Apple Music Teaser References 'Hi-Res Lossless' and 'Dolby Atmos'

Earlier today, Apple Music began teasing a special announcement with the tagline "Get Ready – Music is About to Change Forever." This teaser comes amid a rumor that Apple is preparing to announce the third-generation AirPods alongside a HiFi, or lossless audio streaming tier for Apple Music on Tuesday, May 18.

apple music logo
Now, references to "Apple Lossless," "Free Lossless," "Hi-Res Lossless," and "Dolby Atmos" have been found within the ‌Apple Music‌ web app by 9to5Mac and confirmed by MacRumors. These references indicate that Apple is likely planning to announce that users will be able to stream songs at higher quality and potentially enjoy them in some form of Spatial Audio using Dolby Atmos with the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.

Additional code also indicates that only certain songs may be capable of lossless, and Dolby Atmos audio streaming as Apple has references on multiple occasions to a badge that reads "Has Lossless" and "Has Atmos," which could be presented next to compatible songs within ‌Apple Music‌.

References to lossless and high-quality streaming were already found in the earliest beta of the upcoming iOS 14.6 update. A report regarding a lossless, or HiFi ‌Apple Music‌ tier first originated in early May, and according to that report, the new tier will cost the same $9.99 as the current individual ‌Apple Music‌ subscription.

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...

Top Rated Comments

Nimoy Avatar
62 months ago

Can the bandwidth of say, the Airpods Pro even handle lossless codec bitrate? Is this just going to be for people using Lightning port headphones and or Macs with sound outputting via the headphone jack?
Apple is all about wireless everything. I can’t see them introducing a new feature that requires people to bring back cords. I mean, if the AirPods Max can’t handle whatever Apple is introducing next week, that would be absolutely ridiculous.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Picklefoot Avatar
62 months ago
I hope I don’t get too much flac for this but you’ll need Atmos some good headphones or speakers for this.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MysteryMii215 Avatar
62 months ago

These references indicate that Apple is likely planning to announce that users will be able to stream songs at higher quality and potentially enjoy them in some form of Spatial Audio using Dolby Atmos with the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.
I wouldn't be shocked if you can also enjoy Atmos music through an Apple TV 4K hooked up to an Atmos sound system.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Seanm87 Avatar
62 months ago
My ears are ready!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
symphony Avatar
62 months ago

What I’m most impressed by is that Apple have not chosen to introduce a higher price tier for this and I’m glad.
They kinda did something similar to 4K iTunes movies which was awesome
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
obamtl Avatar
62 months ago
What I’m most impressed by is that Apple have not chosen to introduce a higher price tier for this and I’m glad.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)