Important Details
- The Apple TV app is now available on Android, eliminating the need for Android users to use a web browser to access Apple TV Plus content.
- On Android, Apple TV utilizes Google Play Billing, allowing users to subscribe through the Google Play Store without requiring an Apple device. This change also extends to the Android TV or Google TV apps.
- The Apple TV app for Android is specifically for accessing Apple TV Plus or MLS Season Pass and cannot be used to view previously purchased iTunes content.
After more than five years since the launch of the Apple TV Plus streaming service, Apple has finally introduced the Apple TV app for Android. Starting on Feb. 12, users can now download the Apple TV app from the Google Play Store to access Apple TV Plus and MLS Season Pass subscriptions. This move comes after Apple previously released an Apple TV app for Android TV and Google TV platforms in 2021.
The newly introduced Apple TV app is compatible with devices running Android 10 or later, which includes a variety of smartphones, tablets, and foldable devices. Unlike the Apple TV app on Apple devices, the Android version will not provide access to certain features such as iTunes content or Apple TV channels. Instead, the focus is on Apple’s streaming services.
The Android version of the app is designed to be cross-platform, offering features like “Continue Watching.” Users can begin watching a show or movie on one device and seamlessly continue from where they left off on another device, whether it’s an Apple or Android device. Additionally, users can create a “Watchlist” to plan their streaming activities and download Apple TV Plus content for offline viewing on their Android devices.
An important update is the integration of Google Play Billing by Apple. This allows Android users to subscribe to Apple TV Plus through the Google Play Store directly within the Android app, in addition to signing up on an Apple device or through the web. This marks a significant change as the previous version of the Apple TV app for Android/Google TV did not support in-app subscriptions.
Apple has stated that the app is tailored for Android, offering a “familiar and user-friendly interface.” However, there are some features that may be missed by long-time Android users. For example, Google Cast is not available initially, preventing users from casting content from the Apple TV app on their Android phone to Google TV, Nest, or Chromecast devices. Nonetheless, Apple plans to enhance and expand the features of the Apple TV app for Android in the future, potentially including Google Cast support.
Apple TV Plus and MLS Season Pass are the two streaming services available on the Apple TV app for Android. Apple TV Plus, priced at $9.99 per month, includes popular shows like Severance and Ted Lasso, along with Friday Night Baseball, featuring two MLB games weekly during the regular season without regional blackouts. MLS Season Pass, the all-access streaming service for Major League Soccer, is priced at $14.99 per month or $99 for the entire season.
Android users can now download the Apple TV app from the Google Play Store. Speculations about this release surfaced in October, and Apple Music app for Android has been available for nearly a decade.
You can enjoy a free seven-day trial of Apple TV Plus.