YouTube has introduced a range of new features and experimental updates for Premium users, enhancing the way they enjoy content on the platform.
New Experimental Features for YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium members can now opt into multiple experimental features through youtube.com/new. Below are the new options now available:
- High-Quality Audio: Premium users can enjoy music videos with enhanced audio quality at a 256kbps bitrate, offering greater clarity and depth.
- Picture-in-Picture for YouTube Shorts on iOS: Watch YouTube Shorts while using other apps or checking messages, improving multitasking.
- Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts on iOS: Automatically download recommended Shorts for offline viewing, providing convenience on the go.
- Jump Ahead on Web: Previously available on mobile, this feature now allows users to skip directly to the most engaging parts of videos when browsing on a web browser.
- Faster Playback Speeds on Mobile: Adjust playback speeds up to 4x, with finer control through 0.05 increments, giving users more flexibility in how they watch videos.
YouTube Premium and Google One Offer
YouTube has introduced a new deal in the U.S., allowing users to save on YouTube Premium when it is bundled with a Google One Premium plan or higher.
Expanding Access to Popular Features
YouTube is also expanding some fan-favorite features across more platforms and regions:
- Ask Music: Coming soon to Android users in the UK and Ireland, this feature lets users describe their music preferences (e.g., “upbeat workout tracks” or “relaxing jazz”) to generate personalized radio stations featuring favorites and new recommendations.
- Badges, Collaborative Playlists, and Playlist Import: These recently launched features, available to both ad-supported and Premium users, allow for a more personalized YouTube Music experience.
- Conversational AI on iOS: YouTube’s assistive AI tool, which provides video-related answers and content suggestions without interrupting playback, will soon be available on iOS.
- Saving Video Queues to Playlists: This feature enables users to save their video queues as playlists, addressing concerns about losing queued content.
Availability
Here’s when and where the new features will roll out:
- YouTube Premium + Google One Offer: Now available in the U.S.
- Faster Playback Speeds: Set to launch in the coming weeks.
- Ask Music: Currently available on Android in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It will soon roll out to Android users in the UK and Ireland, with iOS support coming later.
Announcing the updates, Jack Greenberg, Director of Product Management for YouTube Premium, said:
Your YouTube, your way. Today, we’re introducing new experiments and features that give Premium users more ways to enhance how they experience their favorite content – from creator shows to music videos to podcasts. Explore these features with Premium, and stay tuned for even more exciting updates coming soon.