With the rise of digital music, streaming platforms have become the primary way for music lovers in Hong Kong to enjoy their favorite songs. This article will compare popular music streaming platforms in Hong Kong, including Apple Music, Spotify, JOOX, KKBOX, MOOV, TIDAL, and YouTube Music, analyzing aspects such as pricing, audio quality, music libraries, and features to help readers choose the most suitable service.

Platform Overview

1. Apple Music

Apple’s music streaming service offers a wide music library and high-quality playback, tightly integrated with the Apple ecosystem.

2. Spotify

A globally recognized music streaming platform known for its recommendation system and diverse playlists, ideal for users who enjoy discovering new music.

3. JOOX

A music streaming service under Tencent, focusing on the Asian market, particularly in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, providing rich local and Asian music content.

4. KKBOX

A music platform from Taiwan that specializes in Mandarin music, especially Cantonese and Mandarin songs, suited for fans of Chinese music.

5. MOOV

A local music streaming service in Hong Kong that emphasizes local music content and exclusive concert live streams, offering users a unique musical experience.

6. TIDAL

Focused on high-quality music streaming, TIDAL offers lossless quality and high-resolution music, catering to users with high audio standards.

7. YouTube Music

Google’s music streaming service integrates YouTube’s music video resources, ideal for users who enjoy watching music videos.

Pricing Plan Comparison*

Platform Name	Individual Monthly Fee	Student Monthly Fee	Family Monthly Fee	Free Trial Period
Apple Music	HK$68	HK$38	HK$108 (up to 6 members)	1 month (3 months free with eligible Apple device)
Spotify	HK$68	HK$38	HK$108 (up to 6 members)	free version (with ads and limited features), 1 month free for first upgrade to Premium
JOOX	HK$48	HK$23.5	HK$66 (up to 3 members)	free version (with ads and limited features)
KKBOX	HK$65 (Standard Quality) / HK$116 (Lossless Quality)	HK$32.5	HK$79 (Standard Quality) / HK$239 (Lossless Quality, up to 3	14 days
MOOV	HK$68	N/A	HK85 (up to 3 members)	14 days
TIDAL	HK$63 / HK$96 (DJ Extension)	HK$31 / HK$64 (DJ Extension)	HK$98 (up to 6 members)	30 days
YouTube Music	HK$63	HK$33	HK$98 (up to 5 members)	1 month

*information updated in November 2024

Audio Quality and Music Library Comparison*

Platform Name	Highest Audio Quality	Number of Songs
Apple Music	lossless quality (24bit/192kHz), Dolby Atmos	over 100 million
Spotify	320kbps OGG format	over 80 million
JOOX	16-bit quality	over 30 million
KKBOX	lossless quality (24bit/192kHz)	over 90 million
MOOV	lossless quality (24bit/192kHz)	no official number, focuses on local music
TIDAL	lossless quality (24bit/192kHz), Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio	over 90 million
YouTube Music	256kbps AAC format	over 70 million

*information updated in November 2024

Features and Characteristics

1. Offline Listening

All platforms support downloading songs for offline playback, allowing users to enjoy music without an internet connection.

2. Lyrics Synchronization

Most platforms provide real-time lyrics display, making it easy for users to sing along.

3. Recommendation Systems

Spotify: known for its powerful recommendation system that suggests new songs based on listening habits
Apple Music: offer playlists and radio stations curated by professional editors
YouTube Music: combine YouTube data to recommend related music videos

4. Exclusive Content

MOOV: provide exclusive local music content and live concert streams
TIDAL: offer exclusive music and video content in high quality

Device Support and User Experience

Apple Music: integrate closely with the Apple ecosystem, supporting iOS, macOS, Apple Watch, and also available on Android devices
Spotify: compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and several other platforms
JOOX, KKBOX, MOOV, TIDAL, YouTube Music: all support iOS and Android devices, with some also offering desktop versions

2024 Popular Earphone and Headphone Recommendations

Product	Features
Redmi Buds 6 Play Headphone	AI noise cancellation for calls support Google Fast Pair support Xiaomi earphone app 36 hours long battery life super fast charging: 10 minutes of charging, 3 hours of music
APPLE AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Case (USB‑C) Headphone	deliver up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation Transparency mode enables you to hear the world around you H2 Apple Silicon, amazing sound quality with Adaptive EQ Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Active Noise Cancellation Adaptive Transparency Conversation Awareness
APPLE AirPods 4 with ANC Headphone	powerful H2 chip delivers clearer calls with Voice Isolation and a new, hands-free way to interact with Siri Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Voice Isolation, Hey Siri, and Siri Interactions up to 30 hours total of listening time
Mi Type-C Headphone	high-quality sound effects IP54 dustproof and waterproof In-Ear design quick use with Type-C connector
Anker Liberty 4 Pro Headphone	7 sensors (6 sound sensors and 1 air pressure sensor) capture background noise more comprehensively and accurately to adapt to different scenarios Adaptive ANC 3.0 calculates the environment in real time every 0.3 seconds and actively adjusts the appropriate noise reduction intensity according to the environmental noise ACAA 4.0™️ coaxial dual-unit vocal design with dual-channel audio technology (digital crossover technology) produce clearer, more detailed sound without color rendering support LDAC™️ audio, certified by Hi-Res Audio Wireless touch-controlled smart charger displays headphone information in real time and adjusts the noise reduction intensity with touch control use a total of 6 microphones and AI noise reduction algorithm to provide a clear call experience up to 10 hours from one charge and up to 40 hours with the case Super Fast Charging: Just 5 minutes of fast charging will give you 4 hours of battery life Bluetooth version: 5.3 audio decoding: SBC, AAC, LDAC
SONY WH-1000XM5 Headphone	combined V1 & QN1 Processor, deliver incomparable noise cancelling eight microphones with Auto NC Optimizer specially designed 30mm driver unit support High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless Precise Voice Pickup Technology with AI machine learning noise reduction algorithm
SONY WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones	HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, Bluetooth Audio SoC and a dual noise sensor let you listen without distractions high-quality audio with DSEE Extreme™ and LDAC smart listening technology such as Speak-to-Chat, Quick Attention and Adaptive Sound Control modes to enhance your listening experience Precise Voice Pickup Technology combines five built-in microphones with advanced audio signal processing, which can deliver clearer voice to the other person on the phone battery life up to 30hr and support quick charge

2024 Popular Wireless Speaker Recommendations

Product	Features
Marshall Emberton II Wireless Speaker	two 2’’ full-range drivers and two passive radiators weigh 0.7kg Bluetooth 5.1 host a multi-speaker session with STACK mode 50% recycled plastic IP67 dust and water resistance rating
APPLE HomePod mini Wireless Speaker	full-range driver and dual passive radiators for deep bass and crisp high frequencies custom acoustic waveguide for a 360º sound field acoustically transparent fabric computational audio for real-time tuning
Marshall ACTON III Wireless Speaker	loud things come in small packages the most discreet Bluetooth speaker in the home line-up has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, offering re-engineered sound for an immersive home audio experience
JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker	Bluetooth® version: 5.3 IP67 waterproof and dustproof up to 7 hours of playtime plus 2 hours with Playtime Boost ultra-portable JBL Pro Sound with punchier bass
Harman Kardon Soundsticks 4 Wireless Speaker	2.1-channel multimedia sound system with Bluetooth frequency response: 40Hz-20kHz support: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6