Highest video quality on YouTube may soon become a paid service

In the future, playing YouTube videos in 4K or 8K resolution may be subject to charges. Several user reports indicate this, as the tech portal “MacRumors” reports.

For example, users post screenshots on Reddit and Twitter showing the available resolutions for a video currently playing. Under the option “2160p” – also called 4K resolution – you will find the note “Premium”.

For another user, the feature is completed with the comment “Tap to upgrade”. In concrete terms, this means that these users can only use the highest video quality level if they have taken out the paid “Premium” subscription (15.90 francs per month).

Only a few are affected

There’s no official tweak at the moment – apparently Google is currently testing the feature with a few select users. However, it is quite possible that this will also apply to everyone in the future – for example to make the “Premium” service even more attractive.

Subscription service customers currently receive videos without ads. Videos can also be saved for offline viewing. In addition, customers with the “Premium” subscription have access to the streaming service YouTube Music.

The subscription service actually seems to be doing quite well. Just a year ago, Google announced that it already had 50 million subscribers to YouTube Music (costs CHF 12.90 per month alone) and YouTube Premium.

It’s quite possible that the strong growth, which has certainly benefited from the pandemic and lockdowns, has now leveled off significantly and Google is now looking for new ways to increase its completion rate.

However, currently any video resolution can be used for free. If videos don’t show “2160p”, it’s because not all videos are offered in this high resolution.

(t-online/cpf)