Max, the streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery, has announced some disappointing changes to its standard ad-free plan, which costs $15.99 per month. Starting from December 5, 2023, the plan will no longer include 4K Ultra HD content and will allow only two concurrent streams, down from three before.
According to an email sent to subscribers on November 2, 2023, Max is making these changes to its standard ad-free plan to “unlock more features” for its ultimate ad-free plan, which costs $19.99 per month. The ultimate plan offers 4K UHD content with Dolby Atmos and Vision on select titles, up to four concurrent streams, and up to 100 offline downloads.
Max launched its ultimate ad-free plan in May 2023, when it rebranded from HBO Max. At that time, it also increased the price of its standard ad-free plan from $14.99 to $15.99 per month, while keeping the same features. The company said that it had implemented more advanced technology workflows to release more 4K content in a faster and more efficient way.
How Subscribers Can Keep 4K Content and Three Streams
Subscribers who are currently on the standard ad-free plan will have access to all of its features until their next billing date, on or after December 5, 2023. After that, they will have to either accept the changes or upgrade to the ultimate ad-free plan to keep 4K content and three streams.
Max also offers an ad-supported plan, which costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. This plan allows two concurrent streams and full HD 1080p resolution, but does not include offline downloads or access to same-day movie premieres.
What 4K Content is Available on Max
Max claims to have more than 1,000 films and episodes in 4K UHD, an increase of nearly eightfold over what had been available on HBO Max. Some of the titles that are available in 4K on Max include:
- Dune
- The Matrix Resurrections
- The Suicide Squad
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League
- Wonder Woman 1984
- Godzilla vs. Kong
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- Mortal Kombat
- Friends: The Reunion
- Game of Thrones
- The Flight Attendant
- The Undoing
- Euphoria
- Raised by Wolves
- Lovecraft Country
How Max Compares to Other Streaming Services
Max is not the only streaming service that charges extra for 4K content and more streams. Netflix, for example, offers its basic plan for $9.99 per month, which allows one stream and standard definition resolution. Its standard plan costs $14.99 per month, which allows two streams and full HD 1080p resolution. Its premium plan costs $19.99 per month, which allows four streams and 4K UHD resolution with Dolby Vision and Atmos.
Disney+, on the other hand, offers one plan for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, which includes 4K UHD content with Dolby Vision and Atmos, and up to four concurrent streams. However, Disney+ also charges an additional $29.99 for some of its new movie releases, such as Black Widow and Jungle Cruise, under its Premier Access feature.
