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HBO Max is now called Max. The relaunched streaming service merges HBO's library of original series with content from Discovery Plus, along with and a huge catalog of blockbuster movies and TV shows. 

The service costs $20/month for the Ultimate plan with ad-free 4K support, $16/month for ad-free HD streaming, or $10/month for ad-supported HD streaming. Most people who already have HBO through cable automatically get Max without having to pay extra.

In its previous form, HBO Max was already a solid streaming service, and the "Max" rebranding and expansion should add a bit more value. Its large selection of hit movies, prestige series, and unscripted content makes it a strong competitor in the increasingly crowded digital entertainment market. 

Below, we've detailed all the basics to help you decide if Max is right for your needs, including pricing, content selection, and what the Discovery Plus merger means for existing HBO Max members.

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How can I sign up for Max (formerly HBO Max)?

You can sign up for Max through Max.com. You can also subscribe directly through select partner services, including Amazon Prime Video, AT&T, DirecTV, Spectrum, Hulu, and YouTube TV. If you were an existing HBO Max member, your subscription automatically transitioned to Max on May 23. 

Quick tip: If you pay for HBO with your cable package, you likely already have Max as part of your subscription. Members with supported providers can simply use their account to sign in to app.

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How much is Max?

Like HBO Max, Max costs $16/month for ad-free streaming or $10/month for ad-supported streaming. In addition, Max now has a new Ultimate ad-free plan for $20/month. 

Subscribers can save up to 20% by signing up for an annual subscription to any plan. An annual Ultimate plan is $200 a year, an ad-free plan is $150 a year, and an ad-supported plan is $100 a year.

Max's ad-supported plan offers HD streaming on up to two screens at a time with commercials. The ad-free plan offers commercial-free streaming in HD on up to two screens, along with support for 30 downloads. The Ultimate ad-free plan adds 4K support with Dolby Atmos audio, 100 downloads, and lets you stream on up to four screens at a time. 

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Does Max offer a free trial?

Though HBO Max initially offered a free trial after launch, Max does not give new members a trial. However, there is one workaround. Amazon Prime Video members can get a one-week free trial of Max if they sign up for the service as a Prime Video channel. The trial is only available to new members.

Where can I watch Max?

Max can be streamed via its official website and the Max app, which was formerly the HBO Max app. Existing members might need to manually download the new Max app.

You can find the app on Apple, Android, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast devices, as well as smart TVs from LG and Samsung.

Those who sign up for Max directly though a partnered service, like Hulu, will be able to access regular HBO content through the partner service's app. To watch Max exclusives, however, you still need the separate Max app.

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When is HBO Max merging with Discovery Plus?

HBO Max and Discovery Plus merged into one streaming service called Max on May 23. The new service replaced HBO Max, but Discovery Plus continues to remain as a separate platform. 

Ad-supported and ad-free Max plans remain the same price as those on HBO Max. A new Ultimate tier with 4K streaming support is now available for $20 a month. Existing HBO Max accounts will automatically migrate to Max.

On its own, Discovery Plus still costs $5/month with ads or $7/month without ads. The service offers shows from Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Food Network, and HGTV, along with several original series.

During its Q2 2022 earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery outlined how HBO Max and Discovery Plus complement each other by appealing to different demographics. Now that they're combined, the new service has the potential to attract a wider range of subscribers by offering all of HBO Max's scripted content and Discovery Plus' unscripted titles. 

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Can I watch movies in 4K on Max?

HBO Max previously offered a limited selection of 4K titles through its ad-free plan ($16/month), but new Max subscribers now need the Ultimate plan to get 4K support ($20/month). If you signed up for HBO Max's ad-free plan before May 23, you will still get 4K streaming for at least six months before needing to upgrade.

Though 4K support is now more expensive, Warner Bros. Discovery has expanded Max's library of 4K content as part of the rebranding. At launch, Max has more than 1,000 movies and TV episodes in 4K, which is almost eight times the amount of 4K content that was on HBO Max. Many 4K titles also support HDR (high dynamic range) using the HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats.

Some notable titles in 4K on Max include "The Last of Us," "Game of Thrones," the "Harry Potter" films, and classics like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Goodfellas." You can find a full list of 4K titles and supported 4K streaming devices on Max's website.

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What movies and shows are on Max?

Like HBO Max, Max includes access to new and classic HBO shows, from "The Last of Us" and "The Sopranos" to "Succession" and "House of the Dragon." On top of that, Max offers content from Discovery Plus, additional movies and shows from the Warner Bros. Discovery catalog, and brand-new originals.

Warner Bros. will also bring all of its new theatrical releases to Max after they play on the big screen. Some notable movies on Max right now include "Shazam: Fury of the Gods," "The Banshees of Inisherin," "The Menu," "The Batman," "Black Adam," "Don't Worry Darling," and "Elvis."

Meanwhile, some popular Max original series you can stream right now include hit shows like:

Beyond original programs, the catalog offers a wide range of TV series from Discovery, HGTV, TLC, DC, Cartoon Network, CNN, and Adult Swim. The Max movie catalog also incorporates critically acclaimed films from TCM, Criterion Collection, and Studio Ghibli, alongside hundreds of blockbuster Warner Bros. movies.

The Max catalog is not permanent, however, and the service is known for removing content with little warning. For example, recent cost-cutting measures led to the removal of shows like "Westworld" and shorts from the "Looney Tunes" franchise.

Video Game Reporter

Tech Updates Editorial Fellow

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