YouTube Premium has recently unveiled a series of updates to enhance the user experience. These include new experimental features and a bundled subscription offer with Google One. These initiatives are designed to provide subscribers with more control, improved audio quality, and greater convenience across devices.
New Experimental Features for Premium Subscribers
YouTube continues to push the boundaries of its Premium service by introducing a suite of new experimental features designed to enhance the viewing experience. These features, available exclusively to Premium subscribers, provide greater control over video playback, improved audio quality, and enhanced functionality for Shorts.
Unlike previous trials, Premium members can now opt into multiple experimental features simultaneously through youtube.com/new, allowing them to experience several enhancements at once.
Here’s a breakdown of the latest experimental features and how they can elevate your YouTube experience:
1. High-Quality Audio: Better Sound for Music Lovers
Available until February 22, 2025
For those who use YouTube as their go-to music streaming platform, this new feature brings higher-quality audio playback to music videos. Premium members can now listen to songs at 256kbps, delivering enhanced clarity and richer sound depth. This upgrade brings YouTube’s music video quality closer to dedicated streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
How to Use:
- Simply play an eligible music video on YouTube using an iOS or Android device, and the higher audio quality will automatically be applied.
This enhancement is particularly useful for audiophiles and those who prefer to stream music videos instead of using YouTube Music.
2. Jump Ahead on Web: Skip Straight to the Best Parts
Available until February 5, 2025
Jumping ahead in videos is now smarter and more seamless with YouTube’s AI-powered "Jump Ahead" feature. This tool analyzes watch behavior to identify key moments in videos, allowing users to skip directly to the most relevant or frequently viewed sections.
Previously available on mobile, this feature has now expanded to web browsers, giving desktop users the ability to fast-forward more efficiently without aimlessly seeking through the timeline.
How to Use:
- When watching an eligible video, start skipping forward using your keyboard.
- If YouTube detects a significant jump point, a "Jump Ahead" button will appear, allowing you to skip directly to that segment.
This feature is particularly beneficial for tutorials, long-form discussions, or any video where viewers often jump to specific parts.
3. Picture-in-Picture for YouTube Shorts (iOS Only)
Available until February 19, 2025
For iPhone users, YouTube is making multitasking easier by introducing Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Shorts. While the PiP feature has long been available for standard YouTube videos, Shorts previously lacked this functionality due to their ultra-brief format.
Now, Premium users can continue watching Shorts in a small floating window while switching between apps, making it easier to multitask.
How to Use:
- Play a YouTube Short on your iOS device.
- Swipe out of the YouTube app, and the video will continue playing in a small, movable window.
This feature is especially handy for users who like to browse social media, respond to messages, or check emails while watching quick-form content.
4. Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts (iOS Only)
Available until February 19, 2025
Short-form content lovers will appreciate this new automatic download feature, which allows YouTube to pre-load recommended Shorts for offline viewing. By intelligently selecting Shorts based on your watch history, this feature ensures that you always have fresh, engaging content even when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
How to Use:
- After enabling this feature, go to the Downloads section of your YouTube app.
- Scroll down to the Smart Downloads section to see Shorts that have been automatically saved for offline viewing.
This is particularly useful for users who frequently travel, commute, or experience limited internet access but still want to enjoy bite-sized entertainment.
5. Faster Playback Speeds: Watch Videos at 4x Speed
Available until February 26, 2025
For those who want to speed through content, YouTube is rolling out a new range of playback speed options, allowing Premium subscribers to increase video playback speed up to 4x on mobile. Whether you’re catching up on lectures, podcasts, or long-form discussions, this feature helps you consume content at your own pace.
How to Use:
- While watching a video, open the Settings menu.
- Select Playback Speed, and you’ll now see expanded options, including speeds up to 4x.
This feature is a great addition for students, podcast listeners, or anyone who wants to watch videos more efficiently.
6. Ask Music: AI-Generated Radio Stations Based on Your Mood
Coming Soon to Android in the UK and Ireland
YouTube’s Ask Music feature is expanding to more regions, offering users an AI-powered way to discover new music. By simply describing the type of music you’re in the mood for, Ask Music will curate a personalized radio station filled with your favorite genres and fresh recommendations.
How to Use:
- Open YouTube Music and type a phrase like “relaxing jazz”, “upbeat workout tracks”, or “new indie discoveries” in the search bar.
- The AI will generate a radio station tailored to your request.
This feature brings an on-demand, conversational approach to music discovery, making it easier to find the perfect playlist for any occasion.
7. Conversational AI on iOS: Smarter Video Assistance
Coming Soon to iOS
YouTube is integrating AI-powered assistance into the platform, allowing users to interact with videos in real-time without pausing playback. This conversational AI tool can answer questions about the video, provide additional context, and suggest related content, making it easier to dive deeper into topics of interest.
How to Use:
- While watching a video on iOS, ask the AI a question like “What’s the main point of this lecture?”
- The AI will generate a response without interrupting your video.
This feature is especially useful for educational content, tutorials, and documentary-style videos, where viewers often have follow-up questions.
Why These Experimental Features Matter
These updates reflect YouTube’s ongoing effort to provide more value for Premium subscribers, focusing on personalization, multitasking, and improved accessibility. With features like AI-driven video navigation, smarter downloads, and higher-quality audio, YouTube is making the platform more engaging and efficient for users.
Since these features are still in the experimental phase, their long-term availability depends on user feedback and engagement. Premium members are encouraged to try them out and share their thoughts to help shape the future of YouTube.
For those who want early access to these tools, visit youtube.com/new to opt-in before the features expire.
YouTube Premium and Google One Bundle
In a move to offer even more value, YouTube Premium is now available at a discounted rate when bundled with a Google One Premium plan (2 TB or higher).
This offer provides a $2 monthly discount on the YouTube Premium subscription, bringing the price to $11.99 per month. Subscribers benefit from ad-free YouTube, 2 TB of cloud storage, and other Google One member perks.
Check out this page to see how to add YouTube Premium to your Google One membership.
The Future of YouTube Premium is Smarter Streaming
The addition of multiple experimental features at once marks a significant shift in how YouTube Premium evolves. Rather than limiting users to testing a single feature at a time, YouTube is now offering greater flexibility by allowing multiple trials simultaneously.
With AI-powered playback improvements, multitasking capabilities, and high-quality audio streaming, YouTube Premium is reinforcing its position as a feature-rich platform for both casual viewers and power users.
As YouTube continues to refine these experiments, we may see some of these features become permanent perks for Premium members in the near future. Until then, Premium subscribers can enjoy an exclusive sneak peek at the potential future of YouTube.
