Apple Music Hi-Fi may on the way

Apple Music Hi-Fi may on the way

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Apple Music Hi-Fi is only a rumor. But there’s at least one good reason to think it’s true.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple Music Hi-Fi, a version of the streaming music service offering higher-quality audio, could be debut “in the coming weeks,” according to an unconfirmed report.

What the new streaming rate will be in unclear. Built it will have to take an on improved version of its arch rival.

Hits Daily Double — not a significant source of Apple leaks — reports that the iPhone maker is preparing a “high-fidelity audio streaming tier.”

Even better, it’s not going to cost extra. This enhanced version of Apple Music will reportedly be available at the same $9.99-per-month rate.

But a launch date isn’t clear at all. Apple Music Hi-Fi will be out in weeks, at the same time as the third-generation AirPods, according to Hits Daily Double. But the wireless earbuds aren’t expected until the third-quarter of 2021 at the earliest.

If the report of an increase in Apple’s audio quality is true, the move is probably in response to the recent announcement of Spotify HiFi. The two streaming services are locked in a battle for customers and Apple is unlikely to let its rival have an obvious advantage.

How ‘high’ is Apple Music Hi-Fi?

One of the reasons we’re not clear what Apple’s new streaming rate might be is that we’re not 100% sure what the current rate is. It’s probably 256kbps, compared to 320kbps for Spotify.

That said, streaming rates don’t tell the whole story. Apple uses the AAC format, which is lossy, but many users think sounds better than the Ogg Vorbis format used by Spotify.

Still, Spotify HiFi promises a “CD-quality, lossless audio format.” Apple Music HiFi will have to complete with that.