Rumor: Apple to Announce Third-Generation AirPods and HiFi Apple Music Tier in 'Coming Weeks'

[MacRumors]

Citing sources within the music industry, Hits Double Daily reports that Apple is preparing to launch a new HiFi Apple Music tier in the "coming weeks," which will come alongside the release of the rumored third-generation AirPods.

According to the report, the new tier, which will offer high-fidelity music streaming, will cost the same $9.99 monthly subscription as the current individual tier. Spotify, Apple Music's most fierce competitor, has announced that later in 2021, Spotify users will be able to "upgrade their sound quality to Spotify HiFi and listen to their favorite songs the way artists intended."

The report says that an announcement of the new Apple Musc tier and the launch of the third-generation AirPods will take place in the "coming weeks." Apple plans to hold its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, and while no hardware was announced at the conference last year, hardware announcements are possible at the software-focused event.

The third-generation AirPods are expected to feature a design that's similar to the design language of the AirPods Pro but lack certain "Pro" features such as Active Noise Cancelation. If the rumor is to be accurate, the new AirPods release comes on the backdrop of a report signaling that Apple is cutting back on AirPods production due to decreasing sales.

Article Link: Rumor: Apple to Announce Third-Generation AirPods and HiFi Apple Music Tier in 'Coming Weeks'

 

[Dandoodle]

Sounds good, especially if it’s a free upgrade. Expected apple to roll it into Apple one!

 

[vagos]

Amazing news. I was waiting for this. I hope it'll be FLAC quality.

 

[DeadeyeM]

Hi-Fi with AAC?

 

[muasachi]

I'm excited for this, even though I'm not so sure if my Airpods Pro and Airpods Max will ever benefit from this upgrade at all.

 

[ipedro]

I thought I read Apple is announcing the iPod HiFi… say what now?

 

[AJTC]

I hope they let us upload ALAC files to iCloud Music too.

 

[Nimoy]

So they discontinue the Hi-Fi HomePod just before introducing Hi-Fi music streaming? ?

 

[kerr]

What would you think is an upper bound for "coming weeks"?

 

[vagos]

What would you think is an upper bound for "coming weeks"?

I think they'll announce at WWDC.

 

[alayal]

Hopefully they are airtags compatible

 

[Polly Mercocet]

Not surprised at all they're doing a lossless Apple Music tier, in fact surprised they didn't beat Spotify to it. Clearly that's the future of streaming now we're no longer restrained by small storage and slow internet. No need for lossy audio anymore. And yes you can definitely tell the difference if you have good quality equipment to listen through. You can even do it through bluetooth with LDAC. I'm sure Apple will launch their own proprietary solution.

 

[Caliber26]

is HiFi something only audiophiles will be able to appreciate or is this something that everyone can easily notice?

 

[Polly Mercocet]

is HiFi something only audiophiles will be able to appreciate or is this something that everyone can easily notice?

Depends on the quality of your source and output. Recent Macs have very good audio output hardware and if you have good headphones or speakers you will notice a difference.

 

[Angler]

is HiFi something only audiophiles will be able to appreciate or is this something that everyone can easily notice?

Depends on your equipment

 

[jayducharme]

Interesting that they're keeping the "HiFi" subscription the same price. Why would anyone then choose lower quality audio when subscribing? Apple should just make HiFi their default across all subscriptions.

 

[Hergesheimer]

If it will be lossless I am all in. If not I’ll stay with Qobuz.

 

[bobmans]

Would be great if it’s available in the base 9.99 subscription, would really set a new default for the streaming industry. I wouldn’t be surprised because Apple did the same with ATV+, highest video quality/bitrate available to everyone at the base subscription price.
I don’t really understand why Spotify/Tidal/Amazon put the higher quality audio behind a paywall, bandwidth costs are negligible these days.

 

[0924487]

Interesting that they're keeping the "HiFi" subscription the same price. Why would anyone then choose lower quality audio when subscribing? Apple should just make HiFi their default across all subscriptions.

Maybe it will only work with "compatible AirPods"...

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Interesting that they're keeping the "HiFi" subscription the same price. Why would anyone then choose lower quality audio when subscribing? Apple should just make HiFi their default across all subscriptions.

Data/storage space I assume. maybe it won’t be a choice of what you subscribe to but how files are stored, or streamed when you’re on wifi vs 5G.

 

[fredrik9]

Not surprised at all they're doing a lossless Apple Music tier, in fact surprised they didn't beat Spotify to it. Clearly that's the future of streaming now we're no longer restrained by small storage and slow internet. No need for lossy audio anymore. And yes you can definitely tell the difference if you have good quality equipment to listen through. You can even do it through bluetooth with LDAC. I'm sure Apple will launch their own proprietary solution.

They might beat Spotify to it if they roll it out immediately after the announcement. Spotify has only announced it so far, they haven't actually put it in customers ears yet.

 

[Polly Mercocet]

They might beat Spotify to it if they roll it out immediately after the announcement. Spotify has only announced it so far, they haven't actually put it in customers ears yet.

Very good point!

Hopefully it does drop soon so I can drop my Tidal subscription. Currently I'm using two different streaming services just so I can get lossless. But I prefer Apple Music for UX.

 

[Danie10]

I'd love to buy another set of AirPods but not until we can swap the battery out. My last pair starting dying about 3 months after the warranty expired. I'm not spending that much on an item that gets disposed of in such a short period. My Macbook is still running after 7 years as will my iPhone.

 

[bobmans]

They might beat Spotify to it if they roll it out immediately after the announcement. Spotify has only announced it so far, they haven't actually put it in customers ears yet.

If they're not going to put it behind a paywall but include it in the base 9.99 subscription then they're beating Spotify either way imo

 

[bobmans]

I'd love to buy another set of AirPods but not until we can swap the battery out. My last pair starting dying about 3 months after the warranty expired. I'm not spending that much on an item that gets disposed of in such a short period. My Macbook is still running after 7 years as will my iPhone.

You should try bringing them in! I had my original airpods replaced even though they were out of warranty