Netflix is reportedly working on a new feature that will primarily benefit Apple users with certain AirPods.
According to BGR, French-language site iPhoneSoft “claims it has learned from a US-based Netflix employee that the streaming company is currently testing spatial audio support. The feature will reportedly launch this spring with a small catalog of titles after tests are completed.”
Special audio is a type of surround sound that is specifically designed for headphones and earbuds. Unlike similar technologies, however, Apple’s implementation takes into account the movement of the user’s head — thanks to accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max — as well as the movement of their iPhone or iPad. As a result, the sound is always in relation to the screen, giving a truer surround sound experience.
Currently, the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are the only ones that support spacial audio. If iPhoneSoft’s claims are true, Netflix’s new feature could be one of the best showcases of the technology.