Apple will be launching a new app called “Apple Music Classical” specifically for classical music enthusiasts. The app will be available worldwide and will coexist alongside the existing Apple Music app for iOS and Android. Apple has confirmed that users will not need to purchase a separate subscription to use the new platform. The app will be initially available for iPhone users and will support up to 192 kHz/24-bit Hi-Res Lossless audio quality, providing a high-end listening experience for users with AirPods.
According to its App Store listing, the app will work on iPhone 6 and above and support six languages, including English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Users need to ensure they are using iOS version 15.4 or later to use the app.
Apple has stated that the app is designed to help beginners get acquainted with classical music through its Essentials playlists, insightful composer biographies, and deep-dive guides. The app will have over five million tracks in its initial stage, which is comparatively less than Apple Music’s 100 million songs. The app will not work with the Apple Music Voice Plan yet. However, users in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan will not be able to access Apple Music Classical.
According to a statement by Apple, “Apple Music Classical makes it quick and easy to find any recording in the world’s largest classical music catalogue with fully optimized search, and listeners can enjoy the highest audio quality available, and experience many classical favourites in a whole new way with immersive spatial audio.”
The app is now available for pre-order and is scheduled to launch on March 28th. It will be accessible to Apple Music subscribers who are on an individual, student, family or Apple One plan, without any additional charges. However, it will not be included in the $5 per month Voice plan.