The music streaming wars are heating up, and Apple Music just fired a major shot. Apple recently unveiled a new $2.99 per month subscription tier for its music streaming service, called Apple Music Voice. This aggressively priced plan undercuts Spotify’s cheapest offering and has many music lovers wondering if it’s time to switch allegiances. But is this budget-friendly option too good to be true? Let’s dive deep into Apple Music Voice, compare it to Spotify, and help you decide if it’s the right move for your listening needs.
This new plan, launched in late 2021, is designed to attract users to Apple’s ecosystem with its incredibly low price point. While Apple Music has traditionally been priced on par with Spotify Premium at $9.99 per month, this Voice plan shakes things up. But there’s a catch – accessing your music is primarily through Siri voice commands. This means you’ll need to ask Siri to play specific songs, albums, artists, or playlists.
So, is this the Spotify killer? Not necessarily. While the price is undeniably attractive, the limitations might be a dealbreaker for some. Let’s break down the pros and cons.
Apple Music Voice: What You Get (and What You Don’t)
Here’s the gist of Apple Music Voice:
- Massive catalog: You still get access to Apple Music’s extensive library of 90 million songs, just like the standard plan.
- Voice control: This is the core of the plan. You’ll primarily interact with Apple Music using your voice and Siri.
- Curated playlists and radio stations: Apple offers a wide array of playlists and radio stations, all accessible through voice commands.
- Limited features: You miss out on features like spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, lossless audio, offline downloads, and on-screen browsing of the music catalog.
Think of Apple Music Voice as a streamlined, voice-activated version of the full Apple Music experience. It’s perfect for those who:
- Primarily listen to music at home through HomePod devices
- Are comfortable using voice commands
- Are on a tight budget
- Don’t need the bells and whistles of lossless audio or spatial audio
However, Apple Music Voice might not be the best fit if you:
- Prefer browsing and discovering music visually
- Rely on offline downloads for commuting or travel
- Want the highest quality audio experience
- Frequently use your phone to control music playback
Key takeaways:
- Price: Apple Music Voice is the clear winner here, significantly undercutting both Spotify Free and Premium.
- Audio quality: Spotify Premium offers higher quality audio streaming compared to both Apple Music Voice and Spotify Free.
- Features: Spotify Premium provides the most features, including offline downloads, on-demand playback, and spatial audio.
- Ads: Both Apple Music Voice and Spotify Premium are ad-free, while Spotify Free is ad-supported.
Here are my observations:
- Voice control is surprisingly seamless. Siri quickly understood my requests, whether I asked for a specific song, artist, or playlist.
- The curated playlists are excellent. Apple Music’s editorial team does a great job of creating diverse and engaging playlists for various moods and activities.
- The lack of on-screen browsing was a bigger hurdle than I anticipated. I often enjoy exploring new music visually, and being limited to voice commands felt restrictive.
- The absence of offline downloads was a dealbreaker for me. I rely on offline downloads for my daily commute, and Apple Music Voice simply couldn’t meet that need.
Ultimately, while I appreciated the affordability and convenience of Apple Music Voice, the limitations were too significant for my listening habits. I switched back to Spotify Premium, but I can see how this plan would be a great fit for others.
Is Apple Music Voice Right For You?
The decision to choose Apple Music Voice, Spotify Free, or Spotify Premium depends entirely on your individual needs and priorities.
Consider Apple Music Voice if:
- You’re on a tight budget and primarily listen at home.
- You’re comfortable using voice commands to control your music.
- You don’t need features like offline downloads or the highest audio quality.
Stick with Spotify Free if:
- You’re okay with ads and limited on-demand playback.
- You primarily listen to music on your mobile device.
- You don’t need offline downloads or high-quality audio.
Choose Spotify Premium if:
- You want the best possible listening experience with high-quality audio and spatial audio.
- You need offline downloads for commuting or travel.
- You prefer browsing and discovering music visually.
- You want ad-free listening and unlimited on-demand playback.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try out the different options and see which one fits your needs best. Both Apple Music and Spotify offer free trials, so you can experiment before committing to a subscription.
Beyond the Price: The Bigger Picture
Apple Music Voice is more than just a budget-friendly streaming option. It represents Apple’s broader strategy to lock users into its ecosystem. By offering a compelling entry-level price, Apple hopes to entice users to try out its services and eventually upgrade to its more expensive offerings.
This move also highlights the growing importance of voice assistants in our lives. As voice technology continues to improve, we can expect to see even more innovative ways to interact with our devices and consume content.
Whether Apple Music Voice succeeds in converting Spotify users remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the music streaming landscape is evolving rapidly, and consumers are the ultimate winners. With more choices and competitive pricing than ever before, there’s never been a better time to be a music lover.
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