Spotify may finally be on the verge of launching its long-promised high-fidelity (HiFi) streaming tier, nearly four years after it was first announced.
Originally revealed in 2021, the feature never materialised, leaving users frustrated while rival platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music rolled out lossless audio at no extra cost.
Now, fresh details from recent Spotify app builds suggest the HiFi update could arrive soon, with indicators pointing to a late 2025 release.
Developers have uncovered hidden code within Spotify’s mobile and desktop applications mentioning “lossless” audio and a “Music Pro” add-on.
This feature appears set to deliver 24-bit 44.1kHz CD-quality audio, which sounds (no pun intended) like a step up from the 16-bit streaming Spotify initially teased.
References in the code suggest that the feature will not be part of the standard Premium plan but will instead come as an optional paid add-on.
Users could expect to pay around five to six dollars more per month, bringing the total subscription to about seventeen or eighteen dollars, depending on the market.
Alongside the lossless feature, Spotify is also working on advanced capabilities tailored for audiophiles. These include an equaliser optimiser designed for high-end headphones, potentially providing improved sound profiles for specific devices.
There are also mentions of spatial audio features, although it’s unclear if these will include support for Dolby Atmos or remain proprietary.
Despite these upgrades, Spotify’s offering may still fall short of what competitors already provide. Apple Music and Amazon Music offer up to 24-bit 192kHz streaming at no additional cost, while Tidal’s HiFi Plus plan includes even higher resolution and Dolby Atmos.
That puts pressure on Spotify to justify the extra cost of its upcoming tier, even with the added features and potential integration with Spotify Connect for seamless playback across devices.
The delay in launching HiFi has been attributed to licensing hurdles and internal product strategy shifts. However, recent deals between Spotify and major labels such as Universal Music Group and Warner Music may have cleared the final obstacles.
With backend support appearing in live app versions and UI elements being tested behind the scenes, the long-awaited feature looks closer than ever.
