Advantages and Disadvantages of Apple TV Plus Video Streaming Service

Apple TV+ is one of the latest video streaming services to hit the competitive video entertainment market.

It offers access to exclusive content featuring some of the biggest stars. However, it is one of many streaming services competing for your attention right now.

In this article we will explain and discuss the main pros and cons of Apple TV plus, cost of the service, comparison with other streaming services etc.

Here is what you should know if you are thinking about adding Apple TV+ to your streaming lineup:

What Is Apple TV Plus?

Apple TV+ debuted in November of 2019. It is another ad-free subscription service. It allows you to stream TV shows and movies from supported devices for one low monthly fee. You can get started with a free seven-day trial. After the trial, the cost of Apple TV+ is $4.99 per month.

Only one plan is available. However, Apple also offers several other methods for subscribing. For example, if you buy an Apple device, Apple TV+ is included for 12 months at no additional cost.

You can also get Apple TV+ as part of an Apple One subscription. Apple One bundles the streaming service with up to five other Apple services for a single monthly fee. The plans start at $14.95 per month.

Apple TV+ includes a selection of dramas, comedies, documentaries, kids’ entertainment, and more. You can stream video to six devices.

The service has several strengths, but it also has a few limitations compared to other streaming services, so let’s see the main advantages and disadvantages next:

Advantages of Apple TV+

Many of the technical aspects of Apple TV+ stand out compared to other streaming services, including:

• Supports 4K UHD streaming.
• Allows six simultaneous streams.
• Is available for offline viewing on iOS devices.
• Is one of the most affordable streaming services.
• Offers 12 months free with select Apple TV devices.

Apple is developing the framework for an industry-leading streaming service. Here is a closer look at these benefits.

Support for 4K UHD Streaming Video Quality

Apple TV+ supports 4K UHD video streaming to deliver the highest resolution currently available for movies and TV shows.

However, you need a 4K TV to enjoy a 4K video. Keep in mind that most streaming services now offer 4K video streaming.

You can watch 4K movies and TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. At the time of writing, Netflix has over 600 titles available in 4K resolution.

While Apple has a smaller selection of 4K titles, all its new content is released in 4K. As the streaming service’s library grows, you can expect the number of 4K titles to dramatically increase.

You Can Stream Content to Six Devices Simultaneously

Most streaming services only allow you to stream content to a limited number of devices at one time. This helps cut down on password sharing, which is a major concern for these companies.

Apple stands out from the pack by allowing you to stream content on six devices simultaneously. If you have six members in your household, everyone can watch a different program at the same time.

Netflix only allows you to stream content on up to two devices with its standard plan and four devices with its premium plan.

Hulu allows two concurrent streams and Amazon Prime Video allows three streams per account.

Videos Are Available for Offline Viewing

Apple also provides more flexibility when it comes to how you watch your favorite shows and movies by allowing you to download content. You can download TV shows and movies and watch them anywhere without WiFi.

Offline viewing is another feature that is available with most streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and others.

However, you cannot typically download any title that you want. Only certain titles are available for offline viewing.

Apple TV Plus allows you to download any title offered on its service. The content that you download is available for 30 days and you can download as many selections as you can fit on your device.

One of the Most Affordable Streaming Services

Apple TV Plus is currently the most affordable of the major streaming services, costing only $4.99/month.

Hulu and Paramount Plus both offer plans that start at $5.99 per month, which is $1 more compared to Apple TV+. Additionally, the $5.99 plans from Hulu and Paramount Plus come with commercials.

Netflix currently offers three plans. The cheapest plan starts at $8.99 and does not include HD content. You need to pay $13.99 for HD video and $17.99 to access 4K titles.

HBO Max is also relatively expensive when compared to Apple’s service, costing $15 per month.

Apple Offers 12 Months Free with Select Apple Devices

You get 12 months of the streaming service for free when you buy one of the latest Apple devices. You can save close to $60 and enjoy the content for an entire year without worrying about Apple increasing the price of the service.

The offer for 12 months of free Apple TV+ is available for a limited time. It also only applies to specific devices, including the latest iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Macs. The device must be capable of running the latest Apple operating system.

Disadvantages of Apple TV+

While Apple TV+ includes several advantages not offered by the competition, it also has a few drawbacks to consider before signing up:

• Limited library of original content
• No award-winning content
• Episodes rolled out weekly instead of all at once
• No app available for Android devices or PC users
• No user profiles for individual household members

Most of these drawbacks are related to the selection and availability of content, which may change in the coming years. Apple is still relatively new while other streaming services have had several years to grow their libraries.

Limited Library

Apple TV Plus has a limited selection of original content and licensed content. The company initially chose to avoid buying licensed content. Unlike other services, they did not have a back catalog of movies and TV shows.

Hulu has licensing deals with major broadcast networks, allowing it to air new episodes of popular network TV shows and specials.

Netflix has invested billions into the production of original content to expand its library but still offers thousands of licensed titles.

Paramount Plus and HBO Max benefit from large libraries of existing content from the production companies under their umbrellas.

Lack of Award-Winning Content

As Apple TV Plus is new, the original content has not had the chance to win awards. You will not find a lot of prestige TV shows and movies on the streaming service, especially when compared to other services.

Episodes Are Rolled Out Weekly

Netflix helped start the binge-watching craze by releasing entire seasons of shows at once. Apple TV+ Plus and several other streaming services use the traditional approach of releasing one episode per week.

You may need to wait months for a highly anticipated show to arrive and then wait weeks to finish the entire season. If you prefer binge-watching new shows, you may not enjoy the release schedule on this streaming service.

The App Is Only Available on iOS Devices and few Others

Another potential issue with Apple TV+ is a lack of support for many devices. The company does not offer a native app for Android smartphones and tablets or Windows and Linux PCs.

If you do not have an Apple computer, laptop, or mobile device (and few other devices), the only way to use the service is through a web browser.

You can sign in to your account through your preferred browser and watch content through the web. However, the lack of a dedicated app is still a little inconvenient for Android users and PC users, as you cannot download videos for offline viewing.

Some other devices supporting this service include (in addition to Apple devices):

• Select Smart TVs (some models of Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sony).
• Playstation, XBOX
• Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV

No User Profiles

Apple TV+ does not allow you to create user profiles for members of your household. Everyone watches from the same account, which keeps you from separating favorite shows for each user.

Amazon, Hulu, and Paramount Plus allow you to create up to six user profiles. Netflix allows up to five profiles. However, this may be a feature that Apple adds later, as it has become a standard feature for most other streaming services.

What Shows and Movies Does Apple TV+ Have?

When Apple TV+ launched in 2019, the streaming service only had eight original series and planned on releasing one new series per month throughout 2020.

The first show developed exclusively for the new platform was The Morning Show. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell and received critical acclaim, but the second season is not scheduled to premiere until the middle of 2021.

Dickinson, Mythic Quest, and Ted Lasso are a few of the comedy series that premiered on the streaming service. As with The Morning Show, these series featured big names, including Hailee Steinfeld and Jason Sudeikis.

The company originally planned to only release original content. By only releasing exclusive content produced by Apple, the company could avoid licensing fees and keep its subscription fee lower than the competition. However, the pandemic of 2020 led Apple to change its strategy.

Toward the middle of 2020, executives at Apple started to discuss acquiring a back catalog of film and TV shows to compete with other streaming services. In May 2020, Apple announced that it had acquired the Fraggle Rock TV series and planned on developing a new Fraggle Rock show.

The next acquisition included the rights to various TV specials and films from the Peanuts franchise, including A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Apple also decided to purchase a few movies during 2020. The company picked up Greyhound starring Tom Hanks, Emancipation starring Will Smith, and No Time to Die starring Daniel Craig.

What Is the Difference Between Apple TV+ and Apple TV Devices?

Apple TV+ is a streaming service that you can access from supported devices. Apple TV on the other hand is a physical device that you connect to your TV to stream content. The newest Apple TV 4K can stream 4K UHD content as well.

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Apple TV is a small box that connects to the HDMI port of your TV. You can use an Apple TV device to stream Apple TV+ and a growing selection of Apple TV channels. It also supports other apps, including Netflix and other streaming services.

If you do not have an Apple TV device, you can still access Apple TV+ and Apple TV channels on iOS devices.

The Apple TV channels are viewable through the Apple TV app, which you can load on an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac.

Is Apple TV+ Better Than Netflix?

Apple TV+ and Netflix provide different advantages and disadvantages. Apple TV Plus costs less than half the monthly price of Netflix. Apple’s service also allows you to stream to six devices simultaneously.

Netflix allows you to stream to one device with its basic plan and up to four devices on its premium plan. However, Netflix also comes with a few benefits, including a much larger library of content. Netflix is currently the king of original content. By the start of 2021, Netflix had produced over 2000 original titles.

Apple TV Plus currently has a few dozen originals with several dozen more titles coming within the next year or two. However, the company also releases TV shows one episode at a time, preventing you from binge-watching when shows premiere.

Apple TV+ offers a quality service at an affordable price but Netflix has a much larger selection of shows to watch.

Conclusion: Should You Get Apple TV Plus?

Apple TV Plus has several advantages over the competition, including the lowest monthly price for a streaming service. You can also get the service for free if you buy an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV this year.

Apple allows you to stream 4K video to up to six devices simultaneously. However, the service also has a few drawbacks, including no support for Android, Windows, and Linux. You can only install the native Apple TV+ app on iOS devices and Macs.

Apple TV+ also has the most limited selection of titles, with about 40 shows and movies. Depending on how much free time you have, you could likely watch the entire catalog on Apple TV+ in a few weeks.

Despite having a limited selection of titles, Apple TV+ is worth checking out. You can try it for free for seven days and continue streaming for just $4.99 per month.

After you watch a few of the star-studded series currently available on the service, you can always cancel and rejoin later.