Apple Music expands Spatial Audio catalog. Dolby Atmos included at no extra cost on more devices
Since 2021, Apple Music has offered Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at no additional charge, with the catalog of immersive tracks steadily expanding. The feature is available on Apple devices, selected AirPods and Beats headphones, and via the Apple Music app on Windows and Android where hardware requirements are met.
In May 2021, Apple announced the rollout of Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music as part of the standard subscription, without raising the monthly price. At launch, the company promised “thousands of tracks” in the new format and outlined plans to grow the catalog with both new releases and curated catalogue titles. Spatial Audio has since been positioned as a core audio feature of Apple Music, with Dolby Atmos tracks clearly labeled within the app interface.
From a technical standpoint, Spatial Audio playback is supported across a wide range of Apple hardware. Compatible devices include iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro and HomePod speakers, along with AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, newer generations of AirPods and selected Beats models such as Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Pro and Beats Solo 4. Apple also offers a Personalized Spatial Audio mode that can be configured in system settings for supported headphones.
Since 2025, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos has been available in the Apple Music app on Windows. This requires the latest app version, a compatible Windows system and Dolby Atmos configuration via software like Dolby Access. On Android devices, Dolby Atmos playback is possible when both the smartphone and connected headphones support the format and the user has an active Apple Music subscription.
For creators, Apple’s royalty policy is another key factor behind the growth of Spatial Audio. Independent analyses based on 2024 and 2025 data suggest that Apple pays up to around 10% higher per‑stream rates for plays of Dolby Atmos tracks compared with standard stereo versions, resulting in higher revenue for artists, producers and labels at similar stream counts. Combined with a growing catalog and dedicated Spatial Audio playlists, the format is becoming one of the key distribution standards within the Apple Music ecosystem.