Apple Music Gains Ground with iOS 26 Updates, But Spotify Still Leads
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Apple’s iOS 26, released in September, brings a suite of new features to iPhone users, with notable enhancements focused on Apple Music. While the streaming service has grown to 94 million paid subscribers as of June 2024, according to Statista, it still trails Spotify’s 276 million. The latest updates aim to narrow that gap, introducing features like lyric translation, pronunciation guides, and improved playlist organization.
The core question is whether these additions are enough to entice users to switch from, or at least consider, Apple Music. Initial testing suggests a mixed bag, with some features showing promise while others feel underdeveloped.
AutoMix: A Hit-or-Miss Transition
One of the headline features is AutoMix, an upgraded crossfade designed to seamlessly blend songs. The technology attempts to time-stretch and match beats for smoother transitions. However, a recent evaluation revealed that its success is highly dependent on the music selection.
“When I noticed AutoMix working, I didn’t like it because the songs didn’t work together in most instances,” one reviewer noted. The example of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” transitioning into Marshmallow and Bastille’s “Happier” illustrates this point, highlighting an awkward pairing. While AutoMix performed better with pop and rap, even those mixes weren’t always seamless, sometimes creating a warped or unnatural sound. It largely functioned as a traditional crossfade with rock and alternative tracks.
Users who dislike the feature can easily disable it by navigating to Apple Music settings, selecting the song, tapping the three-dot menu, and toggling off the AutoMix symbol (resembling a Venn diagram).
Breaking Down Language Barriers: Lyric Translation & Pronunciation
Perhaps the most compelling additions are the lyric translation and pronunciation features. iOS 26 allows Apple Music to translate song lyrics and provide phonetic guides for pronunciation, a boon for fans of international artists. This is particularly useful for genres like K-pop, where understanding the lyrics can be challenging for non-native speakers.
To access these features, users simply select a song, tap the lyrics display, and then tap the symbol with two speech bubbles. The options to “Show Pronunciation” and “Show Translation” will then appear.
Currently, translations are available from English to Chinese (Simplified), English to Japanese, Korean to Chinese (Simplified), Korean to English, Korean to Japanese, and Spanish to English. Pronunciation guides cover Japanese to Romanized, Korean to Romanized, Korean to Katakana, Cantonese to Jyutping, Chinese (Simplified) to Pinyin, Chinese (Traditional) to Pinyin, Hindi to Romanized, and Punjabi to Romanized.
However, these features aren’t universally available. Some songs, like certain tracks by Babymetal, are currently excluded, leaving fans wanting to understand the full meaning behind their favorite music.
Enhanced Organization & Aesthetics
Beyond the core listening experience, iOS 26 introduces several quality-of-life improvements. Users can now pin playlists, albums, and artists to the top of their library for quick access. Playlist folders, previously available on the Mac version of Apple Music, are now available on iPhone, allowing for better organization.
Additionally, some album artwork now animates on the lock screen, adding a visual flair to the music experience. New home screen widgets have also been added, including options for pinned music and Live Radio.
Is It Enough to Compete with Spotify?
While the new features are a step in the right direction, the question remains: will they be enough to sway users from Spotify? The lyric translation and pronunciation features are arguably the most unique and potentially impactful additions.
“The new translation and pronunciation features are unique and I’m very interested in how Apple will build on them,” one analyst commented. “Japanese metal bands are so much fun but I have no idea what bands like Esprit D’Air are singing… the pronunciation feature is an easy way to sing along without learning a new language.”
However, these features are currently limited in scope. Spotify already offers similar functionality in areas like crossfade and playlist organization. Furthermore, a recent discovery on Reddit suggests that Apple’s iOS 26 API could allow Spotify to implement animated lock screen artwork, diminishing Apple’s competitive advantage in that area.
Ultimately, Apple Music’s slightly lower price point ($11 a month compared to Spotify’s $12 a month) may be the biggest incentive for potential switchers.
For those considering an upgrade, further information on iOS 26 is available, including a review of the operating system, instructions on reducing the “Liquid Glass” effects, and a guide to enabling call and text screening on your iPhone.
