New Apple HomePod update finally brings lossless audio to the smart speaker

But you’ll still have to wait a little longer to try it

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

You can finally gethi-res audioon yourApple HomePodorHomePod mini– as long as you’re a member of the invite-only AppleSeed program, that is.

According to9to5Mac, the latest beta version of the HomePod 15 software brings support forApple’s Lossless Audio to thesmart speaker, a feature that is expected to come to the public soon.

The introduction of Lossless Audio hasn’t been without issues, though. 9to5Mac says that the first beta version of the software came with hi-res audio support, but it didn’t work, and was removed completely in the second version.

However, with the release of the third HomePod 15 beta, the option to listen in Lossless Audio with Apple Music is back.

According to Apple, Lossless Audio means that subscribers to the streaming platform will “be able to hear the exact same thing that artists created in the studio”.

It starts at CD quality (16 bit / 44.1kHz), and goes up to 24 but / 48 kHz, – and, for audiophiles, there’s Hi-Resolution Lossless, which goes all the way up to 24 bit / 192kHz and should give you lots more clarity and detail from your music.

Should I upgrade my HomePod now?

Unless you’re part of the official AppleSeed program, we wouldn’t recommend updating your HomePod now.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

While the software can be found via a quickGooglesearch, a previous beta versioncaused a host of problems for users, with some finding that theirwireless speakeroverheated and powered off, while others reported issues with Siri being unable to pause music using voice commands.

In general, it’s a good idea to avoid downloading software betas to your primary devices, just in case something goes wrong – though publics betas likeiOS 15are usually fine, and can give you an exciting glimpse of what’s coming next to your device.

Olivia was previously TechRadar’s Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she’s a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She’s previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.

Ignore the Nintendo Alarmo hype, I recommend this Echo Spot Prime Day deal instead

You can now get an Echo Pop themed to your favorite NFL team

I’ve used Genmoji and now I’m convinced Apple Intelligence will be a huge success