Take a deep dive into Apple TV+ with a new user and see if it’s right for you!
Take a deep dive into Apple TV+ with a new user and see if it’s right for you!
Does Apple TV+ live up to its reputation as one of the most premium streaming services out there?
As streaming services go, Apple TV+ is one of the more enigmatic on the market. It’s the last service that hasn’t leaned into the trend of ad-supported plans, and it offers one of the most unique content libraries of any streamer thanks to its originals-only philosophy. I decided to take a look at the streamer for myself and see what it’s really like to be an Apple TV+ customer, and I’ll give you all my thoughts below!
Everything new users should know about Apple TV+
Easy-to-decipher free trial
There’s no guesswork needed to determine how long of a free trial you get with Apple TV+, no complicated math. All new customers get the same seven-day free viewing window to test the streamer out, which is plenty of time to determine whether or not it’s a good fit for your needs.
Is there enough?
As mentioned above, Apple TV+ follows a philosophy of not licensing TV shows and movies from other studios — though that strategy might be changing in the near future. The service imported a selection of outside movies numerous times this year and has held conversations with studios about making that arrangement permanent.
In the meantime, however, Apple TV+ is stocked only with shows and movies that it has produced or commissioned from other studios. It has a lot to explore, with shows and movies from every genre, but its library isn’t packed with old favorite TV series and movies like other streaming services are. Whether or not that’s enough to keep you watching is up to the individual user.
Is the user experience “Apple-ified”?
I think all Apple product users will understand what I mean when I say they create a unique user experience. When you’re using an iPhone or a Mac, you know without a doubt that you’re on an Apple device, though whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on how big a fan you are of the company.
I would say that Apple TV+ does a good job of echoing the Apple vibe, while still making its interface familiar for customers of other streaming services. All the familiar content rows you know and love are there, including your most recently watched titles, new releases, recommendations based on what other viewers are watching, and category titles that let you narrow down your search to a specific genre.
The ultra-focused content library on Apple TV+ means that there are fewer tabs at the top of the screen. You can’t click a “Movies” tab at the top of the screen to see all the films on the streamer, because there isn’t any such tab; you’ll have to either search for a specific title or scroll down to the “All Feature Films” row on the home screen and then start browsing right or left.
That lends to the clean, uncluttered feel that so many Apple devices offer with their interfaces. It’s another instance where some customers — such as myself — will likely wish there were more options to filter what the home screen shows, but the advantage of Apple TV+’s smaller library is that even if you have to scroll to see what you want, it probably won’t take as long.
Few ads to be had
By far one of my favorite things about Apple TV+ was the lack of ads on the streamer. There are even times when Apple TV+ skips the pre-roll ad that most ad-free streaming plans force you to watch, and sometimes I’m glad to see those when they do play. It helps me see other shows on Apple TV+, a streamer I’m less familiar with in general.
The user interface is also uncluttered with ads for products and services I have no interest in using, which is highly desirable. If you really don’t like ads with your streaming, I can heartily recommend Apple TV+ as a service to keep ahold of.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed my trial of Apple TV+, and used it to watch some titles I’d really been meaning to stream, like “Masters of the Air” and “Shrinking.” I even discovered some options that I had heard less about but was pleasantly surprised by when I gave the service a try. The availability of big-name stars like George Clooney, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Gary Oldman, Saoirse Ronan, and others in the streamer’s originals make every title on the streamer somewhat intriguing.
For me, that was enough to keep me curious and trying new things on the streamer. It might not be enough for customers who like to turn on something familiar and watch it in the background while they do other things; Apple TV+ is definitely a “lean-forward” type of service in that regard.
All in all, I recommend Apple TV+ heartily to anyone looking for a new source of prestige TV and movies. That’s almost all the streamer has, but if that’s of interest, you should definitely look into Apple TV+’s seven-day free trial.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is a subscription video streaming service for $9.99 a month that includes high-quality original shows and movies including Best Picture winner “CODA,” popular sitcom “Ted Lasso,” and dramas like “The Morning Show” and “Severance.” Apple TV+ is also home to MLB baseball games on Friday nights and MLS Season Pass. Apple TV+ can be added as a channel on Prime Video.