Spotify HiFi leaks resurface, sparking new sense of optimism

Spotify has been waiting to upgrade to lossless music for a while, but the update has not arrived yet. Spotify HiFi was announced in September 2021 to launch a new lossless streaming tier by the end of 2021, but it is still not available. Rumors suggested a rebrand to a $20-a-month “Supremium” plan, but that hasn’t happened either. Despite the delays, Spotify HiFi is still being seen in UI leaks, showing that the feature is still in development.

Images shared by Redditor OhItsTom show dialog prompts and system settings related to Spotify HiFi, hinting at the feature’s progress. Although the HiFi feature is not yet live, some UI elements are being revealed.

Screenshots from Spotify on desktop reveal a compatibility checker for lossless music, advising users on device, connection, and bandwidth compatibility. It also mentions the quality of up to 1,411kbps for Lossless, significantly higher than the Very High setting of 320kbps, and could go up to 2,117kbps. Spotify also notes that some songs support 24-bit lossless through the FLAC audio format.

Additional screenshots on the mobile app introduce the ability to stream wirelessly in “up to 24-bit” on compatible devices via Spotify Connect, with a “Lossless” label indicating lossless music streaming.

Based on the presentation in the screenshots, the feature might undergo a rebranding to “Lossless” and be part of the Supremium plan, while the HiFi branding could be retired. The launch date for consumers remains unknown, but these leaks offer hope to those anticipating the feature’s arrival.

It’s uncertain when Spotify will launch HiFi/Supremium/Lossless, but these leaks revive optimism among supporters. Speculation suggests a possible launch at the HIGH END Munich 2024 trade show, though nothing is confirmed yet.

For those passionate about lossless music, alternative sources might be the current option while awaiting Spotify’s new feature.