YouTube Premium has recently broadened its array of exclusive features—targeted specifically at those eager to explore new options.

In a recent blog announcement, YouTube unveiled a collection of new features that are currently undergoing testing for Premium subscribers. These features aren’t activated by default, but users can enable them via youtube.com/new and utilize them until their trial periods conclude. Additionally, YouTube introduced a special discount for Google One subscribers who opt for the Premium plan.

Enhanced Playback Speeds on Mobile

Credit: YouTube

The capability to accelerate video playback was absent during YouTube’s announcement; however, it has since become available for Premium users. This new option allows content to be played back at a speed of up to 4x on mobile devices, surpassing the previous maximum of 2x. While the reasoning behind wanting to watch or listen to content at such rapid speeds can be puzzling, those curious enough to try it can access this feature until February 26.

Superior Audio Quality for Music

YouTube Premium is enhancing the audio experience by introducing a new high bitrate for music videos, now reaching up to 256kbps. This improvement matches the highest sound quality available on YouTube Music and is currently accessible on iOS and Android devices until February 22.

Jump Ahead Feature (Web Version)

The Jump Ahead feature utilizes AI technology to analyze viewer behavior and identify the most engaging parts of a video. Following initial testing nearly a year ago, this option has been made available for Premium users on mobile and is now entering the experimental stage on the web until February 5.

Picture-in-Picture for Shorts

Picture-in-picture (PiP) functionality promotes multitasking by allowing viewers to watch videos while engaging in other tasks on their devices. Although this feature was not initially applicable to YouTube Shorts due to their brief nature, Premium subscribers now have the opportunity to activate an experimental PiP function specifically for Shorts. This option, however, is exclusive to iOS users and will only be available until February 19.

Automatic Downloads for Shorts

In addition to the PiP capability, a new experimental feature for iOS users will automatically download Shorts for offline viewing. Once activated, users can navigate to the Downloads section on YouTube to find their “Smart Downloads” which stores recently saved Shorts. This feature is also available until February 19.

YouTube Premium Discount with Google One

A new discount is being offered for YouTube Premium subscriptions purchased alongside a Google One Premium plan or higher. Priced starting at $9.99 monthly, this offer reduces the YouTube Premium subscription cost from the typical $13.99 to just $11.99 per month. While the savings may seem modest, it could be an attractive proposition for individuals already subscribed to either service or those contemplating a new subscription.

For those who might be charged $19 monthly for YouTube Premium, it’s worth noting that this pricing is likely due to subscribing through the app rather than the website (especially on iOS). It’s common for companies to impose higher subscription fees within apps as they incur a 30% commission to Apple or Google. If the subscription was obtained via the Android app, the increased cost is generally not applicable.