Netflix is rolling out support for Spatial Audio on the iPhone and iPad. When playing compatible content in Netflix, Spatial Audio will be available as an option in the Control Center on devices running iOS 14 and iOS 15.
Watching Netflix content with Spatial Audio requires the AirPods Pro or the AirPods Max.
Reddit users report the new feature has begun hitting their devices, and a Netflix spokesperson confirmed to MacRumors that the rollout is underway.
The Spatial Audio feature may not be immediately available to all users, as it is still in the process of rolling out. Spatial Audio is designed to create an immersive audio experience while listening to music or watching video, by using directional filters to make the sound feel as if it’s coming from multiple directions at once.
Here’s how Apple describes the spatial audio feature for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max users:
Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking brings the movie theater experience right to your AirPods Pro. By applying directional audio filters and subtly adjusting the frequencies each ear receives, spatial audio can place sounds virtually anywhere in space, creating an immersive surround sound experience. Using the gyroscope and accelerometer in your AirPods Pro and your iPhone, spatial audio tracks the motion of your head as well as your device, compares the motion data, and then remaps the sound field so that it stays anchored to your device even as your head moves.
Spatial Audio offers an immersive three-dimensional sound experience for the listener. The feature should create a movie theater-like experience that uses the gyroscope and accelerometer in the iPhone, iPad, and compatible Apple headphones.
iOS 15 users also have access to a Spatialize Stereo option for content that is not compatible with Spatial Audio, something that works in the Netflix app.
If you don’t see the Spatial Audio option in your Netflix app, make sure you update it to the latest version from the App Store and continue checking over the coming days. This is a slow rollout.