An upgrade in HBO Max? Did I hear that right? Warner Bros. announced that there will be a merger of Discovery Plus and HBO Max and the streaming platform will be called “Max.”
HBO Max will rebrand to Max on 23 May in the US. There will be a few tweaks besides the name change and here are the details for you. Max will be a much bigger and expanded streaming service than HBO Max.
While HBO Max content library consists of Max Originals, Warner Bros. Films, HBO Originals, Shows like Peacemaker, Harry Potter, Batman Movies, and DC Universe Movies, the Max content catalog will be massive; it will offer content from Food Network, ID, TLC, HGTV, Discovery Channel, etc.
Here are the following differences between HBO Max and Max that we know!
HBO Max vs Max: At First Sight
| HBO Max | Max | |
| Monthly Price | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Monthly Ad-free Price | $15.99 | $15.99 |
| Monthly Ultimate Ad-free price | n/a | $19.99 |
| Streaming Quality | Up to 4K | Full HD ($9.99 and $15.99) 4K ($19.99) |
| Downloads | 30 with an ad-free tier | 30 with an ad-free Max and 100 with an Ultimate Ad-Free |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 | 2 (But with Ultimate Ad-free tier 4) |
| Content | HBO, Workshop, HBO Max Originals, DC, movies, Adult Swim, Studio Ghibli films, TCM, Sesame | Same HBO Max catalog + Discovery content |
| Dolby Vision and Atmos | Select content | Select content and will only work with Ultimate Ad-free tier |
| Available | Until 23 May 2023 | Starting from 23 May 2023 |
Are You Subscribed to HBO Max? This Is What You Should Know
These are the things you should know about if you are an HBO Max subscriber:
- Max will launch on 23 May in the US and later this year in Latin America. Max will probably launch in 2024 in European and Asian countries.
- HBO Max subscribers do not have to pay more as Max and HBO Max subscription cost is the same.
- HBO Max subscribers will have access to their current plan features for six months after the launch of Max.
- On 23 May, subscribers will be notified to update the HBO Max app or install the new Max app.
- Subscribers ‘My List,’ Settings, Watch History, ‘Continue Watching,’ and profiles will shift to Max.
- Max will also be compatible with all the devices that HBO Max is.
HBO Max vs Max: Interface Tweaks
If you compare the two, there are slight changes in the Max home screen design. The main navigation has moved to the top center instead of being in the top left corner. We didn’t find the Play Button on its home screen. Plus, HBO will now become a major section next to New and Notable, Series, and Movies in the Max app.
HBO Max vs Max: Plans and Their Pricing
Max subscription tiers have the same price quotation as HBO Max and they are currently going to keep the prices similar, which is good. Its tier with ads costs around $9.99/month or $99.99 annually (with 17% off) and its tier without ads is about $15.99/month or $149.99 yearly (with a 22% discount).
The only difference between the pricing plans of these streaming platforms is that Max has added a new tier, i.e., an Ultimate Ad-free tier that is about $19.99/month or $199.99 annual price (with 17% savings). With this tier, you can watch your favorite content in 4K and it will also allow more downloads.
Not to mention, the FAQ pages of the streaming platform Max state that all HBO Max subscribers can keep and use their preferred plan features up to six months after the Max launch.
HBO Max vs Max: Consolidation of HBO Max and Discovery Plus Content Catalog
This is the most significant change you will observe. Although Max will be the new name for HBO Max, its content catalog will not get replaced. Aside from the HBO Max content, Max will feature a profound and vast content library, even the Children’s TV and unscripted docuseries from Discovery Plus like 90 Day Fiancé, Magnolia Network programs like Fixer Upper, and Deadliest Catch.
This new streaming service will consolidate the existing HBO Max content and Discovery Plus content like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, and Succession and will also be a home of new programs like Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and A Knight of Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. However, Warner Bros. has not yet declared that the entire Discovery Plus catalog will be available, so don’t get your hopes up too much!
Max will also include other new shows like Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge premiering on HGTV and new movies like Dune Part Two, Blue Beetle, and Barbie Movie.
HBO Max vs Max: Special Features and Its Streaming Quality
The thing is Max has locked all of its special features and 4K UHD streaming behind the Ultimate Ad-free tier. You can also use Dolby Atmos (higher sound quality by interpreting it as three-dimensional objects) and Dolby Vision (significantly improves depth, contrast, and provides incredible color accuracy) only with this Ultimate Ad-free tier. So in short, you will have to pay $19.99 a month to stream your favorite content in high-quality.
If you are wondering why you have to pay $19.99 a month is because Netflix has introduced its $20 Premium Tier which includes Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and 4K.
What’s more, with its ad-free tiers you can download around thirty pieces of content; however, if you have the Ultimate tier, you can get around 100 downloads. Moreover, the sad news is that HBO Max’s simultaneous streams have plummeted from three to only two simultaneous streams per account, except for those who have subscribed to the Ultimate tier, who will get four simultaneous streams.
HBO Max vs Max – Final Thoughts
On 23 May, HBO Max will transition into Max and the subscribers will have the luxury to stream Discovery Plus content in the same catalog. Plus, Max is giving four subscription options, i.e., Ad-supported, Ad-free, Ultimate, or cancel.
If you ask me, I will either opt for the Ultimate or Ad-free tier because we are curious to know how much 4K content Max can offer.
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