Is Apple Music on Android worth it?
Apple Music is Apple’s music and video streaming service, offering access to over 90 million songs, 30,000 playlists, music videos, livestreams, and original content. The service launched in 2015 and has become one of the most popular streaming platforms, with over 90 million subscribers as of 2022.
Apple initially only offered an iOS app for Apple Music. However, recognizing the opportunity to expand their subscriber base, Apple launched an Android version in November 2015. Since then, the Apple Music app for Android has received regular updates to improve the user experience and achieve feature parity with the iOS version.
According to Apple, the Apple Music app has been downloaded over 140 million times on Android devices. While some features like handoff and Siri integration are still limited on Android, the app aims to provide a polished Apple Music experience across both platforms.
This article will provide an in-depth look at Apple Music for Android, evaluating key features like the music library, sound quality, interface, offline listening, and more. For Android users considering subscribing, this review covers everything needed to determine if Apple Music is worth it on the Android platform.
Music Library
Apple Music’s music library includes over 75 million songs, making it one of the largest catalogs among major streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music (Apple Community). The full Apple Music library is available across both iOS and Android platforms. Users have access to the same extensive song catalog of over 75 million tracks regardless of whether they are using an iPhone or Android device.
Some Android users were concerned about getting the full Apple Music experience when the service first launched on Android in 2015. However, Apple has made it a priority to provide Android users the same full library and features as iOS users. The Apple Music app for Android is now nearly identical to the iOS version in terms of music availability. Users can stream from the full Apple Music catalog and save any song to their Library for offline listening.
One limitation shared on both platforms is the cap on library size. The maximum number of songs that can be saved in a user’s personal offline library is 100,000. So Android and iOS users with extremely large personal libraries may need to selectively save music for offline listening (Apple Community).
Sound Quality
One key consideration with Apple Music on Android is the sound quality and audio bitrates. According to Apple’s support page, Apple Music streams songs at 256kbps AAC by default, with the option to enable lossless audio at up to 24-bit/48 kHz on compatible devices (1). However, lossless and high-resolution lossless streaming is not currently supported on Android.
The maximum audio bitrate on Android is 256kbps AAC, which is decent but falls short of lossless quality. Some Reddit users report finding the sound quality on Android devices like Samsung to be muffled or less sharp compared to streaming services like YouTube Music (2). So audiophiles hoping for the highest fidelity may be disappointed.
That said, 256kbps AAC is comparable to other streaming services on Android. And for casual listening on the go, many users find the sound quality fully sufficient. But those wanting true lossless will need an Apple device.
User Interface
The Apple Music app on Android features a clean, intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to find and play music. The home screen displays tabs for Listen Now, Browse, Radio, and Library, allowing quick access to different sections of the app. Inside each tab, content is clearly organized and simple to navigate. For example, the Listen Now tab surfaces personalized playlists, recent additions, and suggestions based on listening history.
The Now Playing screen provides playback controls, lyrics view, and options to add the current song to your library or playlist. The interface uses recognizable icons and follows Android design standards so the app feels right at home on the platform. While some small UI differences exist compared to the iOS version, the core user experience remains consistent. According to reviews, the Apple Music app offers a polished interface on Android that helps users discover new music.[1]
Overall, Apple Music’s clean, intuitive interface design makes it easy for Android users to find content and control playback. The app adapts well to Android without compromising Apple’s brand identity.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaLcoVtsJTJ-_9yz0Te2v0UIjRN_LED81
Offline Listening
One of the key benefits of Apple Music on Android is the ability to download songs, albums, and playlists for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection (Apple.com 2023). This makes Apple Music a great option for listening to music on the go, such as while commuting or traveling. Here’s how offline listening works on Android:
To download music for offline listening in the Apple Music app, tap the download icon next to any song, album, or playlist. Downloads will happen over Wi-Fi to avoid using cellular data. You can change this setting in the Apple Music app by going to Settings > Cellular Data and toggling it off to restrict downloads to Wi-Fi only (Viwizard.com 2023).
Downloaded content is then accessible in the Library tab in the My Music section. You can play downloaded music from this section of the app even when you don’t have an internet connection. Apple Music allows you to download up to 100,000 songs for offline listening (AndroidAuthority.com 2023).
Family Sharing
One of the benefits of Apple Music on Android is the ability to share an Apple Music subscription with family members using Family Sharing 1. This allows up to 6 family members to share the same Apple Music subscription plan, with each person getting their own personal music library and recommendations.
To setup Family Sharing, the family organizer (with the Apple Music subscription) sends an invitation to join via iMessage or email. Family members can accept the invite on their Android devices through the Apple Music app and gain access to the shared Apple Music subscription. There is no limit on the number of Android devices that can be part of a Family Sharing group.
Family Sharing makes it easy and affordable for families with different devices to still enjoy the benefits of Apple Music. It’s a useful feature that isn’t always available on other music streaming platforms.
Cross-Platform Syncing
One of the biggest advantages of Apple Music is its ability to sync your music library, playlists, favorites, and listening history across all your devices, whether iOS or Android. This cross-platform syncing allows you to seamlessly switch between an iPhone and Android phone without losing any of your Apple Music data.
When you enable Sync Library in the Apple Music settings on both your iOS and Android devices, any playlists you create or songs you add on one device will automatically be synced to any other devices signed in to your Apple Music account. According to Apple’s support article (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204926), “playlists and music you add or delete on any device will be added or deleted everywhere else too.”
Your favorites and play history will also sync across platforms. If you mark a song as a favorite on your Android device, it will show up as favorited on your iPhone as well. And if you listen to an album on your iPhone, it will register that activity in your Recently Played section on your Android device.
This seamless cross-platform syncing ensures you have access to your full Apple Music experience regardless of which device you’re using. You don’t have to rebuild playlists or re-favorite songs when switching between iOS and Android.
Cost
Apple Music offers several pricing options that are competitively priced against other top music streaming services. The Individual subscription plan costs $9.99 per month, which is the standard monthly rate among competitors like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music Unlimited. The Family plan allows up to six accounts for $14.99 per month, which comes out to about $2.50 per person. This family pricing is very affordable compared to Spotify’s $15.99 family plan. There is also a Student plan priced at $4.99 per month, and a Voice plan tied to Siri for $4.99 per month. Overall, Apple Music is priced similarly to other premium music streaming competitors, with their Family plan offering especially competitive savings.
Exclusive Content
One of the benefits of Apple Music on Android is access to exclusive content like radio shows, playlists, and early releases. Apple often premieres new albums and songs for paying Apple Music subscribers before other streaming services. For example, Drake’s album Scorpion was first released for Apple Music subscribers in June 2018 (Apple Music Support).
Apple Music also produces exclusive radio shows hosted by artists like Elton John, Nicki Minaj, and Frank Ocean. These shows provide interviews and performances not available on other platforms (Google Play). Subscribing through Android grants access to the same exclusive content as iOS users.
The availability of exclusive content can make an Apple Music subscription worthwhile for Android users who want early access and unique programming.
Conclusion
In summary, Apple Music offers some key advantages and disadvantages compared to other music streaming services when used on Android devices.
On the plus side, Apple Music provides access to an extensive music library with over 90 million songs. It delivers high quality audio with support for lossless playback. The user interface is slick and easy to navigate. There is an option for offline listening for when you don’t have an internet connection. Family sharing allows up to 6 users to share the same subscription. Your music library and preferences stay in sync across iOS and Android devices.
On the negative side, Apple Music is a bit more expensive than competitors at $9.99/month for an individual plan. Some users complain that Apple favors iOS devices and the Android app lacks certain features. Since it’s not built into the Android OS like Google Play Music, the integration is not as seamless. While the libraries are similar, some artists release exclusives on Apple Music that you can’t get on Spotify or other services.
Overall, Apple Music offers a robust service and lots of great features even when used on Android. For hardcore music fans who want extensive catalogs, high quality audio, and don’t mind paying a premium price, Apple Music is a good option worth considering.