While not a comprehensive bundle, some Google One subscribers in the US will soon be able to enjoy a discount on YouTube Premium. In parallel, YouTube is beginning to roll out a variety of new features for subscribers to explore.
To qualify for this discount, users must subscribe to a Google One Premium plan, which starts at $9.99 per month for 2 TB in the US. The lower-tier plans, priced at $1.99 for 100 GB and $2.99 for 200 GB, do not qualify for this offer.
This initiative will provide a $2 monthly discount on YouTube Premium Individual, priced at $13.99 monthly, effectively counteracting the price rise from 2023.
Currently, Family and Music Premium plans are not included in this discount. Existing YouTube Premium subscribers must cancel their current standalone subscription and re-subscribe via Google One. Additional details will be shared once they are accessible on your account: one.google.com/explore-plan/youtube-premium.
At the same time, YouTube is releasing a new set of experimental features for Premium subscribers to try out. Notably, subscribers can now test multiple features simultaneously rather than being restricted to just one.
One significant enhancement is the option to increase playback speed to 4x on mobile devices. Currently, the playback options range from 0.25 to 2.0x in .5x increments, following the redesign of playback speed last year.
Additional upcoming features on youtube.com/new include:
- High-quality audio: Premium subscribers will benefit from enhanced audio quality, with music videos offering a richer and clearer 256kbps audio experience.
- “Jump ahead” on web: Previously limited to mobile, this feature allows users to jump to the most engaging segments of a video while browsing on web platforms.
- Picture-in-Picture for YouTube Shorts on iOS: Watch your favorite Shorts while continuing to browse other apps or check messages.
- Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts on iOS: Automatically downloads recommended Shorts for offline viewing.
Moreover, YouTube is introducing Ask Music in YouTube Music for Android users in the UK and Ireland, starting today. This feature enables requests for specific types of music, such as “upbeat workout tracks,” “relaxing jazz,” or “new indie discoveries.”
Lastly, the YouTube app on iOS will add an “Ask” chat button beneath the player, allowing users to ask questions about the video being watched, request related content, and more.
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