YouTube is bringing a new 1080 HD video quality option to Premium subscribers, among other exclusive features, in what appears to be an attempt to pull in more free users for a paid subscription. The Premium 1080p feature has rolled out in the iOS version of the YouTube app, but this feature is expected to arrive in the web version soon.
YouTube Free Users Will Still Have Access to 1080p Videos; Premium HD Feature Boasts 'Crisper' Look
As per YouTube's latest update, the 1080p HD playing option for Premium users will be different from the currently existing option in the free tier. The streaming giant describes the feature as "an enhanced bitrate version of 1080p," which will result in a crisper video quality as there will be more emphasis on details and motion.
The enhanced 1080p HD feature for YouTube Premium has already been heard since February. Previous reports suggested that YouTube had been testing this new HD video option for Premium subscribers, although some people were concerned that YouTube could decide to scrap the 1080p option for free users, as reported by The Verge.
With the latest developments from YouTube, it seems that the standard 1080p option will stay the same, even if nonsubscribers still refuse to get YouTube Premium. The usual 1080p will remain in Premium as well as there is a separate option for the enhanced 1080p version. At this point, the new 1080p option is not available for videos that were not uploaded in 1080p resolution. The feature will also not be visible in YouTube Shorts and livestreams.
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YouTube Premium's Five New Features Will Spell the Difference from Free Tier
The enhanced 1080p HD video feature is just one of the five new Premium features recently announced by YouTube. According to GSMArena, YouTube is further setting the differences between Premium and free tier version of the streaming platform, in hopes that the free users will finally consider a paid subscription.
The first Premium feature introduced by YouTube is the new queueing system, allowing users to create a queue of videos, then add more videos later on or adjust the order of videos in the queue. The queuing system for YouTube Premium had been tested until the last day of January and is now available in the web version. This feature is not yet fully functional in the mobile app version.
The next offering to Premium subscribers is the feature that enables users to host Google Meet sessions where a group of people can watch videos together, regardless if some members of the group are nonsubscribers. This can be accessed via Meet Live Sharing on Android devices, but it will also roll out on iOS devices via SharePlay.
Meanwhile, the third YouTube Premium offering is the feature allowing users to continue watching videos where they left off. This can be done even after switching to another device. This feature is now available on Android, iOS and the web version. The next Premium new feature is Smart Downloads, which adds recommended videos to the users' library for offline viewing.
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