Is HBO Max worth it?

Internet TV, also known as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), in the simplest terms, is audio and video displayed on your screen over an internet connection. You can access internet TV through a set-top box on your television screen, mobile devices such as phones or tablets or on a computer screen.

It’s a unique video-on-demand streaming service from Home Box Office and Warner Media with original, old and new content. Launched in May of 2020 in the United States, it has become quite popular and all its subscribers can gain full time access to more than 10,000 hours of top-tier content, including HBO shows such as Game of Thrones and the Sopranos and recent movies such as Studio Ghibli catalog among others. It gives you a chance to catch up on Friends and multiple WarnerMeida shows. That said, you may be questioning whether HBO Max is with it.

Well, HBO Max is a worthy investment if you are already subscribed to HBO and maybe if you are an Xfinity Comcast subscriber. Otherwise, you may want to look at other inexpensive streaming services that offer similar if not better services.

What are the advantages of subscribing to HBO Max?

Huge Catalog of Popular TV Shows and Movies from multiple sources

HBO Max a huge catalogue of popular and newly released movies and TV shows from various sources to cater for all your entertainment needs and to create a more interesting platform for you. This significantly eliminates boredom that would come from watching the same thing repeatedly.

No ads

Unlike other third party streaming applications, HBO Max is completely ad-free. This is an advantage as you do not have to deal with the frustrating effects that come with commercial filled videos. In fact, an ad-free experience is equivalent to a seamless and immersive TV watching experience.

Supports Profile and Parental Control Tools

It has closed captioning options that are available right from the playback screen on both the web interface and the mobile app which makes it quite convenient and easy to navigate through. It also gives you the chance to change options related to the display window, background and font. When it comes to its parental control tools, it gives you a chance to create a Kid’s profile with your children’s age and then it uploads content based on the specified restrictions. You also have the chance to manually specify what you prefer your kids watching. An added advantage is that no user can switch profiles without keying in the pin that you had originally set.

Offline Downloads on Mobile

HBO Max has a download feature that allows you to download your favorite TV shows and movies so that you can watch them offline on your iOS or Android device, whether a tablet or a smartphone. Offline video access comes in handy when you are travelling to remote areas with no internet access, when you are experiencing a power blackout or when you do not wish to use your mobile data plan and would like to catch up on your favorite shows.

What are the disadvantages of HBO Max?

Pricier than other Competitors

HBO Max costs about $14.99 per month which is quite costly when compared to other streaming services. The table below compares the prices between HBO Max and other streaming services so that you can establish the differences between them.

Streaming Services	HBO Max	Amazon Prime Video	Netflix	Hulu	CBS All Access’s ad free plans	Acorn TV	BritBox	Disney Plus
Price per month	$14.99	$8.99	$13.99 for its premium plan	$11.99	$9.99	$5.99	$6.99	$6.99

 

No 4K content

Unfortunately, HBO Max does not offer content in 4K resolutionnor does it support High Dynamic Range (HDR) streaming. So you may miss out on a completely immersive TV watching experience as compared to Netflix which supports 4K and HDR content. Also, it doesn’t offer Dolby Atmos support, which means that it isn’t compatible with your high-end audio devices or sound bars.

No audio descriptions

Well, the HBO app does not include Descriptive Video Service audio tracks for any of its videos. Generally, audio descriptions aid in the development of children and anyone in the autism spectrum. It is more of less a means to inform any of these groups about actions, on-screen texts, scene changes or characters on the screen.

Can’t Select Streaming Resolution

HBO max doesn’t have any manual video quality settings that allow you to select your preferred streaming resolution unlike other TV streaming services. Instead, HBPO automatically adjusts the video quality of your TV shows and movies based on your internet speeds ad your network bandwidth. However, most of their shows are available in HD which isn’t so bad after all.

What devices are supported by HBO Max?

HBO Max supports a wide range of smart devices, including both iOS and Android devices including smartphones and tablets among others and web browsers. All you need to do is download the HBO Max app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to start streaming. In addition, it has applications for Apple TV and Android TV, as well as support for Google Chromecast streaming hardware.

Also, a great number of smart TVs that have been deployed into the entertainment industry by companies such as LG, Sony and Samsung among others are compatible with HBO Max. Most of them are supported by HBO Max via AirPlay2 and Casting technologies. If you are a gamer, your Xbox One and PlayStation gaming consoles are also compatible with this particular streaming service but it isn’t compatible with Nintendo Switch.

Aside from that, HBO Max is also compatible with Amazon Fire TV devices and it works seamlessly with Roku devices as well. It has also been added by Comcast to the Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex set-top boxes.

Verdict: Is HBO Max a worthy investment?

In a way, HBO Max seems to have its own niche carved out and it seems to be the most ideal option for anyone who has already subscribed to HBO and Xfinity Comcast Internet.

When compared to other streaming TV services such as Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus and Netflix among others, HBO Max seems to cost you a fortune. So, you may need to evaluate your overall entertainment needs and personal preferences before making a choice to subscribe.

FAQs

1. Can I download TV shows and movies from HBO Max and watch them offline when I can’t get access to an internet connection?

Yes, you can. However, you can only do this on the HBO Max app.

2. Does HBO Max feature commercial advertisements?

No. HBO Max is an ad-free subscription video-on-demand service. So you won’t have to deal with continuous ads when streaming your favorite TV shows and movies.