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YouTube Premium Is Getting A Price Hike Around The Globe
European, Asian, and Middle Eastern users are already reporting that they’ve been told the service is about to become more expensive.
YouTube is notifying Premium subscribers outside of the United States that they’ll soon have to pay more for the service, according to status updates from users on social media over the weekend.
So far, the price hikes are being reported in multiple regions, including parts of Europe, the Middle East, and South America, according to the website Android Authority.
The price increases will have an effect on both individual and family plans. In certain EU countries, users have complained that family plans will soon rise from €17.99 to €25.99 (or €11.99 to €13.99 for YouTube Premium individuals) from November 7th. Similar increases are being reported in places like Singapore, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East
The price increases will be familiar to US users, who have already experienced similar rises. YouTube’s individual Premium plans went from $11.99 to $13.99 in the US several months after the video platform raised its family plan subscription from $17.99 to $22.99. Other streaming services have also bumped up their prices in the last few months, including Disney Plus, Max, and Paramount Plus.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.