YouTube Premium launches new features: higher audio quality and faster playback
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YouTube has unveiled a suite of experimental features exclusively for its Premium subscribers, aimed at enhancing user experience.
These updates include improved audio quality, faster playback speeds, and expanded functionality for YouTube Shorts and YouTube Music. The platform has also introduced a new, more affordable subscription plan for US users with added Google One benefits.
Premium subscribers can now enjoy higher-quality audio playback at 256kbps while streaming music videos. The web version of YouTube is also receiving the "Jump Ahead" feature, previously only available on mobile, allowing users to skip directly to the most engaging parts of a video. Additionally, playback speeds of up to 4x are now an option for those who prefer faster video consumption.
iOS users watching YouTube Shorts can now take advantage of picture-in-picture mode, enabling multitasking while viewing short-form videos. Another upgrade is the "smart downloads" feature, which automatically downloads recommended Shorts for offline access.
YouTube Music’s "Ask Music" feature, which lets users describe the kind of music they want to hear - such as “upbeat workout tracks” or “relaxing jazz” - will soon be available to Android users in the UK and Ireland. This feature generates a personalised radio station based on user input.
The platform is also expanding its conversational AI tool, currently available to Premium members in the US. This chatbot suggests related content and engages users in discussions about the videos they are watching. The feature will soon be available on iOS devices.
YouTube has launched a new subscription offer in the US, combining YouTube Premium with Google One benefits. Subscribers will gain access to ad-free YouTube, 2TB of cloud storage, and other perks associated with Google One, all at a discounted price.
YouTube has clarified that these experimental features require users to opt in before accessing them, ensuring a controlled rollout while they refine these offerings.