HBO Max · Get · New US Ad-Free subscribers; existing HBO Max Ad-Free subscribers from Dec 2023 · US
Ad-Free plan lost 4K and a stream when HBO Max became Max
When HBO Max became Max, 4K moved from the $15.99 Ad-Free plan to a new $19.99 tier and Ad-Free dropped to 2 streams
Was 4K on $15.99 Ad-Freenow 4K only on $19.99 Ultimate
What this means for you
New Ad-Free subscribers got 1080p and 2 streams at once for the same $15.99, instead of 4K on select titles and 3 streams. 4K and more streams required the $19.99 Ultimate Ad-Free plan. Existing HBO Max Ad-Free subscribers lost them on or after December 5, 2023.
What you can do
Evidence
HBO Max became Max on May 23, 2023. HBO Max's help center (May 19, 2023) says select titles play in 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision 'with the Ad-Free plan'; Max's help center (May 28, 2023) says 4K UHD needs the new Ultimate Ad-Free plan. WBD's April 12, 2023 announcement lists Max Ad Free at $15.99 with 2 concurrent streams and 1080 resolution; The Verge reported that HBO Max Ad-Free subscribers had three streams. WBD said existing HBO Max subscribers would keep their plan features for at least six months.
- 4K UHD and HDR (select titles)
- Was Included with Ad-FreeUltimate Ad-Free only ($19.99/mo)
- Streams at once (Ad-Free)
- Was 32
- Ad-Free price
- $15.99/mo · unchanged
Sources
- Warner Bros. Discovery Unveils Max Streaming Service (PR Newswire, Apr 12, 2023) · archived
- HBO Max Help Center: Stream HBO Max in 4K (before, May 19 2023) · archived
- Max Help Center: Stream Max in 4K UHD (after, May 28 2023) · archived
- Max Help Center: Max plans (after, May 23 2023) · archived
- HBO Max Help Center: Max is coming in May (May 19, 2023) · archived
- The Verge: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers (Nov 2, 2023) (secondary) · archived
- New subscribers:
- May 23, 2023
- Existing subscribers:
- Dec 5, 2023 · WBD said HBO Max subscribers would keep their current plan features for at least six months after launch. Max later emailed legacy Ad-Free subscribers that 4K/HDR and the third stream would end on or after Dec 5, 2023, with the price staying $15.99 (per The Verge, Nov 2, 2023).
Effective May 23, 2023 · First recorded Apr 12, 2023 · Reconstructed · High confidence