Google has broadened the reach of its YouTube Premium benefits, making high-quality audio and faster playback controls available on more platforms. The updates also extend new options for Shorts, improving how subscribers watch and save the bite-sized videos across mobile and desktop.
High-Quality Sound for Music and Video
One of the key additions is an upgrade to audio. YouTube Premium members can now select a high-quality streaming option that delivers music at 256kbps. This setting, previously limited to YouTube Music, is now available in the main YouTube app on both Android and iOS. The change applies not only to official music videos but also to Art Tracks, which are audio uploads that appear on YouTube without an accompanying video.
Faster Playback Across Platforms
Playback speed controls have also been expanded. Premium subscribers can now slow down or accelerate videos in increments up to 4x speed. While originally tested within the mobile app, the feature is now available on Android, iOS, and the web. This expansion gives users more flexibility in how they view longer clips, tutorials, or lectures across devices.
Smarter Navigation on Larger Screens
The platform’s “Jump Ahead” tool, designed to move viewers directly to key moments within a video, is now supported on smart TVs and gaming consoles. By widening access beyond mobile and desktop, Google is aiming to streamline how people navigate longer videos in living room settings.
Shorts: Downloads and Picture-in-Picture
YouTube is also bringing Premium benefits to Shorts. Members can enable automatic downloads of Shorts, which are chosen based on viewing history, ensuring that new clips are ready to watch offline. In addition, Shorts now support picture-in-picture viewing on iOS, allowing the short-form videos to keep playing in a small window while browsing other content.
A Consistent Experience
These additions do not change the core value of Premium, which remains an ad-free experience for $13.99 per month along with access to YouTube Music. However, by aligning advanced features across mobile, desktop, and connected TV devices, Google is working to give subscribers a more consistent and flexible way to use the service.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.
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