Spotify is still the biggest name in music streaming by sheer reach — the company reported 713 million monthly active users in its most recent quarterly results. But for years, “premium” listeners have argued that Apple Music delivered the better product experience, thanks to higher-quality audio options and a long-standing library of music videos.
Now Spotify is closing two of those gaps in a meaningful way: lossless audio and music videos.
Spotify starts rolling out Lossless audio
On Sept. 10, 2025, Spotify began rolling out Lossless to Premium subscribers in supported markets, part of a phased launch rather than a one-day switch for everyone.
“The wait is finally over; we’re so excited lossless sound is rolling out to Premium subscribers,” Spotify VP of Subscriptions Gustav Gyllenhammar said in the company’s announcement. “We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritizes quality, ease of use, and clarity at every step…”
Spotify says Lossless can stream music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, bringing more detail and dynamic range than typical compressed streams — especially for listeners using wired headphones, DACs, or compatible speakers.
One important caveat: “lossless” isn’t guaranteed in every setup. Bluetooth playback can limit what you actually hear depending on your device and codec support, so the biggest benefits tend to show up on higher-quality wired or compatible home audio gear.
Music videos arrive for Premium users in the U.S. and Canada
Spotify is also tackling another long-time Apple Music advantage: full music videos.
In a Dec. 9, 2025 announcement, Spotify said music videos (in beta) are rolling out to Premium users in the U.S. and Canada, with broader availability expected by the end of the month.
Spotify framed the move as a way to deepen fan engagement:
“For decades, music videos have done more than just accompany a song; they’ve shaped style, started conversations, and helped us fall in love with our favorite artists…”
The company noted it previously tested music videos in beta in nearly 100 markets, and cited internal findings and third-party survey work suggesting users want more video options inside the app.
What this means for the Apple Music rivalry
Spotify’s size advantage is easy to measure because it publishes subscriber and usage numbers. Apple Music is tougher to compare directly, since Apple doesn’t consistently disclose comparable user figures in the same way.
Where Apple has held a clearer edge is the “premium features” checklist — particularly lossless audio tiers and music video support built into the Apple Music experience.
With Lossless now rolling out and music videos expanding in beta, Spotify is making a stronger case to users who care about sound quality and artist visuals — without giving up the platform’s familiar strengths, like discovery tools, personalized playlists, Spotify Wrapped, and features like AI DJ.
If Spotify keeps pushing upgrades like these while keeping its interface and recommendations sharp, the Apple Music comparison will get a lot less one-sided.