New leaks suggest that Apple is planning to launch another feature alongside the AirPods 3, and this is a significant upgrade to Apple Music that won’t cost subscribers to pay more.
Apple Music HiFi Leak
According to Hits Daily Double, Apple Music will add a new high-fidelity, lossless audio streaming tier taking streams above the current 256kbps AAC format.
That means people with high-end speakers or headphones should be able to hear the difference when it is introduced.
The exact audio quality is not specified in the report, but the move should bring Apple Music closer to Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, and even Spotify’s upcoming HiFi tier, as noted by Tom’s Guide.
Also Read: Spotify Plans to Expand Market in 80 More Countries & Launch HiFi Subscription
Apple could have an advantage on this aspect. While all of its rivals charge more for their improved audio experience, Apple Music will apparently offer the upgrade for free, and will still stick to the original $9.99 per month subscription.
Is HiFi Plan Too Good To Be True?
While that may reflect that Apple is not hoping to hit the studio quality offered by Tidal and Amazon, the whole thing still sounds too good to be true.
However, that is the information that Hits Daily Double has been given from its label sources.
High-fidelity audio offering is usually a paid extra feature for audiophiles, costing between $5 for Amazon Music Unlimited, to $10 a month for Tidal.
While Spotify HiFi does not have a monthly cost attached yet, the company has upped its prices this week, possible preparing for the new tier when it arrives.
This makes people question if it is possible for Apple to offer a lossless streaming upgrade without charging more money for it. But, it could be possible as Apple has the resources to do that, as it is essentially been giving away Apple TV Plus for years now.
With that said, Apple Music, despite its growth, still sits some distance behind Spotify when it comes to subscriber numbers.
If offering an upgrade that others charge for is a way for the company to close the gap, then it would certainly make sense for Apple to throw some of its ample resources at making that happen.
It is also worth noting that the move would not be without any precedent for the company. Apple famously offered buyers of HD movies a free upgrade to 4K HDR versions when they became available, which it certainly was under no obligation to do.
Hits Daily Double reports that the new tier will be announced alongside AirPods 3, which should appear in the first half of this year.
If the company keeps the subscription prices static while offering improved quality, it will make the rivalry between the streaming services more fierce.
According to Forbes, the AirPods 3 is just weeks away from its launch date, with leaks saying it will look more like AirPods Pro, but without the standout feature of active noise-cancelling for which the Apple headphones are lauded for, or the multiple ear tips that the Pro models have for the optimum fit.
If the Apple Music HiFi will be launched at the same time as AirPods 3, then it will definitely be a good match.
Related Article: Spotify HiFi: Audiophiles to Stream Lossless ‘CD Quality’ Like TIDAL-Is it Worth It?
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Written by Sophie Webster
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