YouTube seems to have quietly extended the testing timeline for several experimental features aimed at Premium subscribers, including high-quality audio and faster playback speeds. The move comes just weeks after the company first announced the perks, suggesting it may be gathering more feedback before deciding whether to make them permanent.
In late January, YouTube officially unveiled a handful of new features for Premium users, framing them as limited-time experiments. At the time, the company shared specific end dates for each test — most falling in mid-to-late February, according to multiple reports. But I checked the platform’s experiments page this week and noticed something different: nearly all deadlines have been pushed to March 5.
Check out the screenshots for reference:
The extended tests include High-Quality Audio, which boosts music tracks to 256kbps for clearer sound on iOS and Android. Originally set to wrap up on February 22, it’s now available through early March. Similarly, Faster Speeds, allowing playback up to 4x on phones, got a two-week extension to March 5.
Other tweaks involve Shorts, YouTube’s TikTok-style vertical videos. The Shorts Picture-in-Picture feature, which lets iOS users keep watching Shorts in a floating window while using other apps, and Shorts Smart Downloads, which auto-saves recommended clips for offline viewing, were both initially slated to end on February 19. They’ve now joined the March 5 group.
Only the Jump Ahead tool for desktop users, which lets Premium subscribers skip to commonly replayed sections of videos, kept its original February 5 end date. This suggests YouTube may be closer to finalizing that feature or phasing it out.
The company hasn’t publicly acknowledged the timeline shifts. But hey, at least we now get to test these cool features for a tad longer. The changes arrive as YouTube continues pushing its paid tier, which recently bundled with Google One in the U.S. for a discounted rate. The Premium plan, priced at $13.99 monthly, has struggled to match the growth of rivals like Spotify but now boasts over 250 million subscribers.
For now, users can still opt into the experiments through YouTube’s “Try it out” links. The new March 5 deadline gives them an extra month to test drive features that could reshape how they watch — or listen — to content. Whether these tools stick around may depend on how many click those buttons before time runs out.
Dwayne Cubbins
618 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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