Spotify HiFi is nearly here, this leak suggests

Screenshots of the Spotify Blend feature on mobile
(Image credit: Spotify)

The long wait for Spotify's HiFi tier could be nearly over. Leaked screenshots on Reddit (via Android Authority) show the option of supporting lossless audio, suggesting the feature is nearly ready to roll out.

It also shows a compatibility checker, so you can see whether your device can support the requisite bit rate, along with your connection and bandwidth. Lossless support is shown up to 1411kbps (although 2117kpbs is also mentioned) and 24-bits on limited tracks in the FLAC format. That's quite a jump from the 320kbps currently available. 

Leaked screenshots of Spotify's lossless support

(Image credit: Reddit)

The screenshots include a lot of advisory information for listeners, including about listening in lossless offline and that listening to it over Bluetooth will degrade the sound quality.

There are also screenshots from the mobile app, which make more mention of the Spotify Connect feature (which lets you play direct from a compatible device rather than routing it via your phone).

Spotify officially announced the HiFi tier in 2021, but it first surfaced as long ago as 2017. Since then we've seen numerous leaks and rumours, while the competition launched their equivalent tiers without much fanfare. To make it worth the wait, Spotify is going to have to do something pretty special.

MORE:

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The full story: an excruciating timeline of our wait for Spotify HiFi

How to cancel Spotify Premium – and should you?

Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

  • manicm
    I'll believe it when I see it.
    Reply
  • Friesiansam
    "Leaked screenshots on Reddit"

    Reddit, the last bastion of truth and honesty, I think not...
    Reply
  • Neiljbp
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    Leaked screenshots show support for lossless audio. Does this mean the new tier is finally ready?

    Spotify HiFi is nearly here, this leak suggests : Read more
    One minute, hifi writers want this to appear and can't wait for it to be so, and the next, when it seems it may do so, they cannot simply be happy, they suggest that if it is to appear, it suddenly needs to be really special as well. Simply appearing is no longer enough. Mmmm.
    Reply
  • jimmyvail
    Honestly Spotify has lost all credibility regarding offering lossless audio .
    It would not surprise me if it never shows once again this year.
    What a pathetic company.
    Reply
  • daveh75
    jimmyvail said:
    Honestly Spotify has lost all credibility regarding offering lossless audio .
    It would not surprise me if it never shows once again this year.
    What a pathetic company.

    Spotify is still the biggest music streaming platform, so outside of neurotic audiophiles the lack of lossless and hi-res is clearly a non issue to most
    Reply
  • jimmyvail
    daveh75 said:
    Spotify is still the biggest music streaming platform, so outside of neurotic audiophiles the lack of lossless and hi-res is clearly a non issue to most
    Keep listening to that terrible audio quality. Awful sound. Even non audiophiles know its crap sound.
    Reply
  • daveh75
    jimmyvail said:
    Even non audiophiles know its crap sound.

    It's 615 million active users clearly don't share your view....
    Reply
  • Crabbydude
    I have a Spotify account, and port playlists to Qobuz. If I can utilize the AI and usability of Spotify and get quality audio, I’ll save ( or not, pricing tbd) a second account and yet another app. Cheers to that if it happens.
    Reply
  • Winter
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    Leaked screenshots show support for lossless audio. Does this mean the new tier is finally ready?

    Spotify HiFi is nearly here, this leak suggests : Read more
    Give over !!
    Reply
  • lovlid
    daveh75 said:
    It's 615 million active users clearly don't share your view....
    Stop being a fanboy. While still a high number, only 230 million of those users are paying for premium. So nearly 400 million of those users clearly don’t care about sound quality.
    Reply