iPhone, iPad & HomePod to soon support lossless audio on Apple Music

By Mateen Dalal

One of the leading software giants, Apple, has recently made it to the front page following a detailed information of its upcoming lossless audio support on Apple Music.

For the record, lossless audio is a way of compressing music cutting down the file sizes while ensuring no data loss. For this, the company is making use of its Apple Lossless Audio Codec.

Among the devices that would support the feature include iPad and iPhone models that are operating the upcoming iOS 14.6 update as well as Macs running the macOS 11.4 update.

These devices would apparently support playback lossless audio at up to 24-bit, 48kHz, however, the higher resolution files are likely to call in for external DAC. In line with these, the Apple TV 4K models would also have an option to enable lossless playback with tvOS 11.4 update.

Importantly, next up are the now discontinued new HomePod mini and HomePod. Both these devices are expected to have the ability to playback lossless audio in future updates.

However, the article released by the company recently, does not clarify the working of lossless audio on Android and Windows devices. Although rumors have been raised that the feature wouldn’t be available on those platforms, which is less likely to happen.

Earlier this week, Apple declared that it would be offering its comprehensive library of 75 million songs on Apple Music in lossless.

Apart from providing lossless audio in the standard ‘Red Book’ format of 44.1kHz, 16-bit, the tech giant is also estimated to delivering it for upto 192 kHz, 24-bit. Regarded as HR Audio, these increased sampling rates require much bigger and sturdier DAC.

Not to mention, Apple, Inc., is also currently offering AAC 16-earliest 44.1 kHz and would soon optionally launch ALAC 16-bit, 44.1 kHz to 24-bit, 192kHz.

Source Credit: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_clarifies_lossless_audio_on_apple_music_assures_its_coming_to_the_homepod-news-49261.php