You may soon have the option to use Apple Music without having to pay the full price.

      Apple

      Apple Music has long distinguished itself from streaming competitors like Spotify by not offering a free listening option. While this policy may remain unchanged for now, a recent discovery indicates that Apple might be exploring various subscription tiers for its music service.

      The discovery was made by developer Aaron Perris, who found new strings in the beta version of Apple Music for Android. Among these are mentions of “premium access” and an error notification that appears when a user exceeds a track-skipping limit. Although these strings provide limited information on their own, they suggest interesting possibilities.

      Apple Music might be becoming more adaptable

      Currently, Apple Music operates on a straightforward subscription model where users pay for access to the service. It offers family plans, student discounts, and bundled subscriptions via Apple One, but lacks a free, ad-supported option. The recent findings imply that Apple may be considering a more complex subscription structure.

      Notably, the skip limit is significant because it's a common strategy many streaming services use to motivate users to upgrade. For instance, Spotify has traditionally imposed restrictions on certain listening features for free accounts, offering unlimited skips and on-demand playback to paying users. This doesn’t necessarily indicate that Apple is developing a free tier; the strings might relate to radio options, limited access, or completely different features. However, the parallels to competing music services’ subscription models are hard to overlook.

      The timing of this discovery is particularly noteworthy

      It’s especially interesting that this leak has come just weeks after Oliver Schusser, head of Apple Music, defended the company's paid-only model in a Bloomberg interview. He remarked that “free” was a poor idea and emphasized that Apple Music takes pride in being the only major streaming service without a free tier. This makes the new Android strings even more significant.

      Apple

      Companies typically do not add user-facing text for features they aren’t actively testing. Whether Apple is contemplating a more affordable plan, a limited-access tier, or some other premium-access format, the presence of these references implies that internal discussions may be taking place. At present, Apple Music remains a subscription-only service, starting at $10.99 per month in the U.S., but if these findings are any indication, the company might soon reconsider how users engage with its music platform.

      Shimul is a contributor at Digital Trends, boasting over five years of experience in the tech industry.

      iPhone 18 Pro’s significant camera upgrade could be pricey

      Apple's upcoming iPhone camera enhancement might come at a hefty cost

      The next generation of Apple’s Pro iPhone could feature one of the most substantial camera enhancements the company has introduced in years. However, according to new analyst reports cited by Forbes, this improvement may also lead to considerably higher manufacturing expenses, raising concerns that future iPhone prices might increase even more.

      The recent leak focuses on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which are anticipated to introduce a new variable aperture camera system. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the upgraded camera module could potentially cost Apple approximately 50% more than the current camera hardware used in its Pro models.

      Motorola has leaked details about its next Android phone, which may be an ideal mid-range option for you

      Beyond the confirmed specifications, I’m more concerned about the pricing in India and availability in the U.S.

      In an unusual move, Motorola preemptively shared all the specifications, images, and marketing materials related to the Edge 70 Pro+ on its website before its official launch on June 4, 2026, in India.

      Everything is visible prior to the launch, leaving no room for speculation from the rumor mill. Furthermore, this isn't accidental, as the landing page remains active, simply indicating that the product is currently out of stock while providing all other details.

      Oppo's next flagship might elevate your selfies with a 100-megapixel front camera

      A leaked 100MP square-format front sensor for the OPPO Find X10 could position it as the first Android phone to innovate in selfie camera design.

      The last time a front camera impressed me was the iPhone 17’s Center Stage camera, but no Android manufacturer has come close since. It seems smartphone makers have largely neglected front camera innovations over the past few years.

      Oppo could change that trend this year. According to Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station (via Weibo), Oppo is testing a 100MP square-format front camera sensor for its anticipated Find X10 series. If it goes into mass production, the Find X10 would be the first Android smartphone to launch with a 1:1 square selfie sensor.