HBO Max Is Now Available: Simultaneous Streams, 4K, Offline, Shows, Movies, Supported Devices and App Overview

After much anticipation, HBO Max —WarnerMedia’s player in the streaming game — has finally launched. The service was first announced back in 2018 and while the company kept many details under wraps, they began revealing more and more information as the months have gone by.

Today, the streamer, which is the fourth service to launch in the last six months, is up and running and ready to take on fellow competitors, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Peacock and Quibi.

“This is just the beginning of our journey,” said Bob Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer. “We will continue to innovate and evolve this one-of-a-kind platform that brings together beloved programming from across the WarnerMedia family and around the world, while also paving the way for the creative voices of tomorrow.”

What Is the Price of HBO Max?

HBO Max is $15 a month, the same price as HBO and HBO NOW. All AT&T, DirecTV and HBO Now customers will get it right away. Others who get it through their cable company will have to wait until HBO Max makes new deals with their provider.

WarnerMedia recently sealed distribution deals with seven partners — Altice USA, Cox Communications, Microsoft Xbox, Samsung, Sony PlayStation, Verizon and the National Cable Television Cooperative — to carry the service when it launches. This was in addition to the deals the company has already sealed with Charter, Hulu, YouTube TV and Apple TV.

Also, AT&T reached a deal today with Comcast to bring HBO Max to Xfinity X1 and Flex customers.

As it stands, the company doesn’t have any deals with only two other major distributors: Amazon and Roku.

What Devices Are Compatible With HBO Max?

• Apple TV (4th Gen+)
• Android TV
• Chromecast
• iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
• Xbox One
• PS4
• Samsung Smart TV (2016+)
• Computer (using Web Browser)

You can also stream using AirPlay 2 on select VIZIO and LG Smart TVs, which also are without a native HBO Max app

User Profiles, Simultaneous Streams and 4K Content

HBO Max allows for three simultaneous streams at a time across five unique user profiles. Each profile will support its own “Continue Watching” and “Favorites List”.

At the moment, the platform does not support 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos, but they plan to do so in the future.

Offline Downloads

One major improvement over HBO Now is that HBO Max will let you download your favorite shows and movies to tablet and mobile devices.

With HBO Max, your account can have a total of 30 downloads (across all profiles and devices). Once your account has 30 downloads, you’ll need to delete downloads on a device. The same show can only be on 5 devices at the same time.

Similar to other services you will need to refresh the download every 30 days, but an additional restriction is once you start viewing a show or movie you’ll need to finish it in 48 hours.

Parental Controls

For kids, you can create specific profiles. They will limit the content that the child sees, but also will disallow playback of certain types of shows and movies by rating.

To activate, you will set a PIN, which will allow you to unlock or change the restrictions.

What Movies and Shows Are Available on HBO Max?

HBO Max will include 10,000 hours of programming at launch, including the entire HBO service and library, a large offering of new original content and a slate of acquired and library programming. The app has separate hubs for content like HBO, DC, Sesame Workshop, Studio Ghibili, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CrunchyRoll, and Turner Classic Movies.

The service will be the exclusive streaming home for “Friends”, “The Big Bang Theory, “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “South Park”, “The West Wing”, and more.

They also have exclusive rights to Sesame Street, bringing the franchise’s entire 50-year library to a streaming platform for the first time; they also secured the U.S. streaming rights for Japan’s Studio Ghibli and have ordered two unscripted kids competition series — “Karma” and “Craftopia.”

Prior to the pandemic, the company announced that there will be 50 new originals by 2021, including “The Flight Attendant” (Kaley Cuoco), “Love Life” (Anna Kendrick) and “Dune: The Sisterhood” (based on world created by Frank Herbert’s book Dune).

Original Series and Films

Library & New Release Films