Apple enables Lossless and Spatial Audio on HomePod 15 with beta 5

Apple has enabled support for Lossless and Spatial Audio in HomePod 15 beta 5 update. Lossless Audio works on both HomePod and HomePod mini models, while Dolby Atmos only works on the original HomePod, that has now been discontinued.

Once you update your HomePod to the latest beta 5 update, you will be able to go to the Home app in iOS, and enable the toggles for Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos. These features are still in beta so it is possible that they might exhibit unexpected issues.

HomePod 15 beta 5 brings support for Lossless and Spatial Audio on HomePod

If you are already part of the beta program and enable support for Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos on your HomePod, you will be able to ask it to play high-quality audio from your Apple Music Library. If you have paired your original HomePod to your Apple TV 4K, you will also be able to output Dolby Atmos audio. Of course, the content has to support this format, whether audio or video, for you to be able to notice the difference. HomePod mini does not support this feature though.

Apple Music gained support for Lossless and Spatial Audio a few months ago for free, allowing all users to experience higher quality audio. Although high-resolution lossless audio requires an external DAC and expensive headphones, even users with AirPods Pro have been able to notice considerable improvements in audio quality. Spatial Audio works only with AirPods or other Beats headphones with W1 and H1 chips. HomePod users will officially receive support this fall when HomePod 15 update is released.