YouTube has introduced new premium features for subscribers, including the ability to skip to key moments and smart downloads for offline viewing.
New YouTube Premium Features
Jump Ahead Button
Premium subscribers can now easily skip to the best parts of a video with a new ‘jump ahead’ button. This feature, using AI and viewership data, is currently available to Android users in the US and will soon be available on iOS.
Picture-in-Picture for YouTube Shorts
Android users can now enjoy YouTube Shorts with the picture-in-picture feature, allowing you to watch Shorts while using other apps or messaging.
Early Access to Experimental Features
Premium subscribers get early access to new features via youtube.com/new. Current experimental features include:
- Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts: Subscribers can have a selection of entertaining Shorts automatically downloaded to their phone for offline viewing.
- Conversational AI: This tool, available on Android devices in the US, can answer questions and suggest related content without interrupting your video. Access it by tapping “Ask” beneath select videos.
- Redesigned Watch Page: Test a new watch page design on the web, aimed at improving your viewing experience and making it easier to find related content and engage with comments.
Updates on Download and Watch Experience
YouTube has shared several updates to enhance user experience:
- Improved Download Experience: Efforts are ongoing to address device storage issues related to downloads, ensuring a smoother experience.
- High-Quality Viewing: YouTube offers 4K video quality on phones, tablets, TVs, and the web, with 8K quality available on TVs, the web, and VR headsets.
- Enhanced Control for Users: YouTube is working on improving control features, addressing issues like losing queues and accessing Premium controls more efficiently.
- Accessibility of Premium Controls: Efforts are being made to make Premium controls more accessible, reducing the number of clicks needed to access them. Additionally, the Continue Watching feature is being improved to apply to queued videos.
More Plan Options
YouTube plans to offer more subscription options, expand to more regions, and explore ways for users to share benefits with friends.
Announcing the updates, Dave Wu, Product Manager at YouTube Premium, said:
All of these updates build on a significant achievement we reached earlier this year, surpassing 100 million subscribers globally across YouTube Music and Premium! If you haven’t subscribed yet, join today to explore the latest content from your favorite artists and creators.