Apple Music Classical is to launch on 28th March 2023 as a separate app which can be pre-ordered from the Apple app store here. Apple bought classical music streamer Primephonic in Autumn 2021 promising that it would launch a revamped service in 2022. The new service will be a free addition to any paid subscription (Individual, Student, Family, or Apple One) but will not be included in the Apple Music Voice Plan. On launch it will only be available on iPhone models running iOS 15.4 or later and it would appear that there won’t be an iPAD app. An Android version is expected in due course.
Apple has taken the best features from Primephonic and given it an Apple Music makeover. They are claiming that it contains the world’s largest classical music catalogue (over 5 million tracks) with a dedicated search function to allow searches by composer, work, conductor, or even catalogue number. Also, while you listen you can find thousands of composer biographies and descriptions of key works on the app.
High quality audio is also supported (up to 192kHz/24-bit HiRes Lossless) and there are also thousands of recordings in immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. AirPlay is supported to allow streaming to compatible devices.
Availability is worldwide where Apple Music is offered with the following exceptions – China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
