Apple TV+ now also available as an app for Android smartphones
Apple is now also offering its streaming service as a native Android app for smartphones. This will allow the iPhone manufacturer to reach a larger audience.
Apple now also offers its TV app for Android.
(Image: Apple)
Apple is now officially opening its Apple TV+ streaming service for Android smartphones, tablets and foldables. Until now, subscribers on Android had to use a browser, but now a native app is also available. This has been available on Android TV devices for some time.
According to Apple, the Apple TV app on Android has been developed from scratch to offer Android users a familiar user interface. With the native app, Apple TV+ and the MLS Season Pass (Major League Soccer) can also be subscribed to via the Google Play account. Apple is also offering a seven-day free trial period.
Users will find familiar functions from the TV app on iOS in the Android version, such as the "Watchlist" to save favorites, "Continue watching" to resume playback from the last point viewed, or downloading content to view offline. The app requires Android 10 or a newer version of the operating system.
Already available for many smart TVs
Apple TV+ has been available since November 1, 2019. The iPhone manufacturer does not disclose subscriber figures. Unconfirmed estimates assume 25 million customers in 2022. Apple's Services division, which includes TV+, has been growing significantly for years. Apple has reportedly invested billions of US dollars in the production of high-quality series and films, some of which feature a prominent cast. Well-known names include series such as Severance, Ted Lasso and The Morning Show. The sports offerings include Major League Soccer and Friday Night Baseball from the US Major League Baseball.
The Apple TV app was already available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, for numerous smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Sony, TV sticks from Google and Amazon as well as games consoles (from PlayStation 4 and Xbox One).
Videos by heise
Not Apple's first Android app
Three years ago, there were already reports about alleged beta tests of an Android version of the Apple TV app. However, rumors that a launch was imminent did not materialize. However, there were signs that the project was making progress in June 2024 when an Apple job advertisement explicitly mentioned an Android developer for the TV app.
Although Apple naturally prefers its own app ecosystem, several Android apps from Cupertino are already available. These include Apple Music, Apple Music Classical, the "Move to iOS" app for moving data to an iPhone and the "Tracker Detect" app for recognizing AirTags. There is also an app for Beats headphones in the Play Store.
(mki)
