Apple TV’s new replace is lengthy overdue, and I am unable to consider it took so lengthy

I’ve an Apple TV 4K in my lounge, so I do know fairly a bit about how the Apple TV app works. Whereas it is good to have all the things in a one-stop-shop of types, the app left so much to be desired by way of discovery. It did not assist that I used to be principally proven issues from Apple TV+, however with the app having much more than that, it felt like I used to be being let down.

The Apple TV app integrates with most main streamers (with the obvious exception of Netflix), so should you subscribe to a service like Max, yow will discover that film on Apple TV and begin streaming it with out having to navigate by the Max app itself. It is a good function, however the one time I actually used it was by trying to find one thing by title as an alternative of stumbling on it naturally. This can be a downside that plagues many streaming companies, and it is a part of why I’ve began utilizing a

third-party app for my watch lists
. Due to some well timed updates, Apple is successful me again, and it is a long-overdue change should you ask me.

Apple TV+

Value

$9.99 per 30 days

Free trial

7 day free trial and three months free should you purchase an Apple machine

Simultaneous streams

6

# of profiles

6

Originals

Sure

Dwell TV:

Restricted (There are dwell sports activities and a few add-on channels supply dwell TV)

Broaden

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Apple is making huge steps in the suitable route

What took so lengthy?

I have been very outspoken about how the Apple TV 4K is my favourite streaming machine, and you’ll take it from any person who has a Roku Extremely and Fireplace TV Stick plugged into different gadgets too. Regardless of having nearly all the things in the marketplace, the Apple TV 4K has reigned supreme, however that does not imply it wasn’t with out its points.

Discovery was simply one of many many issues, however Apple is taking many steps to guarantee that’s a factor of the previous. If you happen to replace your app, you will discover a way more streamlined expertise. All the pieces’s separated properly into rows that embrace sports activities, Apple TV+ content material, and, most significantly, customized suggestions. I have been ready so lengthy to get my fingers on one thing like this, so it is good to lastly see Apple ship. With streamers getting increasingly into sports activities, it is good to have a separate class in order that those that have an interest can simply discover it, and alternatively, anyone uninterested can keep away from it.

To their credit score, Netflix has performed a superb job of recommending issues to me based mostly on my preferences, and I’ve all the time wished different streamers might sustain in that space. Apple has definitely taken the suitable steps right here, however there’s nonetheless work that needs to be performed. An issue I run into throughout all platforms is how the dwell content material is dealt with. For instance, if I wish to tune right into a dwell episode of AEW Dynamite on Max, extra instances than not I’ve to manually kind AEW within the search bar to get to it. Having it accessible in its personal row would save quite a lot of time for me. Generally it is entrance and heart for me and generally it is not. Whether or not it is right down to consumer error or one thing else, Apple’s new method is a a lot better match for me and others must take notes. One other underrated change is the carousel of latest exhibits on the prime of the app. These are all Apple TV+ originals, however it’s good to rotate by the hit exhibits as an alternative of getting to trace them down myself.

As of tvOS 18.4, there’s so much to love right here. It is easy to seek out out what a present is all about by clicking the massive “i” icon, and you can even study its launch schedule simply by trying on the present’s icon. That is just like how Netflix and Max already deal with their exhibits, so it is matching them greater than blazing a brand new path, however these are nonetheless huge adjustments.

I do not assume Apple goes to do something about it at this level, however it’d be good to see the Apple TV+ content material get spun off into its personal app sooner or later as a result of the Apple TV app nonetheless feels prefer it’s principally an commercial for Apple TV+ regardless of it accessing loads of different content material. It is a nitpick and one thing that is to be anticipated, I suppose, however I feel it’d go a great distance towards cleansing up among the bloat I really feel when opening up the app. It type of works that approach on Android gadgets, surprisingly, as a result of that model of the app solely offers me the Apple TV+ content material and nothing else.

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I want the Apple TV 4K would take notes from the Roku Extremely

I hope Apple borrows from the Roku playbook.

Streaming retains altering, however the companies aren’t maintaining

An ever-changing world

As of 2025, your favourite streaming service doubtless airs dwell TV of some kind. Whether or not it is sports activities, wrestling, actuality TV, and even airing native channels, streaming has a big selection of viewing content material on show. For each considered one of these companies, I feel there must be quite a lot of work performed for a way simply the dwell exhibits are discovered. Some apps do it higher than others, and with Apple’s newest replace, I feel that is the chief of the pack.

Both I have not been paying an excessive amount of consideration, or streaming companies have not drastically modified their consumer interfaces shortly. Max adjustments its colours and title every so often, however the app acquired its greatest change when it retired the previous cut up menus in favor of the clear design. Now, all the things may be discovered on the left aspect of the display screen, so there isn’t any want for me to scroll throughout the aspect or prime anymore.

That is a pleasant change from Max, and now Apple has made it simpler to seek out content material. For me, the largest factor lacking from streaming is accessibility. For instance, Netflix has a variety of issues to observe, however it’s not all the time straightforward to seek out all the things. There are such a lot of sections to rotate by, and I do know lots of people simply go and do one thing else earlier than discovering one thing.

The largest game-changer that is nonetheless to come back for Apple TV is full Netflix integration. Apple TV is an app that lets me join most streaming companies, so all the things’s in a single place barring the largest streamer on the market. If Netflix built-in, because it did by chance earlier this yr, then I would not must open the Netflix app ever once more. I’d solely must depend on the clear and improved Apple TV app, and that is a giant win for me. Because it stands, Netflix is by itself island, however I’d love for it to lastly give in and be part of Apple TV. I am going to preserve my fingers crossed and hope that mistake from this yr turns into a actuality.

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