YouTube has introduced several new features aimed at enhancing the experience for premium subscribers on its iOS and Android apps. Among the additions are video queueing, the ability to watch content together through Meet live sharing or SharePlay, support for 1080p HD video, and the option for smart downloads. These features are exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers.
In a recent blog announcement, YouTube detailed enhancements including the introduction of a queuing system for videos, smart downloads, and improved 1080p HD video quality on iOS devices.
The Queue feature allows users to create a temporary list of videos that can be played in succession, mimicking the functionality available on the YouTube website. Users can easily add, rearrange, or remove videos within this queue.
Another significant feature is the Meet Live Sharing option available to Premium users on Android, enabling users to watch YouTube videos together with friends and family via Google Meet. In the upcoming weeks, this feature will also be accessible for iOS users through FaceTime via SharePlay. For this feature, only the host needs to have a Premium subscription.
YouTube has also added the ability to continue watching content across multiple devices from the exact spot where a user left off. This functionality works on Android, iOS, and the Web. Additionally, the smart downloads feature will automatically save recommended videos to the library for offline viewing.
Furthermore, the platform has rolled out an enhanced version of 1080p video quality for iOS users, resulting in clearer and sharper visuals. While all users have access to standard 1080p streaming, this improved quality is available exclusively to Premium subscribers.