An official Apple app on your Android device? Yes, it's true. With Apple Music for Android, Cupertino's first real Android app, Apple crossed the enemy lines and opened up its music streaming service to Google partisans. Recently emerged from a lengthy beta, Apple Music boasts a new homescreen widget and an equalizer, but some flaws I noted in the beta have carried over, too. Furthermore, without the support of the Apple ecosystem, Apple Music is less appealing on Android than it is on Apple's mobile devices. While it's not the best streaming music service, Apple Music is enjoyable, and recent price drops for college students make it more appealing to that core (and frequently cash-strapped) audience.
For an in-depth analysis of Apple Music's features, such as its curated playlists, exclusive radio stations, and Connect social network, check out our full review of Apple Music for iPhone. Here, we'll discuss the features specific to the Android app.
On iPhones and iPads with iOS 9 installed, Apple Music replaces the My Music app, but on Android it's a separate download. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month for individual listeners, while six-person family plans cost a very reasonable $14.99 per month.
As of August 2016, college students receive an even sweeter deal. Knowledge-seekers enrolled in an eligible college or university can get Apple Music for just $4.99 per month. Students can take advantage of the discount for up to four years. Spotify, an Editors' Choice for Android streaming music services, and Tidal offer similar student deals.
Although Apple Music has a very generous 90-day free trial period, the service doesn't offer a free basic plan for people who'd rather not open their wallets. On the other hand, Slacker Radio, another Editors' Choice award-winning Android music service, boasts a truly free option, as well as a $3.99 per month plan. Slacker has lots of flexibility in regards to how you pay (or not pay!) for its service.
Remix
We tested the service on a Google Nexus 6 smartphone and discovered that the Apple Music experience on Android is largely the same as the iOS version. There's a robust music catalog and a handful of music videos to explore. In fact, the experience hasn't changed much since the beta, except for the new equalizer, home-screen widget, and under-the-hood fixes. The equalizer is the most interesting of the three additions, as it lets you adjust Apple Music's audio output. You can tinker with various sliders to create a custom sound, or choose one of 10 presets. It sounds pretty good.
Apple Music for Android also can't leverage the Apple ecosystem the way it can on iOS. Obviously, there's no Siri or Apple Watch support. Unlike most iPhone owners, Android users won't already have a preexisting library of iTunes songs on their devices for Apple Music to complement. On the plus side, you can download tracks for offline listening for those times when you can't connect to a wireless signal.
Play It Again
Apple Music for iPhone has minor issues, but it's a fine and convenient built-in service for discovering new iTunes songs and listening to the ones you already have. But the download is a tougher sell on Android. While it features most of the same selling points, those that are missing make the weaknesses that much worse. If you want to subscribe to the best Android music streaming services, stick with Spotify and Slacker Radio, our current Editors' Choices for Android streaming music apps.
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