Apple updated the Android companion app to its Apple Music streaming platform with support for Spatial Audio, Lossless Audio, and other features that debuted on its first-party devices in June. But there’s a catch: Spatial Audio only works on Android phones compatible with Dolby Atmos.
That requirement makes sense—Apple has made it clear that Spatial Audio is based on Dolby Atmos since the feature was announced in May. It’s just not an obstacle for many of Apple’s customers because essentially all of the company’s recent products support the technology.
Android smartphones don’t have to include Dolby Atmos support, though, so there’s no guarantee that Apple Music users on that platform will have access to Spatial Audio. Apple told subscribers to “check with your device’s manufacturer” to see if their phones support the feature.
The other changes introduced with this update, including the addition of Lossless Audio support, Automatic Crossfade, and search improvements “which allow you to more easily find your favorite music with in-line search,” don’t appear to be restricted to specific Android devices.
As for what those features enable: Apple said in May that “Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary, immersive audio experience that enables artists to mix music so the sound comes from all around and from above.” The company has curated playlists of songs that support the feature.
Lossless Audio, meanwhile, adds new audio quality options. Apple divides the settings into High Quality (16-bit at 44.1kHz), Lossless (24-bit at 48kHz), and Hi-Resolution Lossless (24-bit at 192kHz). The first two work everywhere, but the third requires additional hardware.
The latest version of Apple Music for Android is available now from the Google Play Store. That leaves Windows as the only platform for which an Apple Music client is available without Spatial Audio or Lossless Audio support.
