Access through Apple devices is easy enough - just head to the Apple TV app on your iPad, iPhone or Mac - but you’ll also be able to access it through smart TVs and, importantly, a range of streaming boxes.
While your TV might not offer the app - the cheapest way to get access to Apple’s content is going to be via Roku or Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.Apple TV+ costs$4.99 / £4.99 per month for a family subscription.
The cheapest route to Apple TV+
The cheapest way to get Apple TV+ on your TV is with either the Roku Express or the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite. Both these devices are affordable, but only support up to 1080p streaming.
Roku Express HD
The Roku Express is an HD streaming device that turns any TV into an internet-ready smart TV. The package comes with an HDMI cord, a remote control, and a USB power cable.
If you are connecting to a TV that only supports Full HD then that’s no problem, you won’t be missing out, making either of these devices a great choice for a second TV or a bedroom TV. TheRoku Expressis a small box that connects via cable to your TV’s HDMI input.
It comes with an IR remote - so you need line of sight - but it’s very easy to navigate the interface and there’s support for a wide range of TV services beyond Apple TV+ - Netflix, Amazon Video, BBC iPlayer, Now TV, Hulu, HBO Now and more depending on your region. The downside is that it doesn’t support HDR.
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Alternatively, theAmazon Fire TV Stick Liteplugs straight into your TV giving you access to a wide range of services. Naturally it’s designed for Amazon’s content first, but also supports Netflix, Apple TV+ and a lot more.
Coming from Amazon it supports Alexa too, meaning you can use voice searching right from the remote. While it’s also 1080p only, it does support some HDR formats.
How to get the best quality Apple TV+ on your TV
If you’re more interested in taking advantage of Apple’s support for 4K HDR content, then you’ll need something a little more advanced, although not much more expensive. WhileApple TV 4Kmight seem like the obvious choice, you can get access to the TV services for much less money.
Remember that you not only get access to Apple TV+ through the Apple TV app - but all the iTunes TV content you may have purchased in the past too.
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TheAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Maxis the obvious choice for those wanting the best quality from Apple TV but without paying more than you need to. This streaming stick is very similar to the Fire TV Stick above, but it supports 4K resolutions and it supports Dolby Vision - which Apple TV also offers - and it’s Amazon’s most powerful Fire TV Stick.
Otherwise the experience is very much the same, with a full range of services (Netflix and Amazon both offer Dolby Vision too), but note that you need to have a TV that supports Dolby Vision if that’s what you want to watch.
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Alternatively theRoku Streaming Stick 4Kis a fantastic alternative. It supports Dolby Vision so your content will look great and we’ve always been impressed with the performance of this device, with the advantage that it also supports AirPlay 2.
There’s also theRoku Express 4Kwhich is cheaper than the Streaming Stick 4K, but we prefer to have the stick tucked away behind the TV and out of sight.
Those are the cheapest ways to get Apple TV+ on your TV, whether it’s a small Full HD TV, or if you want to go for the best quality that the service will offer.
