Image: Spotify
After over three years of anticipation, Spotify's promised high-quality audio tier, HiFi, is finally taking shape. Initially touted as a standalone premium service, it's now evolving into a deluxe add-on to the existing Premium subscription. This strategic shift comes as Spotify attempts to catch up with competitors like Apple Music and Amazon Music, who have already offered lossless audio as a standard feature.
CEO Daniel Ek confirmed the development during Spotify's earnings call, describing the upcoming tier as "a deluxe version of Spotify that has all of the benefits that the normal Spotify version has, but a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board." It's expected to cost around US$17-US$18 per month, offering lossless audio, enhanced library management, AI-powered playlists, headphone optimization, and other unspecified features.
While the delay has been frustrating for audiophiles, Spotify's decision to bundle HiFi with additional perks could prove to be a winning strategy. By targeting a specific subset of its user base—dedicated music lovers seeking a more advanced experience—the company hopes to justify the premium price point.
With a potential launch later this year, the wait for Spotify HiFi is almost over. The question now is whether the promised features and the additional cost will be enough to entice subscribers.