YouTube Tests Locking 4K Viewing Behind a Premium Subscription – PCMag

A new test on YouTube is annoying users for turning the free 4K (2160p resolution) playback option into a paid feature for YouTube Premium. The restriction has been popping up(Opens in a new window) for a select number of YouTube users; if you go to the settings wheel on applicable video, YouTube will list the 2160p resolution as a paid feature. To activate it, you’ll have to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which costs $11.99 per month and also gives you an ad-free experience. YouTube seems to have been testing the restriction for at least the past two weeks, according(Opens in a new window) to users. The Google-owned platform hasn’t responded to a request for comment. But on Twitter, YouTube attributed placing the 4K playback option behind a paywall as part of a test.“It looks like your [sic] part of our experiment to know better the feature preferences Premium & non-Premium viewers,” YouTube wrote(Opens in a new window) in response to one annoyed user.  Tweet(Opens in a new window) The test is a worrying sign for non-paying users, who like to enjoy their videos in 4K when possible. Instead, the YouTube experiment restricts free playback options to 1440p and lower.  Recommended by Our Editors…
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