Let's start with the music.
Speaking of Apple Music, it is noted that it supported "high resolution", "lossless" and "spatial audio by Dolby Atmos" in June.
People using Apple products can respond immediately (although a contract is required), but other devices have been slow to respond.
Finally, on July 21st, the Android version of the "Apple Music app" supports "Hi-Res", "Lossless", and "Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos", making it possible for non-Apple product users to enjoy it. rice field.
With the app update, you can now enjoy Apple Music's "Hi-Res", "Lossless", and "Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos" on Android. The usability is the same as the iOS version. Since June, there have been differences in support for "high resolution", "lossless", and "spatial audio with Dolby Atmos", but this time it will also catch up.
Of these, "Hi-Res" and "Lossless" are simple. As with the iOS/iPadOS version, all you have to do is decide what amount of data you want to listen to.
For "High Resolution" and "Lossless", you can select which data to use when listening in the app settings. This is the same as iOSWhen listening with Bluetooth, I felt that Android was actually more advantageous. This test was mainly conducted with Sony's "WH-1000XM4" and "WF-1000XM4". Of course, it sounds different compared to listening with a wired cable + DAC, and some people may feel that the difference from listening with AAC is small. However, including the psychological impact, the existence of codecs such as LDAC and aptX HD is a plus, and I think it is one of the advantages of using Apple Music on Android.
In the case of high-resolution lossless, it is recommended to listen with an external DAC.What about spatial audio?
In order to play Dolby Atmos compatible music, the smartphone must be compatible with Dolby Atmos. Even if you install the Apple Music app on a non-compatible smartphone, you cannot play it.
For example, in the case of the smartphone I have, Sony Mobile's "Xperia 1 II" supports Dolby Atmos, so it can play Apple Music's spatial audio, but Google's "Pixel 4a (5G)" supports Dolby Atmos. Perhaps because it is not supported, not only can spatial audio not be played, but it does not appear in the settings either.
For Xperia 1 II. Since it supports Dolby Atmos, in the case of Pixel 4a (5G), Apple Music also has "Dolby Atmos" setting. Since it does not support Dolby Atmos, the setting items do not appear.For spatial audio on iOS/iPadOS, it is basic to use headphones that are guaranteed to support spatial audio by Apple products such as AirPods Pro. If not, you can listen to it by setting Dolby Atmos to "always on", but you will be warned that "not all speakers are supported". Android doesn't identify headphones, so you'll always get a warning that "not all speakers are supported" when you turn them on.
On Android, when Dolby Atmos is turned on, the message "Not all speakers are supported" appears. Compared to spatial audio support between products, spatial audio on Android seems to have a little less three-dimensional effect and spatial spread. However, this may differ from person to person.In other words, you can think that "Android is advantageous in high resolution, but iPhone is advantageous in spatial audio".