Last year, Samsung and Google developed Immersive Audio Models and Formats (IAMF) for 3D Spatial audio. IAMF has already been adapted by the Alliance for Open Media in October last year as an open source spatial audio format. It is expected to solve the problem of different spatial audio formats requiring licenses.
IAMF is targeted to be supported on TVs, soundbars, headphones, earphones or smartphones. Android Authority reports that support for this new immersive audio format will roll out to eligible products starting this year. Interestingly, this support will be provided through software updates only and users will not need to purchase a new product.
Not only that, YouTube will also support the IAMF format but limited to the application only because the web version is limited to stereo audio only. For now it is still uncertain if Samsung will stick with the IAMF name on their TVs, speakers and other products or will give it a cooler name.
Hopefully, this IAMF support will be as good as Dolby Atmos or better. If its use is widespread we will be able to see non-Apple products compete to offer spatial audio support anyway.