YouTube Premium subscribers are getting a sneak peek at two innovative experimental features designed to make video watching more seamless and efficient: ‘Auto speed’ and ‘On-the-go.’ These new tools aim to enhance your viewing experience, whether you’re actively engaged or simply listening on the move.
These exciting additions are currently available for a limited time, allowing Premium users to try them out and provide valuable feedback to YouTube.
What Are These New YouTube Premium Features?
YouTube is always looking for ways to improve its service, and these experimental features highlight a focus on smarter playback and hands-free control. They cater especially to users who consume a lot of content, from educational videos to podcasts.
Auto Speed: Smarter Playback Control
‘Auto speed’ is a dynamic feature that automatically adjusts the video playback speed. Instead of manually selecting a fixed speed like 1.5x or 2x, this tool intelligently speeds up less critical segments and slows down during denser or more important parts. The goal is to help you get through longer videos faster without sacrificing comprehension.
This feature is particularly useful for content like podcasts, interviews, or cooking videos where there might be slower sections or visual-heavy parts that don’t require constant attention. It’s currently limited to supported English-language videos on Android and iOS.
On-the-go: Motion-Activated Controls
The ‘On-the-go’ feature brings a simplified, distraction-free control view, similar to what you might find in YouTube Music. It’s designed for users who treat YouTube more like an audio app, such as when listening to talk shows or podcasts while walking or commuting.
This mode can be activated manually through the player’s settings under ‘Premium controls.’ Additionally, YouTube may prompt you to switch to ‘On-the-go’ mode automatically if your phone detects motion for about 60 seconds while a video is playing with the screen unlocked.
How to Access These Features
If you’re a YouTube Premium subscriber, you can find these experimental features by heading to your YouTube app’s Settings, then navigating to the ‘Try experimental new features’ section. From there, you can toggle ‘Auto speed’ and ‘On-the-go’ on to begin testing them.
Why It Matters
These experimental features demonstrate YouTube’s commitment to enhancing the user experience for its Premium subscribers. ‘Auto speed’ offers a smarter way to consume lengthy content, making it easier to digest information efficiently. Meanwhile, ‘On-the-go’ provides a much-needed hands-free solution for users who integrate YouTube into their active lifestyles, blurring the lines between a traditional video platform and an audio-first experience. These innovations could significantly improve how users interact with content, especially for those who multitask while watching or listening.
Conclusion
YouTube Premium continues to evolve, offering subscribers more than just an ad-free experience. With ‘Auto speed’ and ‘On-the-go,’ the platform is exploring new avenues for intelligent playback and convenient controls. While these features are currently in their experimental phase and set to conclude around April 27, 2026, their potential to reshape how we interact with video content is clear. Premium users are encouraged to try them out and provide feedback, helping to shape the future of YouTube’s offerings.
