Apple has faced criticism for its closed ecosystem approach with iPhone users, but when it comes to its services, the company is more inclusive towards Android users. Apple Music is a prime example of this, as it was the first mainstream Apple app to be available on the Google Play Store back in 2015. The Android version of Apple Music has seen significant improvements over the years, with features like storing music on SD cards, a five-band equalizer, and crossfade support.
Despite Android being a secondary platform for Apple Music, the company strives to maintain feature parity across all devices. New features introduced in iOS 26 are also being made available on the Android app through a beta release on the Google Play Store. These features include the ability to pin music to your library, lyrics translation, pronunciation, and access to Apple Music Replay.
However, not all iOS 26 features will be available on the Android version, such as the AI-powered AutoMix feature. Despite this, Android users have enjoyed certain features like smooth crossfades earlier than iPhone users. The Android app also offers an automatic crossfade setting that adjusts based on the music being played, giving it an edge over the fixed-length setting on the iPhone.
