+        [self setAutomaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling:_automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling];
+      }
 
       //Perform on next run loop, otherwise onVideoLoadStart is nil
       if (self.onVideoLoadStart) {
@@ -1312,7 +1317,13 @@ - (void)setPaused:(BOOL)paused
     } else if([_ignoreSilentSwitch isEqualToString:@"obey"]) {
       [[AVAudioSession sharedInstance] setCategory:AVAudioSessionCategoryAmbient error:nil];
     }
-    [_player play];
+    
+	if (@available(iOS 10.0, *) && !_automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling) {
+		[_player playImmediatelyAtRate:1.0];
+	} else {
+		[_player play];
+		[_player setRate:_rate];
+	}
     [_player setRate:_rate];
   }
   
@@ -1399,6 +1410,12 @@ - (void)setMaxBitRate:(float) maxBitRate {
   _playerItem.preferredPeakBitRate = maxBitRate;
 }
 
+- (void)setAutomaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling:(BOOL)waits
+{
+	_automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling = waits;
+	_player.automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling = waits;
+}
+
 
 - (void)applyModifiers
 {
diff --git a/ios/Video/RCTVideoManager.m b/ios/Video/RCTVideoManager.m
index 2ddacac86e..1e94ff4c81 100644
--- a/ios/Video/RCTVideoManager.m
+++ b/ios/Video/RCTVideoManager.m
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ - (dispatch_queue_t)methodQueue
 RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(maxBitRate, float);
 RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(resizeMode, NSString);
 RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(repeat, BOOL);
+RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling, BOOL);
 RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(allowsExternalPlayback, BOOL);
 RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(textTracks, NSArray);
 RCT_EXPORT_VIEW_PROPERTY(selectedTextTrack, NSDictionary);