Spotify HiFi: What We Know So Far

Spotify HiFi has been in the works for two years now, and while it may seem like it’s never going to happen, the streaming service has confirmed that it’s still working on the high-res audio tier. In an interview with TheVerge’s podcast, Decoder, Spotify co-president Gustav Söderström confirmed the existence of HiFi, but didn’t give any specific details on its launch date or support for spatial audio.

Why the Delay?

According to Söderström, the reason for the delay is that the “industry changed and [Spotify] had to adapt.” He also hinted at the cost of HiFi and deals with music labels as being two major factors to the delay. However, he did mention that Spotify wants to do something “unique” with HiFi and not “unnecessarily commoditize” itself by “[doing] what everyone else does.”

Chasing Trends

While Spotify may be taking its time with HiFi, the company has been busy rolling out new features and updates. From a redesign for its mobile app inspired by TikTok to incorporating tech from OpenAI in its new DJ feature, Spotify is constantly evolving. However, some users may be wondering if these additions are really necessary. After all, Spotify’s podcast content has grown exponentially, and the audiobook feed now has a new preview feature where users can listen to a book for five minutes before purchasing. All this and still no high-res audio, at least any time soon.

Conclusion

While we don’t have a launch date for Spotify HiFi just yet, it’s clear that the streaming service is taking its time to ensure that it’s something unique and worth the wait. In the meantime, if you’re looking for high-res audio, be sure to check out our guide on how to buy into high-res audio without the high prices.