Apple Music has announced all subscribers will have access to spatial audio tracks with Dolby Atmos as well as lossless audio versions of 75 million songs from next month.
Dolby Atmos is an immersive surround format that allows musicians to mix music so it sounds like it's coming from all around the listener, while lossless audio files preserve more sound quality than the compressed or 'lossy' files currently offered by the service.
Apple's lossless option follows rival Spotify announcing a similar 'HiFi' offering earlier this year, while specialist music streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal also offer lossless audio.
Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, and composer Giles Martin, the son of legendary Beatles producer George, says listening to Dolby Atmos enhanced music is a unique experience.
"We can take the music lover inside the music," he said.
"From the feeling of hearing your favourite artist in the same room as you, to the experience of sitting directly in the middle of a symphony orchestra, the listening experience is transformative and the possibilities for the creator are endless. This is a quantum leap in technology."
Dolby Atmos music will play automatically for songs available in the format when listened to with compatible Apple or Beats headphones, while users of other phones will be able to turn it on in their settings.
Users keen on lossless audio will be able to choose different resolutions for different connections such as cellular, Wi-Fi or download in the settings of the Apple Music app. The lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz, and goes up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.
The new formats of audio are enabled using Apple's own ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) and will all be available at no extra cost for existing subscribers.
Meanwhile, Apple has also announced the availability of two new Pride bands for the Apple Watch to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
The Pride edition braided solo loop weaves together the original rainbow colours with those drawn from various Pride flags to represent the breadth of diversity among LGBTQ+ experiences and the history of the movement.
A Pride edition Nike sports loop is also available for those who need a more endurable band for exercising.
