YouTube has long been at the forefront of video streaming, continuously rolling out new features to maintain its dominance.
While the platform introduced adjustable video quality settings a few years ago, one key feature has been missing—audio quality control. That, however, may be changing soon.
According to new findings by Android Authority, YouTube appears to be working on a feature that would allow users to adjust the audio quality of videos. This discovery comes from new code strings spotted in the YouTube beta app, hinting at a significant upcoming upgrade.
Customizable Audio Quality: A New YouTube Premium Perk?
If implemented, YouTube’s audio quality settings could offer three different options:
- Normal – YouTube’s standard audio quality.
- High – An improved bitrate for better sound clarity.
- Auto – A setting that adjusts audio quality based on internet speed.
While this sounds like a welcome improvement, there may be a catch. Unlike video quality settings, which are available to all users, audio control could be an exclusive feature for YouTube Premium subscribers. Even then, it might only apply to select videos in YouTube’s massive content library.
When Will This Feature Roll Out?
Since the feature is currently just a few lines of code within the app, there’s no official word on when—or if—it will launch. However, if YouTube proceeds with it, it could be one of the platform’s most notable upgrades in recent years, especially for audiophiles who crave higher-quality sound.
YouTube has been actively pushing its Premium subscription service, with recent moves like introducing a cheaper YouTube Premium Lite tier in the U.S. This plan offers ad-free viewing on most videos but excludes features like offline playback and background play.
For years, YouTube has allowed users to tweak video quality settings, but audio quality has always depended on the uploader. If these rumors hold true, giving users direct control over audio quality could be a game-changer—and another incentive for people to sign up for YouTube Premium.
Would you upgrade to Premium for better audio? Let us know your thoughts!
