HBO MAX can bring down the ‘Premium streaming’ spotlight, but lately I have received much more value from my Apple TV+ subscription -here is why
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If you had told me at the beginning of 2025 that a Seth Rogen comedy about a film studio would be the best I had seen halfway through the year, I would not have believed you.
The studio on Apple TV+ is a sharp, inventive comedy in the workplace that was co -made by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. On paper, the Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) follows as a new studio head that has difficulty balancing his love for film with his work.
I say “on paper” because it is more than that. It is an airy satire from Hollywood that touches its politically correct (and non-so-correct) practices, the human follies that are able to ruin films and the impact that studios have on artists.
It is also special in other ways. One episode shows Matt on a film set in which the director tries to capture a one-shot at sunset under Sare Time restrictions-while the episode itself is a single recording. Or another that is depicted as a crime noir from the 40s, because he and his right hand Sal (Ike Barenholtz) have to find a missing film.
The studio indeed emphasizes Apple’s continuous dedication to produce high caliber content. While many other platforms such as Tommy Guns spray and hope that something lingers, Apple is a precise sniper who (usually) hits his goal.
Last year, Apple TV+ Beat Netflix and Prime Video for our Streaming Service of the Year Award And it continues to prove its dominance in 2025.
Quality above quantity
There is a big reason that Apple flies under the radar.
According to JustWatchIn the US Paramount+ has 1,325 titles, Disney+ has 2,057, Netflix offers 7,270 and Prime video Has a leading 24,184 lake than 20,000 films and nearly 3,000 TV programs (although this number can be stimulated by rentable films and inclusions from other platforms).
Apple TV+ has only 286.
This makes it difficult to recommend it as a primary service. It doesn’t let you look 10 things I hate you For the 17th time, the 30th spin-off from Real Housewives or each Signal Episode while you eat.
I don’t want to tell other services too much. This year Disney+ and Max have added new seasons of great shows as Ener” The last of us And The White LotusWhile Prime and Netflix have added new series in Narrow road to the deep north series and Adolescence.
But they are diamonds in the rough. Where other services spend billions on various libraries, Apple spends hundreds of millions of ensuring that the original content is elite.
And if you don’t do that yet Subscribe to Apple TV+ (or no longer explore Ted Lasso), There is such an incredible wealth of content to discover. With shows like Black Bird, shrinking, Matters of the air, bad monkey, slow horses, dickinson, bad sisters And much more, it can be your primary service – at least for a few months of each year.
Yet, despite the quality, Apple TV+offers a small content library. But it makes up for that in an important way.
Better and cheaper without advertisements
Once I mention nonchalant in our guide for the Best streaming services That Apple TV+ is the streaming service for the best value on the market. My colleague asked this by asking: “Is not -not video … free?”
In a sense that is true. Prime Video is a free recording with a $ 14.99 / £ 8.99 / au $ 9.99 Amazon Prime subscription. That is now with advertisements, note – you now have to pay $ 2.99 / £ 2.99 / au $ 2.99 to go for free.
If you are a normal Amazon shopper, that value is difficult to beat. But Prime Video does not have the best user experience either.
Let’s take a quick look at the Prime Video app – and it is a similar setup for many operating systems. There is the part of originals and exclusives at the top, followed by subscriptions that you might like to contain Apple TV+, MGM+, Bein Sports and many others. Then there are new release films for rent or purchase and top TV programs, many of which are not even available at Prime.
It is relatively overwhelming and messy, which is the main reason why I almost never use it … unless I watch a specific series as if The boys” Invincible or something new from The inspired unemployed Boys.
In the meantime, Apple TV+ offers a clean, intuitive user interface. Items are easy to find and the library is easy to explore. And – bonus – that is not there thousands From titles to sift. The store is also clearly separated from inclusive content.
And it does all this for a price that every other service beats (except perhaps prime video, depending on where you live) out of the water.
How much cheaper is it?
A subscription to Apple TV+ only costs $ 9.99 / £ 8.99 / AU $ 12.99 without advertisements competing with the cheapest ad-based levels of many competitors, as you can see below.
Wipe to scroll horizontally
|
Employ |
American price |
British price |
Au -price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Netflix |
$ 7.99 |
£ 5.99 |
Au $ 7.99 |
|
Disney+ |
$ 9.99 |
£ 4.99 |
Not available |
|
HBO Max |
$ 9.99 |
Not available |
Au $ 11.99 |
The price discrepancy becomes even greater if you look at the prices of a Premium subscription from the services above.
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|
Employ |
American price |
British price |
Au -price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Netflix (Premium) |
$ 24.99 |
£ 18.99 |
Au $ 25.99 |
|
Disney+ (Premium) |
$ 19.99 |
£ 12.99 |
Au $ 20.99 |
|
HBO Max (Premium) |
$ 20.99 |
Not available |
Au $ 21.99 |
And that is my argument for how the smaller library is compensated by access to superior drama, thriller and comedy series at a fascinating price.
Consider recent acclaimed shows such as Adolescence” Baby reindeerAnd Beef from Netflix, or Shogun And The bear on Disney+, next to the Best shows at HBO Max. These are almost TV, but such striking are few between most platforms – with perhaps the exception of HBO.
Although Apple may not reach those highlights at every new show, it certainly tries to be consistent with the quality it offers.
Even some of the worst series on Apple TV+ from IMDB assessment – Like For” Prime target” Government cheese And Sunny – I still have a quality level that is too often absent in other services.
The downside is that the smaller library is a big reason that his subscribers are overshadowed by its competitors (according to Flix). And although many of the best streaming services have recently become profitable (per Forbes), Apple TV+ is not.
Since Apple is worth almost three trillion Dollars – and Netflix is worth $ 500 billion – it can’t afford to be. That is good for its existing subscribers because, as well as a production of higher quality, the budget of Apple is the most noticeable because of its casts.
It is a league -led competition
When The studio Was it made by another service, would it have worked? Probably, but I don’t think so.
We thought after 2020 – then Scorsese decided to draw with Apple via Netflix And other services – or Scorsese simply signed because Apple has more money to burn at a single director. It certainly has more money to flash, but that is not the only reason that it now attracts top talent.
It was a milestone opportunity for Apple TV+ when CODA won the Academy Award for Best Picture on the Oscars in 2022. It proved that streaming services could go to toe with “real” films if they tried it.
It seems clear that people see Apple working with people such as Scorsese, Tom Hanks and Ridley Scott – making films such as Killers of the Flower Moon – And want to participate, even with projects that they would usually not do. Take a look at the long -awaited one F1 With Brad Pitt with in the lead role.
That’s why I don’t think another service can get Martin Scorsese to make his heart break into it The studio When he realizes his new film (Cabbage-aidBased on the Jonestown massacre) was purchased by Matt Remick and will never see the daylight.
Like in the performance of Brian Cranston as the completely loose and unforgettable Griffin Mill (in one of his best roles ever) for what should be 30 minutes screen time in 10 episodes.
All you have to do is look at HBOs The franchisewhich in the same way as The studio“ Follows the crew of a film franchise, which was immediately canceled after one mediocre season.
Masters of the air Stars Austin Butler, Assumed innocent is led by Jake Gyllenhaal and Gary Oldman Heads SLODAY HORSE. Then there is the fantastic performance of Cate Blanchett in Indemnification And one of my favorite roles in Colin Farrell is like a brilliant private researcher Sugar. There is no chance that I looked Wolf or The instigators If they were not led by Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Admittedly, Apple TV+ is not for everyone, but I think the very best shows are. So although it may not be a service that you forever subscribe forever, the value that you get in a short time cannot be denied with Apple TV+.
And The studio Must be reason #1 that you look at it. All 10 episodes are out and bingable, so you can view and cancel it, only come back to view season two.
While subscribing, make sure you give the next series at least a chance: Pachinko, bad sisters, silo, for all humanity, black bird, dark matter And Try.
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