Back in October, some Android users found their Netflix app appeared to be testing variable playback speed for its content which allows viewers to watch film and TV titles at anywhere from 50% speed to 150% speed.
While faster speed playback has been in common use for audiobooks and podcasts for years, video is a different kettle of fish though even as YouTube has had variable Playback Speed options available for a while.
Now it’s officially out in the wild with The Verge reporting Netflix is allowing anyone on an Android device to watch content at 0.5x, 0.75x, 1.25, or 1.5x speed.
Keela Robinson, Netflix’s VP of Product Innovation says: “Our tests show that consumers value the flexibility it provides. Whether it’s rewatching their favorite scene or slowing things down because they’re watching with subtitles or have hearing difficulties.”
Viewers will need to manually select their altered playback speed for each title, ensuring that the ‘default’ setting for Netflix movies is still 1.0x.
