Earlier this month, Google and Samsung revealed a new spatial audio format called Eclipsa Audio. It is a royalty-free alternative to the popular format Dolby Atmos. Now, Google has revealed that Eclipsa Audio is coming to Android devices.
Eclipsa Audio is coming to Android (including Galaxy) phones and tablets
Google revealed last week that IAMF-based Eclipsa Audio is coming to Android devices with an upcoming AOSP release. It means Android 16 could introduce Eclipsa Audio to Android phones and tablets.
Since Eclipsa Audio is royalty-free, creators and device makers can use it without additional charges. Media with Eclipsa Audio can be created by using free tools. Google is planning to release a free Eclipsa Audio plugin for AVID Pro Tools Digital Audio Workstation in the spring of this year.
There is already an open-source reference renderer for standalone playback of Eclipsa Audio. Sometime this year, creators can start uploading videos with Eclipsa Audio to YouTube.
Android developers can decode (play) Eclipsa Audio in MP4 files in their apps using Android's media3-decoder-iamf module. Android's Media3 1.5.0 APIs have a Kotlin listener extension and easier Player optimization through delegation.
Besides Android, the Google Chrome web browser will also support Eclipsa Audio. While Google didn't reveal whether Google Chrome will support the new spatial audio format on desktops or mobile devices, it will likely be supported on both.
Samsung has already launched the world's first TVs and soundbars that support Eclipsa Audio. The company's 2025 smart TVs which were announced at CES 2025 earlier this month, support Eclipsa Audio. Those models include Crystal UHD TVs, QLED TVs, Lifestyle TVs, Neo QLED 4K and 8K TVs, and OLED TVs.
All the soundbars that Samsung announced at this year's CES support Eclipsa Audio. You can watch those soundbars in our video below.
Eclipsa Audio is based on IAMF, a framework that Google, Samsung, and other Open Media Alliance members have been developing over the past couple of years. Reports regarding this open-source, royalty-free Dolby Atmos alternative first appeared in 2022, and IAMF was announced early last year.
It remains to be seen how many companies adopt it and if it can be successful against the powerful Dolby Atmos brand, which has already been adopted by almost all the production and media houses, TV and speaker makers, smartphone and laptop brands, and media streaming services.
