About Apple TV Plus

Apple officially entered the streaming industry in November 2019 with the launch of Apple TV Plus, just weeks ahead of Disney Plus. Priced at $5 per month, it remains one of the most affordable premium, ad-free streaming services while still offering high-end features like 4K resolution, HDR, and mobile downloads. The platform also features top Hollywood talent, including Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson and Jason Momoa.

As one of the newer players in streaming, Apple TV Plus has quickly gained recognition for its high-quality, award-winning content. Its film CODA made history as the first streaming service movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture. The widely acclaimed comedy Ted Lasso has earned multiple awards, while other notable productions like The Morning Show, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Pachinko, and Severance highlight Apple’s commitment to premium storytelling.

Special Features

Content

Apple TV Plus offers a diverse selection of original content, including comedies, dramas, documentaries, and talk shows. When it launched in 2019, the platform featured just nine titles, emphasizing a strategy focused on quality over quantity. One of its flagship series, The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, was produced with a reported budget of $300 million, highlighting Apple’s investment in premium storytelling.

Third-party content plays a significant role in expanding the libraries of platforms like Hulu and Prime Video. While Apple has the financial resources to grow its catalog, potential subscribers may want to consider reviews of both current and upcoming shows before committing. That said, Apple TV+ has produced critically acclaimed originals such as Ted Lasso and Severance, which have gained widespread popularity and cultural relevance.

Apple TV+ typically releases a few episodes at launch, followed by weekly installments to maintain viewer engagement. However, some series debut with an entire season at once, similar to Netflix’s approach. Despite this, the platform is at a disadvantage due to its limited back catalog—especially when compared to services like Peacock, which offers a free tier with 13,000 hours of content, including binge-worthy classics like Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock.

Film

Apple TV+ offers a selection of documentaries and feature films, including Greyhound, a World War II thriller starring Tom Hanks; Beastie Boys Story, a Spike Jonze-directed documentary about the iconic band; and On The Rocks, a comedy featuring Bill Murray, Marlon Wayans, and Rashida Jones. Notably, CODA made history as the first streaming-funded film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Live Sports

Apple TV+ has expanded into sports streaming, offering Friday night Major League Baseball games as part of its standard subscription. Additionally, soccer enthusiasts can subscribe to the MLS Season Pass at a discounted rate of $12.99 per month if they are already Apple TV+ members. On Apple TV 4K devices, users can take advantage of the multiview feature to watch multiple live games simultaneously.

Pricing

Following its latest price adjustment, Apple TV+ now costs $9.99 per month, with an annual subscription available for $99.99, offering some savings. Apple provides a seven-day free trial, though a payment method is required to sign up. Additionally, customers who purchase a new Apple device receive a complimentary year of access.

Apple TV+ is also available as part of various Apple One subscription bundles. The Individual plan, priced at $19.95 per month, includes Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage. The Family plan, costing $25.95 per month, offers the same services but increases iCloud storage to 200GB and allows sharing with up to six family members. The Premier plan, at $37.95 per month, adds Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 2TB of iCloud storage.

Beyond offering Apple TV+ originals, the Apple TV app allows users to subscribe to additional services, referred to as “channels.” These include popular on-demand platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Paramount+, along with live TV services such as DirecTV Stream. The app also provides options to rent or purchase movies and TV shows.

It’s important to note that subscribing to these services through Apple TV+ differs from signing up directly. If you subscribe via the Apple TV app, content can only be accessed on devices that support the Apple TV+ app.

User Experience

While Apple’s marketing primarily emphasizes the Apple TV+ streaming service on devices with the Apple TV app, users can also subscribe and watch content through a web browser. However, the web interface feels less refined compared to the app. Notably, it only allows access to Apple TV+ content, excluding other subscription services available via the Apple TV app. Additionally, it lacks several standard features found on competing streaming platforms.

Apple TV+ offers strong technical features, including the ability to download content for offline viewing on iOS devices through the Apple TV app. This functionality is also available on services like Max, Netflix, Prime Video, and Showtime. However, Hulu restricts offline downloads to subscribers of its premium ad-free plan.

Web Interface

The Apple TV website has a sleek design, but much like some of its shows, the experience feels somewhat superficial. Content is displayed in a broad list, and selecting a title leads to a description page featuring available episodes, cast details, and other Apple TV+ recommendations. Users can search for content and add shows to their “Up Next” list, but overall functionality remains limited.

Need to access your account settings? Simply click the profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen to manage your billing details and modify your subscription. You can also enable parental control restrictions, but keep in mind that these settings apply universally across the account rather than being customized for individual profiles.

Mobile App

We tested Apple TV+ on an iPhone and found its interface to be user-friendly and well-organized. The app features navigation buttons for Library, Watch Now, and Search at the bottom of the screen. Apple Originals appear alongside content from HBO, Starz, and Showtime within the Watch Now and Library sections. However, sorting by network is only available to existing subscribers. Users can download episodes for offline viewing by tapping the cloud-plus-down-arrow icon next to the listing, though downloads may take some time due to large file sizes.

Playback Experience

Apple TV+ is available for subscription on various Apple devices, including iPods, iPhones, and Macs, as well as through web browsers at http://tv.apple.com. The service is also compatible with select smart TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony, as well as media streaming devices that support the Apple TV app, such as newer Roku models. Additionally, Apple has expanded access by introducing Apple TV+ apps for video game consoles and Android devices.

We streamed an episode of The Morning Show over a Wi-Fi network, and the playback was generally crisp. However, we did experience a noticeable drop in resolution at one point, and the episode unexpectedly restarted. One drawback is that you must exit the playback screen and return to the show listing to start the next episode. On the plus side, Apple TV+ seamlessly integrates with iOS’s built-in parental control settings.

The playback controls are straightforward, featuring a draggable progress bar, forward and rewind buttons, a volume slider, and accessibility settings located in the lower-right corner. We appreciate the extensive language and closed-captioning options, which allow users to adjust the size and position of subtitles for a more customized viewing experience. Additionally, Audio Description settings are clearly marked for easy access.

Apple TV+ supports HDR, 4K streaming, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision, though full compatibility depends on the device used—only select models, such as the Apple TV 4K, offer all these features.

Accessibility

Apple TV+ allows subscribers to share their account and stream content with up to six people using Apple’s Family Sharing feature. The platform offers subtitles and dubbing in nearly 40 languages, including options for Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (SDH) and closed captions. Additionally, it provides audio descriptions in eight languages, enhancing accessibility for visually impaired viewers. Similar to Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, Apple TV+ includes Audio Descriptions, which provide narrated details about character movements, settings, and other non-verbal on-screen actions. These accessibility features surpass those available on many competing services.

VPN

Using a VPN is a smart way to safeguard your internet activity from prying eyes, whether it’s internet service providers or potential threats on a shared network. However, since VPNs can also mask your location, many streaming platforms attempt to block VPN traffic to prevent access to region-locked content. Apple TV+ is set to be available in over 100 countries with the same content library, minimizing this concern. In testing, we successfully streamed Apple TV+ content on a desktop connected to a US-based VPN server.

Even if you find a VPN that works with your preferred streaming service, there’s always a chance it may be blocked later, as platforms continually update their detection methods. Rather than choosing a VPN solely for streaming, consider factors like privacy policies, connection speed, and overall features to ensure the best experience.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve purchased an Apple device in the past year or plan to buy one when the latest iPhone launches, you’re eligible for a free trial of Apple TV+. It’s worth taking advantage of this offer, as there’s a good chance you or your family will find something enjoyable among its selection of original movies and shows.

Trying the free trial is a great way to explore Apple’s exclusive content and see if anything catches your interest. Seven days is plenty of time to binge the first season of Ted Lasso. If you find a show you love, the $5 monthly subscription is a reasonable price for high-quality programming—especially as other streaming platforms continue to raise their prices.