Want to buy a new Mac and don’t want to spend a fortune? Buying a new Mac is an expensive business, but there is a way to get a new Mac for less money.

We don’t mean buy a second-hand Mac from someone on eBay. We mean you can get a brand-new Mac directly from Apple for less money. Read Should I buy a secondhand Mac?

Want to know how? Shop at Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store. On the Refurbished Store you can find Macs from the past few years all with money off Apple’s usual price. See just how much you can save here: How much can you save at Apple’s Refurbished Store.

The price isn’t the only reason to shop at Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store though. Here we’ll tell you all the reasons why you should buy a refurbished Mac.

Apple’s not the only place that sells refurbished Macs. We discuss the Best place to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac in a separate article and also make some recommendations below.

1. Refurbished Macs are as good as new

You might be thinking that buying from Apple’s Refurbished Store is a bit like buying secondhand, assuming that the Mac had a previous owner and for one reason or another they returned their Mac to Apple. Your concern might be that this means there is something wrong with the Mac, but as you will see from the point below, Apple will have identified and fixed any faults.

The Mac you are buying probably hasn’t come straight from the factory, but its interlude with a prior customer will have been brief. The previous owner may have exercised their consumer rights and returned it unused within 14 days (which is the extent of Apple’s refund and exchange policy). Or the Mac might have been used as a demonstration model, but this doesn’t mean that it will have been used by lots of people and it is unlikely to have undergone any intensive processing.

2. You can get the current generation Macs for less

You can save money on the current generation of Macs if you shop in the Refurbished Store.

For example, in July 2023 we found a refurbished 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip for $929, which is a saving of $170, and less than the M1 MacBook Air still sells for.

It usually takes a few months before Apple starts selling the current generation of Macs on the Refurbished Store, but Apple started selling refurbished M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro and M2 Mac mini in the refurbished store in May 2023, about four months after they initially went on sale in January 2023.

3. You can get more for your money

Buying from the Refurbished Store is a great way to get a more powerful Mac than the current entry-level for less money.

If you shop for your Mac in your local Apple Store, at an Apple Authorized Reseller, or in Apple’s online store, you can only buy the newest version of a particular Mac. Turn instead to the Refurbished Store and you will find Macs from the past few years at a lower price than their successors.

The really enticing thing is that these older Macs often aren’t a lot different from the current models. Sure, the newer Mac might have the next-generation processor, but if you had the choice of an M2 or an M1 Pro then the M1 Pro would still be a more powerful option. See our Mac processor comparison.

For example, we took a look at the Apple Refurbished Store in July 2023 and found a refurbished 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip (14-core GPU, 512GB SSD, and 16GB Unified Memory) for $1,539. This is a saving of $360 on the $1,899 price it had when it was new. But the deal is even better when you consider that a brand new 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip, configured to have the same 512GB SSD and 16GB memory, would cost $1,699 and would be a less powerful Mac with a 10-core GPU.

Typically you can see the following savings at Apple’s Refurbished Store for the current generation and older generation Macs:

• $90-$170 off a MacBook Air.
• $190 -$610 off a MacBook Pro.
• $90-$200 off a Mac mini.
• $200-$260 off an iMac.
• $270 off a Mac Studio.

There are also some big savings to be had on Intel-powered iMacs.

4. Apple tests and replaces parts if necessary

You might be thinking that this is all very well, but these are Macs that are likely to have been returned to Apple due to a fault with them. Would it be unwise to buy a Mac that has already proven to be faulty?

The great news here is that you can be sure that any fault will have been rectified by Apple. The company says that all refurbished Macs include “full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary),” as well as “a thorough cleaning”.

The Mac you are buying will have had more checks than any Mac coming straight from a factory so you can be sure that any problems will have been caught.

5. You get a one-year warranty and 90 days of tech support

Even better, you get a one-year warranty, so if anything does go wrong getting it fixed will be easy and free.

You also get complimentary technical support, which means you will be able to phone Apple up if you have any problems with setup, installation of software, and any connection problems.

You can also extend the one-year warranty up to three years if you buy AppleCare protection when you purchase your refurbished Mac.

If you buy secondhand from another source you will only have any remaining warranty left over–and since the model you are buying is likely to be more than a year old this protection will have expired.

6. It’s dispatched for free with free returns

Because you are buying the Mac from Apple directly it comes with other benefits. For example, not only will there be no shipping costs associated with your new Mac (Apple will dispatch it to you for free).

You will also be protected by Apple’s 14-day returns policy, which means that if you change your mind you can send it back, no questions asked, within two weeks.

7. You could get your new Mac today!

Another benefit is that if the Mac is in stock at your local Apple Store you could pick it up today. And if you would prefer that it was delivered to you, it could arrive as soon as tomorrow.

8. You can purchase your refurbished Mac with financing options

If you don’t have the money right now you can still get your new Mac. Apple offers financing options. In the U.S. Apple offers its own Apple Card which brings the advantage of 3% Daily Cash Back when you buy from Apple.

The Apple Card isn’t available in the U.K., but Barclays and PayPal Credit provides finance if you want to buy a new Mac. You just need to apply for financing when you check out.

You can also trade in an old product to get credit toward your new purchase. You could get up to $775/£615 credit for trading in a MacBook Pro, for example.

9. You don’t have to deal with a previous user

Dealing with Apple is a real benefit. You don’t need to deal with a previous owner who might not be completely honest about problems with the machine, or might be difficult if later on you experience problems.

Dealing with Apple directly should give you peace of mind that you are buying exactly what is advertised and that if there are any issues they will be dealt with professionally.

10. You might be able to save even more

Apple isn’t the only place you can buy a refurbished Mac. There are a number of Apple Resellers and Refurbishment specialists who will also sell you a secondhand Mac that has been thoroughly checked over.

We’d advise that you are a little more cautious if it isn’t Apple selling the refurbished Mac, and we recommend that you don’t buy a very old Mac, even if it has been refurbished, but this can be a good way to get a reasonably new Mac for less.

These refurbished stores will have thoroughly checked the Mac so you can be confident it will work!

In the U.S.:

• Apple
• Amazon
• Back Market
• Best Buy
• Decluttr
• Gainsaver
• OWC
• Mac Of All Trades
• Refurb.me

In the U.K.:

• Affordable Mac
• Apple
• Amazon
• BackMarket
• Hoxton Macs
• Laptops Direct
• MacFinder
• Mac 4 Sale
• Music Magpie

If you want to know more about buying a refurbished Mac, read this: Where to buy a Refurbished Mac.

We also have
Best Place to buy a Mac and
When is the best time to buy a Mac.

For advice about which Mac to buy read out
Best Mac Buying Guide

And if you want a deal on a new Mac, read:
Best MacBook Pro deals or
Best iMac deals

Mac, MacBook

Best Prices Today: Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s SuperDock! But what makes Sonnet’s latest Thunderbolt 4 laptop docking station so super?

The super-ness is not the 19 top-end ports, although these are certainly impressive. It’s not the 2.5x faster Ethernet connection. And it’s not the backward-compatible Thunderbolt 4 technology that is certified to the very latest Intel standards.

What makes the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock so super is its built-in M.2 NVMe SSD slot which means you can add up to 8TB of SSD storage to your system without connecting an external storage device to the dock or computer.

But first, let’s look at the abundance of ports this dock boasts to connect devices at top speed.

Specs and features

The Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock has a copious 19 ports. The “20” in the Echo 20’s name includes the power supply port, which we don’t usually count in our port countdown.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One HDMI 2.1 video port
• Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• Internal M.2 NVMe SSD slot
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (front)
• 3.5mm microphone jack (back)
• Two (right and left channels) line out RCA jacks (back)
• 150W power supply

The Echo 20 has more ports than we’ve seen with any docking station. Even the Caldigit TS4 Dock has only (!) 18, and it’s this kind of Thunderbolt 4 docks that Sonnet is gunning for. Read our fuller roundup of our other recommendations for the best Thunderbolt docks for Mac.

Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and USB-A ports  

All the Echo 20’s USB ports are at least 10Gbps (twice the bandwidth of the many docks’ USB ports). The TS4 has as many (8) but the Echo 20 has one more USB-C, while the TS4 has the extra USB-A. As more devices eschew Type A for Type C, we applaud Sonnet for having as many USB-C as USB-A.

You can daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices via the two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, although the devices connected will be sharing the 40Gbps bandwidth upstream to the laptop.

Rather than add the maximum possible three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, Sonnet includes two plus a high-end HDMI 2.1 video port so the user can add a direct external display without the need for an adapter.

If you plan to connect an HDMI display, that makes more sense than a third Thunderbolt 4 port.

Adding internal storage

The Echo 20 doesn’t ship with an SSD, so you need to purchase one yourself. A 1TB SSD can be found for under $50, 2TB for around $100, 4TB for $250. 8TB SSDs can cost between $800 and $1,000.

If you were configuring a new MacBook with 8TB of internal storage, Apple would charge you $2,200, so adding it to your connected docking station at half the price makes a lot of sense, and you can swap it out with other capacities as you desire.

It must be an M.2 NVMe SSD. With the right SSD, transfer and access data rates are up to 800MBps.

SSD installation is simple if you know how to use a screwdriver and don’t have shaky hands. Unscrew the two screws securing a panel cover on the back panel of the dock. Insert the SSD and re-secure the bottom cover.

However, we would have preferred Sonnet to include the correct screwdrivers with the dock as what you need—a tiny crosshead—may not be in the average toolbox.

The Echo 20 isn’t heavy but even with its compact power supply it’s not particularly portable, so what you store on that SSD isn’t going with you when you disconnect the laptop from the dock. It’s great for backups, archiving, and for large files you don’t need with you on the road.

There’s also a fast SD card reader for more portable storage…

Portable storage

The Echo 20 features just one SD card reader for portable storage, while the TS4 has both SD and MicroSD readers.

Having both formats offers more flexibility, and the two slots can be used at the same time, so the TS4 wins if you prefer portable storage to be installed.

Most MicroSD cards come with an SD adapter so the lack of MicroSD doesn’t stop you from choosing between the two memory-card formats on the Echo 20. MicroSD cards are usually cheaper than full-size SD.

Tiny memory cards were once the preserve of professional users such as photographers who use them to quickly transfer files. However, anyone can buy a quality 512GB card for around $75/£75, and they offer an inexpensive way of upping the storage in your laptop and are super portable, too.

The Echo 20’s UHS II SD card reader is rated fast at 312MBps—the same as the TS4’s.

As with other docks, if you prefer portable storage there are other options, too. For example, you could add a pocketable SSD enclosure, such as Ugreen’s M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Adapter, available for around $30 (also not including the SSD itself).

Dock display options

You can connect an external display via the HDMI 2.1 port (without the need for an adapter), and another screen via one of the Thunderbolt ports, or two via both the downstream Thunderbolt ports.

Dual-display support means M1/M2 Pro, M1/M2 Max and M1/M2 Ultra Macs can hook up either a single 4K/5K/6K screen or two HD/4K/5K/6K displays.

A Mac with an M2 Pro/Max/Ultra chip can support up to a single 8K display at 60Hz, or two HD/4K/5K/6K displays (both 4K at 60Hz).

Windows PCs and Chromebooks sporting Thunderbolt 4 can support up to a single 8K display at 60Hz, or two HD/4K displays at 60Hz.

If you install DisplayLink software you can run two displays off connected plain M1 and M2 Macs, which otherwise are limited to one display. Learn more about adding multiple screens to M1 or M2 Macs in our tutorial and solution recommender.

An interesting difference between the Echo 20 (HDMI 2.1) and the Caldigit TS4 (DisplayPort 1.4) is the choice of video port.

HDMI is the more popular port on displays but DisplayPort has traditionally been superior on the specs front. However, HDMI 2.1 has more than caught up with DP 1.4 so is a fine option even for high-end pros. HDMI 2.1 is a big leap up from HDMI 2.0, which is found on most other docking stations with a video port.

Audio ports front and back

Visuals aren’t the Echo 20’s only strength. There are four audio ports available. At the front is a 3.5mm combo jack for either wired headphones or a microphone, and at the back are separate left/right channel RCA line-out jacks that can deliver a clean signal to powered speakers or an amplifier, plus an extra 3.5mm microphone jack.

The TS4’s three audio ports are all 3.5mm. While there is no noticeable difference in sound quality between RCA and 3.5mm connectors, a lot of consumer A/V equipment still supports RCA connectors, which also provide a more secure connection than 3.5mm connectors.

Audio enthusiasts would prefer a Digital Audio port to connect directly to their amplifier, speakers, or home theatre receiver for the highest-quality, pure audio playback. Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 3-based TS3 Plus dock has one, but the audio ports on the Echo 20 will be good enough for most users.

Super-fast Ethernet

Another bid for “Super” status is the Echo 20’s super-fast 2.5Gb Gigabit Ethernet, which has the potential to be 2.5 times faster than standard Gigabit Ethernet. This again matches the wired-network port on the TS4.

To take advantage of the 2.5GbE speed, you need a connected device—such as a router/network switch—that is 2.5GbE or above

The 2.5Gb Ethernet port is backwards and forwards compatible with other speeds of Ethernet, so will work with a standard Gigabit Ethernet network.

Docking power

With 100W Power Delivery (PD), the Echo 20 can keep even the largest connected laptop powered up in full use.

Each USB port on the Echo 20 has a minimum charging power of 7.5W, and the downstream TB4 ports can offer 15W to power connected devices.

While this is impressive, it’s one area where the Caldigit TS4 has more muscle. Its 230W power supply is the most powered-up docking station we’ve ever tested, and one of the front USB-C ports can charge at a generous 20W–enough, for example, for fast-charging an iPhone via USB-C.

The Echo 20’s 150W power supply should, however, be powerful enough to charge a 100W laptop and have enough left for a few connected devices.

Design

Docking stations either lie horizontally, like the Echo 20, or stand vertically, like the TS4. Vertical docks save desk space but horizontal docks can offer a cleaner look.

Personally, I prefer the vertical design, but most docks, if doing their job correctly, soon blend into their desktop environment anyway.

Most docks place the upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (to the host laptop) at the front, which means a trailing cable messing up your desk. Both the Echo 20 and TS4 handily position the upstream port at the back of the dock.

The Echo 20 is jet black, while the TS4 is metal gray, although this is unlikely to be a decider when choosing between these two excellent two docking stations.

Price

The Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock costs $299.99, which measures up very favorably against the Caldigit TS4’s $399.99 and other Thunderbolt 4 docks such as Kensington’s SD5700T ($369.99).

Given its top-end specs, this is easily the best-value Thunderbolt 4 dock we have tested.

Note that there’s no SSD included with the Echo 20 so you need to factor in this if you want to add the internal storage, but it’s not even an option with other docks so doesn’t spoil the comparison.

Even if you don’t need the SSD enclosure now, the Echo 20 still represents great value for money.

Verdict

We didn’t think that Caldigit’s TS4 could be beaten but the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock is a very close match for the number and quality of ports but for $100 less.

It lacks a MicroSD card reader and doesn’t offer as much multi-device power, but it has other benefits—most noticeably the internal storage enclosure—and is specced high enough for most users.

The 19 ports are all top-end—Thunderbolt 4, 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A, 2.5Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1—and the inclusion of the onboard M.2 NVMe SSD slot gives the Echo 20 our crown as the new Thunderbolt 4 docking station of choice.

Computer Accessories, Tablet Accessories

Apple’s list of currently available content for Apple TV+ continues to grow, and so does the list of upcoming projects in the works. Films, limited series, specials, and multi-season series—Apple’s got lots of irons in the fire.

Some of these projects have been officially announced and acknowledged by Apple, while others have been reported by the Hollywood press, which always has its ear to the ground about what projects actors, directors, and producers are involved in.

We’ve divided this list in two: Coming Soon is a list of shows for which Apple has given an official release date or release window, and Further Out compiles content that is still in production or perhaps haven’t even begun yet.

Updated 06/29/23: The third season of The Morning Show is finally on the way, and premieres on September 13. This season adds John Hamm and Nicole Beharie to the cast.

You don’t need an Apple TV set top box to watch Apple TV+, nor do you have to pay for a subscription, see: How to watch Apple TV+ for free.

Coming Soon

The following shows, series, and movies have been officially announced by Apple and will typically will begin streaming in the next few weeks or months.

Duck & Goose (season 2)

What it’s about: Feathered friends Duck and Goose couldn’t be more different, but in this preschool show, they learn how to bring out the best in one another. Based on books by Tad Hills.

Important names: Stars Connor Andrade as Duck and JeCobi Swain as Goose.

When you can watch: The second season of Duck & Goose premieres on July 7, 2023.

The Afterparty (season 2)

What it’s about: Detective Danner returns to solve a whodunnit by questioning family members, star-crossed lovers, and business partners. Each epioside focuses on a retelling of the events from each character’s point of view, with their own unique style.

Important names: Tiffany Haddish returns alongside Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Elizabeth Perkins, Zach Woods, Paul Walter Hauser, Poppy Liu, and more.

When you can watch: Season 2 of The Afterparty premieres on July 12, 2023.

Foundation (season 2)

What it’s about: The second season of Apple’s epic big-budget sci-fi drama based on the Issac Asimov books of the same name.

Important names: Stars Lee Pace, Jared Harris, Lou Llobell, and Leah Harvey.

When you can watch: Season 2 of Foundation premieres on July 14, 2023.

Stephen Curry: Underrated

What it’s about: This feature documentary blends intimate cinéma vérité, archival footage ,and on camera interviews to documents Stephen Curry’s rise from an undersized college player at a small town Division I college to a four-time NBA champion, building one of the most dominant sports dynasties in the world.

Important names: Stephen Curry, of course. Directed by Peter Nicks.

When you can watch: Stephen Curry: Underrated will premiere on July 21, 2023.

The Beanie Bubble

What it’s about: A comedy drama about the story behind Beanie Babies, one of the hottest speculative crazes of the ’90s.

Important names: Starring Elizabeth Banks, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Snook, and Geraldine Viswanathan

When you can watch: The Beanie Bubble premieres on July 28, 2023.

Physical (season 3)

What it’s about: The third and final season of this comedy/drama about a housewife who starts a home fitness business in the 80s, and it takes her on a journey of empowerment.

Important names: Stars Rose Byrne, Murray Bartlett, Rory Scovel, and Dierdre Friel. Created by Annie Weisman.

When you can watch: The third season of Physical debuts on August 2, 2023.

Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie

What it’s about: This Peanuts special follows Marcie, an introvert who loves her solitude but also enjoys helping her friends. 

Important names: Features the same Peanuts characters we’ve come to know over the decades.

When you can watch: One-of-a-Kind Marcie premieres on August 18, 2023

The Morning Show (season 3)

What it’s about: One of Apple big launch shows and the recipient of several awards, we’ve been waiting a long time for the third season of this drama.

Important names: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, and Greta Lee star. Season three adds Jon Hamm and Nicole Beharie to the cast.

When you can watch: Season 3 of The Morning Show premieres on September 13, 2023.

Lessons in Chemistry

What it’s about: Variety reports that this will be a drama series based on the upcoming novel by Bonnie Garmus. Set in the 1950s, the story follows a woman who dreams of being a scientist in a world that demands women stay homemakers. She eventually lands a job hosting a TV cooking show and uses it as a platform to teach science to housewives.

Important names: Brie Larson will star, and Susannah Grant will write (she previously won an Academy Award for writing Erin Brockovich).

When you can watch: Lessons in Chemistry will debut on October 13, 2023.

Killers of the Flower Moon

What it’s about: Based on the book Killers Of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders And The Birth Of The FBI. It tells the story of a series of murders of wealthy Osage Native Americans in Oklahoma in the 1920s after oil was found on their land. According to Deadline, Paramount will distribute the film in theaters, while it will be an Apple TV+ streaming exclusive.

Important names: Directed by Martin Scorsese, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the leading roles.

When you can watch: The film will get a limited theatrical release on October 6, 2023, followed by a wider release on October 20. There has been no announcement of the Apple TV+ home streaming release yet.

Napoleon

What it’s about: A big historical action epic film about Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Important names: Joaquin Phoenix is to star as Napoleon, Ridley Scott will direct.

When you can watch: Napoleon will release into theaters on November 22, 2023. There has been no streaming date set yet.

Camp Snoopy

What it’s about: After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to the Great Outdoors to earn their performance badges, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience everything camp and the outdoors have to offer.

Important names: Features the same Peanuts characters we’ve known for decades.

When you can watch: Camp Snoopy is a new series set to debut in 2024, with no release date yet.

Further Out

These shows, series, and movies may or may not have been officially announced, and do not yet have definitive release dates. Some may debut in the next few months, others be more than a year away. It’s even possible that some of these projects will never be released.

Carême

What it’s about: A biography drama about Antonin Carême, the so-called first celebrity chef, who rose to stardom in the 19th century. While he dreams only of becoming the most famous chef in the world, his talent and ambitions attract the attention of renowned and powerful politicians, who use him as a spy for France.

Important names: Benjamin Voisin stars as Carême, with Jérémie Renier and Lyna Khoudri co-staring.

When you can watch: Carême does not yet have a release date.

The Savant

What it’s about: An eight-episode limited series inspired by a true story published by Cosmopolitan. The storyline and character details are being kept under wraps for now.

Important names: Written and showrun by Melissa James Gibson, starring Jessica Chastain in the lead role.

When you can watch: The Savant does not yet have a release date.

Mere Mortals

What it’s about: An eight-episode series of individual tales set in the world of Mythic Quest that will explore the lives of employees, players, and fans who are impacted by the game. It is said to be in the vein of Mythic Quest episodes “A Dark Quiet Death,” “Backstory!,” “Everlight,” and “Sarian.”

Important names: The series is created by Mythic Quest writers Ashly Burch, John Howell Harris, and Katie McElhenney.

When you can watch: Mere Mortals does not yet have a release date.

Firebug

What it’s about: A fictional drama series inspired by true events, Firebug will follow a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.

Important names: Written and created by Dennis Lehane, starring Taron Egerton.

When you can watch: Firebug does not yet have a release date.

Untitled Vince Gilligan drama

What it’s about: It is described as a “described as a blended, grounded genre drama,” which doesn’t tell us much.

Important names: Vince Gilligan gave us Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Rhea Seehorn is attached to star in the lead role.

When you can watch: This new series does not yet have a release date.

Land of Women

What it’s about: Based on Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel of the same name. A six-episode dramedy about Gala, a New York empty nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties, and she is forced to flee the city alongside her aging mother and college-age daughter.

Important names: Will star Eva Longoria and Carmen Maura. Directed by Carlos Sedes.

When you can watch: Land of Women does not yet have a release date.

The Buccaneers

What it’s about: A group of fun-loving young American girls explode into the tightly corseted London season of the 1870s, kicking off a culture clash. Sent to secure husbands and titles, the buccaneers’ hearts are set on much more than that, and saying “I do” is just the beginning…

Important names: Stars Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Aubri Ibrag, Imogen Waterhouse, and Mia Threapleton. Written by Katherine Jakeways. Directed by Susanna White.

When you can watch: The Buccaneers does not yet have a release date.

Criminal Record

What it’s about: An eight-episode, one-hour series set in London. An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case.

Important names: Stars Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo, directed by Jim Loach.

When you can watch: Criminal Record does not yet have a release date.

Sugar

What it’s about: Not much is known about the story yet, with Apple only calling it a “genre-bending series” and Deadline describes it as a “Los Angeles-based, contemporary take on the private detective story.”

Important names: Starring Colin Farrell, directed by Fernando Meirelles, created by Mark Protosevich.

When you can watch: Sugar has no release date yet.

Untitled Formula One film starring Brad Pitt

What it’s about: We don’t know much, other than that Apple says “Brad Pitt stars as a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport.”

Important names: Brad Pitt stars, with Joseph Kosinski directing, and seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton producing.

When you can watch: The film does not yet have a release date.

Speed Racer

What it’s about: A live-action series based on the beloved Japanese animated show from the ’60s.

Important names: Will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company, with Hiram Martinez and Ron Fitzgerald as writers and showrunners.

When you can watch: Speed Racer has no release date yet.

Las Azules

What it’s about: A 10-episode crime drama series set in 1970 and based on the true stories of Mexico’s first female police force.

Important names:  Fernando Rovzar and Pablo Aramendi serve as directors and showrunners. Starring Bárbara Mori.

When you can watch: Las Azules is in production but does not yet have a release date.

Untitled Noel Fielding comedy series

What it’s about: A comedy series about the legendary British highwayman Dick Turpin.

Important names: Stars Noel Fielding, directed by Ben Palmer.

When you can watch: This series does not have a release date yet, nor a title.

The White Darkness

What it’s about: A limited series based on David Grann’s nonfiction book about Henry Worsley, who crossed Antarctica on foot.

Important names: Tom Hiddleston stars, Soo Hugh directs.

When you can watch: The White Darkness has no release date yet.

The Big Cigar

What it’s about: A six-episode limited series that tells the story of how Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton relied on his best friend Bert Schneider, the Hollywood producer behind “Easy Rider,” to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.

Important names: Janine Sherman Barrois, Don Cheadle, Jim Hecht, and Joshuah Bearman, are on on board as producers. Don Cheadle will also direct the first two episodes. André Holland is in discussions to star.

When you can watch: The Big Cigar does not yet have a release date.

Constellation

What it’s about: A thriller about Jo, a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing.

Important names: The series will star Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks.

When you can watch: Constellation does not yet have a release date.

Dark Matter

What it’s about: A series based on the novel Dark Matter; an alternate-universe thriller about a man who is abducted, drugged, and wakes up in a reality in which he made different choices in the past.

Important names: The series is being adapted as a series by the author Blake Crouch and stars Joel Edgerton.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Untitled Lewis Hamilton documentary

What it’s about: A feature documentary about the groundbreaking life and career of seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton

Important names: Directed by Matt Kay, featuring full access to Hamilton and his team.

When you can watch: This documentary does not yet have a release date.

Midnight Family

What it’s about: Apple’s first all-Spanish-language series, with an entirely Hispanic cast and crew. The story follows Marigaby Tamayo, a medical student by day who spends her nights saving lives throughout Mexico City aboard her family’s privately owned ambulance.

Important names: Stars Joaquín Cosío, Renata Vaca, Diego Calva, Yalitza Aparicio, Itzan Escamilla, and more.

When you can watch: Midnight Family has no release date yet.

Argylle

What it’s about: Follows the globe-trotting adventures of a super-spy named Argylle across the U.S., London and other exotic locations.

Important names: An ensemble cast starring Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa and Ariana DeBose with John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.

When you can watch: Argylle will get a theatrical release on February 2, 2024. It will stream on Apple TV+ after that date (likely a month or two later).

Benjamin Franklin biography series

What it’s about: A limited series about one of America’s founding fathers, based on the book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff.

Important names: Michael Douglass is set to star as Benjamin Franklin.

When you can watch: This series does not yet have a release date, nor a final title.

The New Look

What it’s about: A limited series that Apple describes as, “an epic thriller set against the World War II Nazi occupation of Paris when Coco Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer ends and Christian Dior rises helping return spirit and life to the world with his groundbreaking, iconic imprint of beauty and influence that will go on to define generations to come.”

Important names: Written and executive produced by Todd A. Kessler, starring Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche.

When you can watch: The New Look does not yet have a release date.

Omnivore

What it’s about: A food documentary series that tells the story of humanity and the planet through eight defining ingredients.

Important names: Created by filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga and chef René Redzepi.

When you can watch: Omnivore does not yet have a release date.

The Dynasty

What it’s about: A 10-part documentary event series about the New England Patriots, based on the New York Times bestselling book by author Jeff Benedict.

Important names: Directed by Matthew Hamachek.

When you can watch: The Dynasty does not yet have a release date.

Presumed Innocent

What it’s about: An eight-episode limited series inspired by the Scott Turow novel of the same name. A courtroom drama that tells the story of a murder that ends up in the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

Important names: The showrunner is David E. Kelley, with J.J. Abrams and Dustin Thomason as executive producers.

When you can watch: Presumed Innocent has no release date yet.

Mrs. American Pie

What it’s about: A 10-episode comedy series in production at Apple Studios. Set in the early 1970s, it tells the story of Maxine Simmons as she attempts to secure her place in Palm Beach high society.

Important names: Starring Kirsten Wiig and Laura Dern.

When you can watch: Mrs. American Pie does not yet have a release date.

Sunny

What it’s about: Apple describes this 10-episodes series as a “darkly comedic half-hour drama” about Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan. When her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash, she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company. They develop an unexpected friendship, and uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie’s family.

Important names: Rashida Jones stars as Suzie, written and executive produced by Katie Robbins.

When you can watch: Sunny has no release date yet.

Untitled Godzilla and the Titans series

What it’s about: A live-action series in partnership with production company Legendary, taking place in the Monsterverse. Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking new reality that monsters are real, the series explores one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organization known as Monarch.

Important names: Chris Black will server as executive producer and showrunner. The cast has not yet been revealed.

When you can watch: The Godzilla series does not yet have a release date.

Manhunt

What it’s about: A limited series true crime story about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Important names: Set to star Tobias Menzies, directed by Carl Franklin.

When you can watch: Manhunt has no release date yet.

Disclaimer

What it’s about: Based on the novel of the same name by Renee Knight. Catherine Ravenscroft is a television documentary journalist whose work has been built on revealing the concealed transgressions of long-respected institutions. A novel written by a widower has her as a key character in a story that she had hoped was long buried in the past. A story that reveals her darkest secret. A secret she thought was hers alone.

Important names: Acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón will write and direct all episodes. Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline will star.

When you can watch: This series has no release date yet.

Untitled Jon Watts / Brad Pitt / George Clooney film

What it’s about: A thriller in which two lone-wolf fixers (Pitt and Clooney) get assigned to the same job. Deadline reports that Apple outbid other major studios and distributors for the film rights. The film doesn’t have a title yet.

Important names: Written and directed by Jon Watts, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

When you can watch: This film has no release date yet.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

What it’s about: A beloved Nickelodeon series that ran for six seasons and featured live action, puppets, short sketches, and music. Apple has acquired the entire back catalog and rights to produce new episodes. So far, there are plans to produce 20 new episodes as a “a reimagining based on the heart and essence of what Yo Gabba Gabba! is.”

Important names: It’s unclear which of the original cast or crew will participate in the new episodes.

When you can watch: We don’t have word yet on when old episodes will appear on Apple TV+, nor when the new episodes will debut.

The Changeling

What it’s about: According to Apple, The Changeling is a fairytale for grown-ups. A horror story, a parenthood fable and a perilous odyssey through a New York City you didn’t know existed. It’s based on the novel of the same name by Victor LaValle.

Important names: The series will star LaKeith Stanfield and be written/adapted by Kelly Marcel, who will also serve as showrunner.

When you can watch: The Changeling has no release date yet.

Bad Monkey

What it’s about: An adaptation of the Carl Hiaasen novel of the same name, “Bad Monkey” tells the story of Andrew Yancy, a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Important names: Written and produced by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Ted Lasso, Cougar Town) and starring Vince Vaughn.

When you can watch: Bad Monkey has no release date yet.

Untitled Negro League Baseball series

What it’s about: Follows the life and career of legendary pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

Important names: The series is produced by Erving “Magic” Johnson, among others. It is in conjunction with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and MLB.

When you can watch: This series has no release date yet.

Strange Planet

What it’s about: An animated series based on the web-based comic and graphics novels by Nathan Pyle. The comic features aliens who live lives not unlike our own, but refer to our everyday activities with usual, sometimes scientific-ish verbiage (like calling a hug “limb enclosure”).

Important names: The series is being developed in part by Dan Harmon, of Community and Rick and Morty fame.

When you can watch: The series has no release date yet.

The Big Door Prize

What it’s about: Based on the bestselling novel by M. O. Walsh. The residents of the small town Deerfield one day discover a mystery machine in their local grocery story that promises to predict one’s future potential, and craziness ensues.

Important names: David West Read, who was writer and executive producer on Schitt’s Creek, will write the adaptation and serve as showrunner.

When you can watch: The Big Door Prize does not have a release date yet.

Number One on the Call Sheet

What it’s about: A pair of documentary films that examine the history of black actors and actresses in Hollywood. One focuses on leading men, the other on leading women.

Important names: Producers include Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Datari Turner, Dan Cogan, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Reginald Hudlin, and Bryan Smiley.

When you can watch: These two companion films have no release date yet.

Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong

What it’s about: A documentary film about the life of the pioneering jazz musician. Using a ton of never-before-seen archival footage, the film will tell the story of Armstrong’s life entirely through his own words.

Important names: Louis Armstrong is the big name here. The film will be directed by Sacha Jenkins.

When you can watch: This film is set to release in the fall of 2022.

Untitled Chuck Barris drama

What it’s about: Gong Show host Chuck Barris famously claimed to be a secret CIA assassin in his autobiography Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which was made into a feature film in 2002. A Deadline report says Apple is developing an hour-long drama series about Barris as both Gong Show host and CIA assassin.

Important names: Justin Timberlake is attached to star as Chuck Barris.

When you can watch: This series has no release date yet.

Lady in the Lake

What it’s about: Apple’s description of this limited series says it “takes place in ’60s Baltimore, where an unsolved murder pushes housewife and mother Maddie Schwartz to reinvent her life as an investigative journalist and sets her on a collision course with Cleo Sherwood, a hard-working woman juggling motherhood, many jobs and a passionate commitment to advancing Baltimore’s Black progressive agenda.”

Important names: It will star Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram. Directed by Alma Har’el.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

The Search for WondLa

What it’s about: Based on the children’s book by Tony DiTerlizzi, which follows the story of Eva Nine, a girl who spent most of her life living underground before being forced to flee outside and survive with a robot named Muthr, an alien named Rovander Kitt, and a water bear named Otto. Apple plans to run at least two seasons of this show.

Important names: Written and produced by Lauren Montgomery.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Spellbound

What it’s about: A musical that follows Elian, a young girl who sets out to break the spell that has divided her kingdom in two.

Important names: Directed by Vicky Jenson, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater.

When you can watch: Spellbound is currently expected to be released in late 2023.

Dolly

What it’s about: Deadline describes it as a “sci-fi courtroom drama in which a robotic ‘companion doll’ kills its owner and then shocks the world by claiming that she is not guilty and asking for a lawyer.”

Important names: Florence Pugh and Vanessa Taylor are attached to star and Drew Pearce will write the script.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Bride

What it’s about: Deadline reports that this is a genre-bending film about an engineered “ideal wife” who rejects her creator, escapes captivity, and discovers her true self.

Important names: The film will star Scarlett Johansson and will be directed by Sebastián Lelio.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Earthsound

What it’s about: A natural history documentary series that uses new audio technology and cinematic 360-degree audio to reveal untold nature stories from every continent.

Important names: It will be executive produced by Alex Williamson, and the series producer is Sam Hodgson.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

The Supermodels

What it’s about: A documentary series exploring the careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. Four models whose fame and prestige made them bigger names than the fashion brands and designers they showcased.

Important names: Outside of the four aforementioned models, the series is directed by Barbara Kopple, who has two academy awards.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Untitled Idris Elba spy thriller

What it’s about: According to Variety, this is to be a “spy movie with romance set in Africa” but little else is known about the nascent project. The report says it’s early in production. 

Important names: The film will star Idris Elba and is produced by Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Snow Blind

What it’s about: When a high school student in a small Alaskan town posts a photo of his dad online, and discovers that his family is in the Witness Protection Program. A man seeking revenge soon finds them, the FBI shows up…but what if his dad’s reasons for going into the program aren’t as innocent as he says?

Important names: Jake Gyllenhaal is set to start with Gustav Möller directing.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Hedy Lamarr series

What it’s about: According to The Hollywood Reporter, it’s an eight-episode series about the 1930s and 40s actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr (whose frequency-hopping radio technology is still the basis for many modern wireless communications).

Important names: Gal Gadot is set to star as Lamarr, with a script written by Sarah Treem.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Where the Wild Things Are

What it’s about: Apple has struck an overall deal with The Maurice Sendak Foundation to produce shows or series based on the author’s works for children. The most famous of these, by far, is Where the Wild Things Are.

Important names: Apple is working with longtime Sendak collaborator Arthur Yorinks and his production studio Night Kitchen Studios.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Custom of the Country

What it’s about: A limited-series adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel The Custom of the Country. The novel, published in the early 20th century, is about a midwestern girl who climbs the ladder of New York high society.

Important names: The big one is Sofia Coppola, who is developing the series for Apple. No word yet on whether she will direct it.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

El Gato Negro

What it’s about: Based on Richard Dominguez’s comic book about an aging luchador who teams up with his grandson to use the El Gato Negro persona to fight crime in South Texas.

Important names: Robert Rodriguez will direct and produce, while Diego Boneta will star and also produce.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Masters of the Air

What it’s about: A limited series about the bombers of World War II. It is something of a follow-up to the hit HBO series Band of Brothers. Nearly all of the content on Apple TV+, while original and exclusive, is produced by outside production companies and studios. But according to Variety, Apple is also building its own internal studio, named Masters, and this is its first project.

Important names: It will be written by one of Band of Brothers writers, John Orloff, with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks once again on as executive producers. Several other producers and alumni of Band of Brothers will be involved with the project, too.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Brie Larson CIA biography series

What it’s about: A report in Variety says that Apple has made a direct-to-series order for a new drama based on the real-life experiences of CIA undercover operative Amaryllis Fox. Fox has a hot novel named Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA that released in October 2019. 

Important names: Brie Larson will star and executive produce the series.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

My Glory Was I Had Such Friends

What it’s about: A report from Variety says that Apple has made a direct-to-series order of My Glory Was I Had Such Friends. The limited series, based on the Amy Silverstein memoir about a woman awaiting heart surgery and the women who supported her, will star Jennifer Garner and be executive produced by J.J. Abrams through his Bad Robot production company.

Important names: J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner are working together again for the first time since the show Alias.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Losing Earth

What it’s about: This summer, The New York Times Magazine published an epic feature titled, “Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change.” At over 30,000 words, it took up an entire issue of the magazine and earned critical acclaim. It focused on how, from 1979 to 1989, a small team of scientists, activists, and politicians tried to stop climate change while there was still time. 

We don’t know the format the show will take, but The New York Times specifically calls it a “series.” Based on the source material, it seems like a single-season limited series makes the most sense.

Important names: The article’s author, Nathaniel Rich, will serve as executive producer together with Anonymous Content founder and CEO Steve Golin.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Time Bandits

What it’s about: Terry Gilliam’s time-traveling adventure comedy Time Bandits may make its way to the small screen in a TV series. Deadline reports that Apple is buying up the rights to make a TV show of the cult classic film.

The film, about a young boy who gets caught up with a troupe of thieves as they hop across history to steal treasure, ever on the run from the “supreme being” from whom they’ve stolen their time map, is good fodder for a TV show. But the film has a dedicated cult following who will place high demands on maintaining the film’s heart and quirky sense of British humor.

Important names: Terry Gilliam will have an executive producer role, but will not write for the show. A report in Variety says that the series will be directed by Taika Waititi, whose quirky film What We Do in the Shadows earned him a cult following, and who earned huge international acclaim for his direction of Thor: Rangrarok and Jojo Rabbit. 

When you can watch: No release date yet.

You Think It, I’ll Say It

What it’s about:  According to Variety, Apple has ordered a 10-episode, half-hour run of a new comedy variety show. The show is inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s collection of short stories You Think It, I’ll Say It.

Important names: SNL alum Kristen Wiig was set to star, but pulled out citing scheduling conflicts with Wonder Woman 1984. The show is created and produced by Colleen McGuinness (30 Rock, About a Boy).

When you can watch: This project does not yet have a title or release date.

Damien Chazelle drama series

What it’s about: According to Variety, Apple has gone straight-to-series (ordered a whole season of a series without first shooting a pilot) on a drama by Damien Chazelle. Chazelle is the acclaimed writer and director of La La Land and Whiplash, and is currently working on a Neil Armstrong biopic called First Man.

No details have been given about the series at all, except that Chazelle will write and direct every episode. We don’t know the subject matter, the stars, the length of each episode…really nothing at all. 

Important names: Chazelle is the acclaimed writer and director of La La Land and Whiplash, and is currently working on a Neil Armstrong biopic called First Man.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Apple TV

Apple’s list of currently available content for Apple TV+ continues to grow, and so does the list of upcoming projects in the works. Films, limited series, specials, and multi-season series—Apple’s got lots of irons in the fire.

Some of these projects have been officially announced and acknowledged by Apple, while others have been reported by the Hollywood press, which always has its ear to the ground about what projects actors, directors, and producers are involved in.

We’ve divided this list in two: Coming Soon is a list of shows for which Apple has given an official release date or release window, and Further Out compiles content that is still in production or perhaps haven’t even begun yet.

Updated 06/29/23: The third season of The Morning Show is finally on the way, and premieres on September 13. This season adds John Hamm and Nicole Beharie to the cast.

You don’t need an Apple TV set top box to watch Apple TV+, nor do you have to pay for a subscription, see: How to watch Apple TV+ for free.

Coming Soon

The following shows, series, and movies have been officially announced by Apple and will typically will begin streaming in the next few weeks or months.

Duck & Goose (season 2)

What it’s about: Feathered friends Duck and Goose couldn’t be more different, but in this preschool show, they learn how to bring out the best in one another. Based on books by Tad Hills.

Important names: Stars Connor Andrade as Duck and JeCobi Swain as Goose.

When you can watch: The second season of Duck & Goose premieres on July 7, 2023.

The Afterparty (season 2)

What it’s about: Detective Danner returns to solve a whodunnit by questioning family members, star-crossed lovers, and business partners. Each epioside focuses on a retelling of the events from each character’s point of view, with their own unique style.

Important names: Tiffany Haddish returns alongside Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Elizabeth Perkins, Zach Woods, Paul Walter Hauser, Poppy Liu, and more.

When you can watch: Season 2 of The Afterparty premieres on July 12, 2023.

Foundation (season 2)

What it’s about: The second season of Apple’s epic big-budget sci-fi drama based on the Issac Asimov books of the same name.

Important names: Stars Lee Pace, Jared Harris, Lou Llobell, and Leah Harvey.

When you can watch: Season 2 of Foundation premieres on July 14, 2023.

Stephen Curry: Underrated

What it’s about: This feature documentary blends intimate cinéma vérité, archival footage ,and on camera interviews to documents Stephen Curry’s rise from an undersized college player at a small town Division I college to a four-time NBA champion, building one of the most dominant sports dynasties in the world.

Important names: Stephen Curry, of course. Directed by Peter Nicks.

When you can watch: Stephen Curry: Underrated will premiere on July 21, 2023.

The Beanie Bubble

What it’s about: A comedy drama about the story behind Beanie Babies, one of the hottest speculative crazes of the ’90s.

Important names: Starring Elizabeth Banks, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Snook, and Geraldine Viswanathan

When you can watch: The Beanie Bubble premieres on July 28, 2023.

Physical (season 3)

What it’s about: The third and final season of this comedy/drama about a housewife who starts a home fitness business in the 80s, and it takes her on a journey of empowerment.

Important names: Stars Rose Byrne, Murray Bartlett, Rory Scovel, and Dierdre Friel. Created by Annie Weisman.

When you can watch: The third season of Physical debuts on August 2, 2023.

Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie

What it’s about: This Peanuts special follows Marcie, an introvert who loves her solitude but also enjoys helping her friends. 

Important names: Features the same Peanuts characters we’ve come to know over the decades.

When you can watch: One-of-a-Kind Marcie premieres on August 18, 2023

The Morning Show (season 3)

What it’s about: One of Apple big launch shows and the recipient of several awards, we’ve been waiting a long time for the third season of this drama.

Important names: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, and Greta Lee star. Season three adds Jon Hamm and Nicole Beharie to the cast.

When you can watch: Season 3 of The Morning Show premieres on September 13, 2023.

Lessons in Chemistry

What it’s about: Variety reports that this will be a drama series based on the upcoming novel by Bonnie Garmus. Set in the 1950s, the story follows a woman who dreams of being a scientist in a world that demands women stay homemakers. She eventually lands a job hosting a TV cooking show and uses it as a platform to teach science to housewives.

Important names: Brie Larson will star, and Susannah Grant will write (she previously won an Academy Award for writing Erin Brockovich).

When you can watch: Lessons in Chemistry will debut on October 13, 2023.

Killers of the Flower Moon

What it’s about: Based on the book Killers Of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders And The Birth Of The FBI. It tells the story of a series of murders of wealthy Osage Native Americans in Oklahoma in the 1920s after oil was found on their land. According to Deadline, Paramount will distribute the film in theaters, while it will be an Apple TV+ streaming exclusive.

Important names: Directed by Martin Scorsese, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the leading roles.

When you can watch: The film will get a limited theatrical release on October 6, 2023, followed by a wider release on October 20. There has been no announcement of the Apple TV+ home streaming release yet.

Napoleon

What it’s about: A big historical action epic film about Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Important names: Joaquin Phoenix is to star as Napoleon, Ridley Scott will direct.

When you can watch: Napoleon will release into theaters on November 22, 2023. There has been no streaming date set yet.

Camp Snoopy

What it’s about: After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to the Great Outdoors to earn their performance badges, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience everything camp and the outdoors have to offer.

Important names: Features the same Peanuts characters we’ve known for decades.

When you can watch: Camp Snoopy is a new series set to debut in 2024, with no release date yet.

Further Out

These shows, series, and movies may or may not have been officially announced, and do not yet have definitive release dates. Some may debut in the next few months, others be more than a year away. It’s even possible that some of these projects will never be released.

Carême

What it’s about: A biography drama about Antonin Carême, the so-called first celebrity chef, who rose to stardom in the 19th century. While he dreams only of becoming the most famous chef in the world, his talent and ambitions attract the attention of renowned and powerful politicians, who use him as a spy for France.

Important names: Benjamin Voisin stars as Carême, with Jérémie Renier and Lyna Khoudri co-staring.

When you can watch: Carême does not yet have a release date.

The Savant

What it’s about: An eight-episode limited series inspired by a true story published by Cosmopolitan. The storyline and character details are being kept under wraps for now.

Important names: Written and showrun by Melissa James Gibson, starring Jessica Chastain in the lead role.

When you can watch: The Savant does not yet have a release date.

Mere Mortals

What it’s about: An eight-episode series of individual tales set in the world of Mythic Quest that will explore the lives of employees, players, and fans who are impacted by the game. It is said to be in the vein of Mythic Quest episodes “A Dark Quiet Death,” “Backstory!,” “Everlight,” and “Sarian.”

Important names: The series is created by Mythic Quest writers Ashly Burch, John Howell Harris, and Katie McElhenney.

When you can watch: Mere Mortals does not yet have a release date.

Firebug

What it’s about: A fictional drama series inspired by true events, Firebug will follow a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.

Important names: Written and created by Dennis Lehane, starring Taron Egerton.

When you can watch: Firebug does not yet have a release date.

Untitled Vince Gilligan drama

What it’s about: It is described as a “described as a blended, grounded genre drama,” which doesn’t tell us much.

Important names: Vince Gilligan gave us Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Rhea Seehorn is attached to star in the lead role.

When you can watch: This new series does not yet have a release date.

Land of Women

What it’s about: Based on Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel of the same name. A six-episode dramedy about Gala, a New York empty nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties, and she is forced to flee the city alongside her aging mother and college-age daughter.

Important names: Will star Eva Longoria and Carmen Maura. Directed by Carlos Sedes.

When you can watch: Land of Women does not yet have a release date.

The Buccaneers

What it’s about: A group of fun-loving young American girls explode into the tightly corseted London season of the 1870s, kicking off a culture clash. Sent to secure husbands and titles, the buccaneers’ hearts are set on much more than that, and saying “I do” is just the beginning…

Important names: Stars Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Aubri Ibrag, Imogen Waterhouse, and Mia Threapleton. Written by Katherine Jakeways. Directed by Susanna White.

When you can watch: The Buccaneers does not yet have a release date.

Criminal Record

What it’s about: An eight-episode, one-hour series set in London. An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case.

Important names: Stars Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo, directed by Jim Loach.

When you can watch: Criminal Record does not yet have a release date.

Sugar

What it’s about: Not much is known about the story yet, with Apple only calling it a “genre-bending series” and Deadline describes it as a “Los Angeles-based, contemporary take on the private detective story.”

Important names: Starring Colin Farrell, directed by Fernando Meirelles, created by Mark Protosevich.

When you can watch: Sugar has no release date yet.

Untitled Formula One film starring Brad Pitt

What it’s about: We don’t know much, other than that Apple says “Brad Pitt stars as a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport.”

Important names: Brad Pitt stars, with Joseph Kosinski directing, and seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton producing.

When you can watch: The film does not yet have a release date.

Speed Racer

What it’s about: A live-action series based on the beloved Japanese animated show from the ’60s.

Important names: Will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company, with Hiram Martinez and Ron Fitzgerald as writers and showrunners.

When you can watch: Speed Racer has no release date yet.

Las Azules

What it’s about: A 10-episode crime drama series set in 1970 and based on the true stories of Mexico’s first female police force.

Important names:  Fernando Rovzar and Pablo Aramendi serve as directors and showrunners. Starring Bárbara Mori.

When you can watch: Las Azules is in production but does not yet have a release date.

Untitled Noel Fielding comedy series

What it’s about: A comedy series about the legendary British highwayman Dick Turpin.

Important names: Stars Noel Fielding, directed by Ben Palmer.

When you can watch: This series does not have a release date yet, nor a title.

The White Darkness

What it’s about: A limited series based on David Grann’s nonfiction book about Henry Worsley, who crossed Antarctica on foot.

Important names: Tom Hiddleston stars, Soo Hugh directs.

When you can watch: The White Darkness has no release date yet.

The Big Cigar

What it’s about: A six-episode limited series that tells the story of how Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton relied on his best friend Bert Schneider, the Hollywood producer behind “Easy Rider,” to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.

Important names: Janine Sherman Barrois, Don Cheadle, Jim Hecht, and Joshuah Bearman, are on on board as producers. Don Cheadle will also direct the first two episodes. André Holland is in discussions to star.

When you can watch: The Big Cigar does not yet have a release date.

Constellation

What it’s about: A thriller about Jo, a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing.

Important names: The series will star Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks.

When you can watch: Constellation does not yet have a release date.

Dark Matter

What it’s about: A series based on the novel Dark Matter; an alternate-universe thriller about a man who is abducted, drugged, and wakes up in a reality in which he made different choices in the past.

Important names: The series is being adapted as a series by the author Blake Crouch and stars Joel Edgerton.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Untitled Lewis Hamilton documentary

What it’s about: A feature documentary about the groundbreaking life and career of seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton

Important names: Directed by Matt Kay, featuring full access to Hamilton and his team.

When you can watch: This documentary does not yet have a release date.

Midnight Family

What it’s about: Apple’s first all-Spanish-language series, with an entirely Hispanic cast and crew. The story follows Marigaby Tamayo, a medical student by day who spends her nights saving lives throughout Mexico City aboard her family’s privately owned ambulance.

Important names: Stars Joaquín Cosío, Renata Vaca, Diego Calva, Yalitza Aparicio, Itzan Escamilla, and more.

When you can watch: Midnight Family has no release date yet.

Argylle

What it’s about: Follows the globe-trotting adventures of a super-spy named Argylle across the U.S., London and other exotic locations.

Important names: An ensemble cast starring Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa and Ariana DeBose with John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.

When you can watch: Argylle will get a theatrical release on February 2, 2024. It will stream on Apple TV+ after that date (likely a month or two later).

Benjamin Franklin biography series

What it’s about: A limited series about one of America’s founding fathers, based on the book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff.

Important names: Michael Douglass is set to star as Benjamin Franklin.

When you can watch: This series does not yet have a release date, nor a final title.

The New Look

What it’s about: A limited series that Apple describes as, “an epic thriller set against the World War II Nazi occupation of Paris when Coco Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer ends and Christian Dior rises helping return spirit and life to the world with his groundbreaking, iconic imprint of beauty and influence that will go on to define generations to come.”

Important names: Written and executive produced by Todd A. Kessler, starring Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche.

When you can watch: The New Look does not yet have a release date.

Omnivore

What it’s about: A food documentary series that tells the story of humanity and the planet through eight defining ingredients.

Important names: Created by filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga and chef René Redzepi.

When you can watch: Omnivore does not yet have a release date.

The Dynasty

What it’s about: A 10-part documentary event series about the New England Patriots, based on the New York Times bestselling book by author Jeff Benedict.

Important names: Directed by Matthew Hamachek.

When you can watch: The Dynasty does not yet have a release date.

Presumed Innocent

What it’s about: An eight-episode limited series inspired by the Scott Turow novel of the same name. A courtroom drama that tells the story of a murder that ends up in the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

Important names: The showrunner is David E. Kelley, with J.J. Abrams and Dustin Thomason as executive producers.

When you can watch: Presumed Innocent has no release date yet.

Mrs. American Pie

What it’s about: A 10-episode comedy series in production at Apple Studios. Set in the early 1970s, it tells the story of Maxine Simmons as she attempts to secure her place in Palm Beach high society.

Important names: Starring Kirsten Wiig and Laura Dern.

When you can watch: Mrs. American Pie does not yet have a release date.

Sunny

What it’s about: Apple describes this 10-episodes series as a “darkly comedic half-hour drama” about Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan. When her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash, she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company. They develop an unexpected friendship, and uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie’s family.

Important names: Rashida Jones stars as Suzie, written and executive produced by Katie Robbins.

When you can watch: Sunny has no release date yet.

Untitled Godzilla and the Titans series

What it’s about: A live-action series in partnership with production company Legendary, taking place in the Monsterverse. Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking new reality that monsters are real, the series explores one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organization known as Monarch.

Important names: Chris Black will server as executive producer and showrunner. The cast has not yet been revealed.

When you can watch: The Godzilla series does not yet have a release date.

Manhunt

What it’s about: A limited series true crime story about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Important names: Set to star Tobias Menzies, directed by Carl Franklin.

When you can watch: Manhunt has no release date yet.

Disclaimer

What it’s about: Based on the novel of the same name by Renee Knight. Catherine Ravenscroft is a television documentary journalist whose work has been built on revealing the concealed transgressions of long-respected institutions. A novel written by a widower has her as a key character in a story that she had hoped was long buried in the past. A story that reveals her darkest secret. A secret she thought was hers alone.

Important names: Acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón will write and direct all episodes. Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline will star.

When you can watch: This series has no release date yet.

Untitled Jon Watts / Brad Pitt / George Clooney film

What it’s about: A thriller in which two lone-wolf fixers (Pitt and Clooney) get assigned to the same job. Deadline reports that Apple outbid other major studios and distributors for the film rights. The film doesn’t have a title yet.

Important names: Written and directed by Jon Watts, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

When you can watch: This film has no release date yet.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

What it’s about: A beloved Nickelodeon series that ran for six seasons and featured live action, puppets, short sketches, and music. Apple has acquired the entire back catalog and rights to produce new episodes. So far, there are plans to produce 20 new episodes as a “a reimagining based on the heart and essence of what Yo Gabba Gabba! is.”

Important names: It’s unclear which of the original cast or crew will participate in the new episodes.

When you can watch: We don’t have word yet on when old episodes will appear on Apple TV+, nor when the new episodes will debut.

The Changeling

What it’s about: According to Apple, The Changeling is a fairytale for grown-ups. A horror story, a parenthood fable and a perilous odyssey through a New York City you didn’t know existed. It’s based on the novel of the same name by Victor LaValle.

Important names: The series will star LaKeith Stanfield and be written/adapted by Kelly Marcel, who will also serve as showrunner.

When you can watch: The Changeling has no release date yet.

Bad Monkey

What it’s about: An adaptation of the Carl Hiaasen novel of the same name, “Bad Monkey” tells the story of Andrew Yancy, a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Important names: Written and produced by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Ted Lasso, Cougar Town) and starring Vince Vaughn.

When you can watch: Bad Monkey has no release date yet.

Untitled Negro League Baseball series

What it’s about: Follows the life and career of legendary pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

Important names: The series is produced by Erving “Magic” Johnson, among others. It is in conjunction with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and MLB.

When you can watch: This series has no release date yet.

Strange Planet

What it’s about: An animated series based on the web-based comic and graphics novels by Nathan Pyle. The comic features aliens who live lives not unlike our own, but refer to our everyday activities with usual, sometimes scientific-ish verbiage (like calling a hug “limb enclosure”).

Important names: The series is being developed in part by Dan Harmon, of Community and Rick and Morty fame.

When you can watch: The series has no release date yet.

The Big Door Prize

What it’s about: Based on the bestselling novel by M. O. Walsh. The residents of the small town Deerfield one day discover a mystery machine in their local grocery story that promises to predict one’s future potential, and craziness ensues.

Important names: David West Read, who was writer and executive producer on Schitt’s Creek, will write the adaptation and serve as showrunner.

When you can watch: The Big Door Prize does not have a release date yet.

Number One on the Call Sheet

What it’s about: A pair of documentary films that examine the history of black actors and actresses in Hollywood. One focuses on leading men, the other on leading women.

Important names: Producers include Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Datari Turner, Dan Cogan, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Reginald Hudlin, and Bryan Smiley.

When you can watch: These two companion films have no release date yet.

Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong

What it’s about: A documentary film about the life of the pioneering jazz musician. Using a ton of never-before-seen archival footage, the film will tell the story of Armstrong’s life entirely through his own words.

Important names: Louis Armstrong is the big name here. The film will be directed by Sacha Jenkins.

When you can watch: This film is set to release in the fall of 2022.

Untitled Chuck Barris drama

What it’s about: Gong Show host Chuck Barris famously claimed to be a secret CIA assassin in his autobiography Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which was made into a feature film in 2002. A Deadline report says Apple is developing an hour-long drama series about Barris as both Gong Show host and CIA assassin.

Important names: Justin Timberlake is attached to star as Chuck Barris.

When you can watch: This series has no release date yet.

Lady in the Lake

What it’s about: Apple’s description of this limited series says it “takes place in ’60s Baltimore, where an unsolved murder pushes housewife and mother Maddie Schwartz to reinvent her life as an investigative journalist and sets her on a collision course with Cleo Sherwood, a hard-working woman juggling motherhood, many jobs and a passionate commitment to advancing Baltimore’s Black progressive agenda.”

Important names: It will star Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram. Directed by Alma Har’el.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

The Search for WondLa

What it’s about: Based on the children’s book by Tony DiTerlizzi, which follows the story of Eva Nine, a girl who spent most of her life living underground before being forced to flee outside and survive with a robot named Muthr, an alien named Rovander Kitt, and a water bear named Otto. Apple plans to run at least two seasons of this show.

Important names: Written and produced by Lauren Montgomery.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Spellbound

What it’s about: A musical that follows Elian, a young girl who sets out to break the spell that has divided her kingdom in two.

Important names: Directed by Vicky Jenson, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater.

When you can watch: Spellbound is currently expected to be released in late 2023.

Dolly

What it’s about: Deadline describes it as a “sci-fi courtroom drama in which a robotic ‘companion doll’ kills its owner and then shocks the world by claiming that she is not guilty and asking for a lawyer.”

Important names: Florence Pugh and Vanessa Taylor are attached to star and Drew Pearce will write the script.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Bride

What it’s about: Deadline reports that this is a genre-bending film about an engineered “ideal wife” who rejects her creator, escapes captivity, and discovers her true self.

Important names: The film will star Scarlett Johansson and will be directed by Sebastián Lelio.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Earthsound

What it’s about: A natural history documentary series that uses new audio technology and cinematic 360-degree audio to reveal untold nature stories from every continent.

Important names: It will be executive produced by Alex Williamson, and the series producer is Sam Hodgson.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

The Supermodels

What it’s about: A documentary series exploring the careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. Four models whose fame and prestige made them bigger names than the fashion brands and designers they showcased.

Important names: Outside of the four aforementioned models, the series is directed by Barbara Kopple, who has two academy awards.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Untitled Idris Elba spy thriller

What it’s about: According to Variety, this is to be a “spy movie with romance set in Africa” but little else is known about the nascent project. The report says it’s early in production. 

Important names: The film will star Idris Elba and is produced by Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Snow Blind

What it’s about: When a high school student in a small Alaskan town posts a photo of his dad online, and discovers that his family is in the Witness Protection Program. A man seeking revenge soon finds them, the FBI shows up…but what if his dad’s reasons for going into the program aren’t as innocent as he says?

Important names: Jake Gyllenhaal is set to start with Gustav Möller directing.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Hedy Lamarr series

What it’s about: According to The Hollywood Reporter, it’s an eight-episode series about the 1930s and 40s actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr (whose frequency-hopping radio technology is still the basis for many modern wireless communications).

Important names: Gal Gadot is set to star as Lamarr, with a script written by Sarah Treem.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Where the Wild Things Are

What it’s about: Apple has struck an overall deal with The Maurice Sendak Foundation to produce shows or series based on the author’s works for children. The most famous of these, by far, is Where the Wild Things Are.

Important names: Apple is working with longtime Sendak collaborator Arthur Yorinks and his production studio Night Kitchen Studios.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Custom of the Country

What it’s about: A limited-series adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel The Custom of the Country. The novel, published in the early 20th century, is about a midwestern girl who climbs the ladder of New York high society.

Important names: The big one is Sofia Coppola, who is developing the series for Apple. No word yet on whether she will direct it.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

El Gato Negro

What it’s about: Based on Richard Dominguez’s comic book about an aging luchador who teams up with his grandson to use the El Gato Negro persona to fight crime in South Texas.

Important names: Robert Rodriguez will direct and produce, while Diego Boneta will star and also produce.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Masters of the Air

What it’s about: A limited series about the bombers of World War II. It is something of a follow-up to the hit HBO series Band of Brothers. Nearly all of the content on Apple TV+, while original and exclusive, is produced by outside production companies and studios. But according to Variety, Apple is also building its own internal studio, named Masters, and this is its first project.

Important names: It will be written by one of Band of Brothers writers, John Orloff, with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks once again on as executive producers. Several other producers and alumni of Band of Brothers will be involved with the project, too.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Brie Larson CIA biography series

What it’s about: A report in Variety says that Apple has made a direct-to-series order for a new drama based on the real-life experiences of CIA undercover operative Amaryllis Fox. Fox has a hot novel named Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA that released in October 2019. 

Important names: Brie Larson will star and executive produce the series.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

My Glory Was I Had Such Friends

What it’s about: A report from Variety says that Apple has made a direct-to-series order of My Glory Was I Had Such Friends. The limited series, based on the Amy Silverstein memoir about a woman awaiting heart surgery and the women who supported her, will star Jennifer Garner and be executive produced by J.J. Abrams through his Bad Robot production company.

Important names: J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner are working together again for the first time since the show Alias.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Losing Earth

What it’s about: This summer, The New York Times Magazine published an epic feature titled, “Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change.” At over 30,000 words, it took up an entire issue of the magazine and earned critical acclaim. It focused on how, from 1979 to 1989, a small team of scientists, activists, and politicians tried to stop climate change while there was still time. 

We don’t know the format the show will take, but The New York Times specifically calls it a “series.” Based on the source material, it seems like a single-season limited series makes the most sense.

Important names: The article’s author, Nathaniel Rich, will serve as executive producer together with Anonymous Content founder and CEO Steve Golin.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Time Bandits

What it’s about: Terry Gilliam’s time-traveling adventure comedy Time Bandits may make its way to the small screen in a TV series. Deadline reports that Apple is buying up the rights to make a TV show of the cult classic film.

The film, about a young boy who gets caught up with a troupe of thieves as they hop across history to steal treasure, ever on the run from the “supreme being” from whom they’ve stolen their time map, is good fodder for a TV show. But the film has a dedicated cult following who will place high demands on maintaining the film’s heart and quirky sense of British humor.

Important names: Terry Gilliam will have an executive producer role, but will not write for the show. A report in Variety says that the series will be directed by Taika Waititi, whose quirky film What We Do in the Shadows earned him a cult following, and who earned huge international acclaim for his direction of Thor: Rangrarok and Jojo Rabbit. 

When you can watch: No release date yet.

You Think It, I’ll Say It

What it’s about:  According to Variety, Apple has ordered a 10-episode, half-hour run of a new comedy variety show. The show is inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s collection of short stories You Think It, I’ll Say It.

Important names: SNL alum Kristen Wiig was set to star, but pulled out citing scheduling conflicts with Wonder Woman 1984. The show is created and produced by Colleen McGuinness (30 Rock, About a Boy).

When you can watch: This project does not yet have a title or release date.

Damien Chazelle drama series

What it’s about: According to Variety, Apple has gone straight-to-series (ordered a whole season of a series without first shooting a pilot) on a drama by Damien Chazelle. Chazelle is the acclaimed writer and director of La La Land and Whiplash, and is currently working on a Neil Armstrong biopic called First Man.

No details have been given about the series at all, except that Chazelle will write and direct every episode. We don’t know the subject matter, the stars, the length of each episode…really nothing at all. 

Important names: Chazelle is the acclaimed writer and director of La La Land and Whiplash, and is currently working on a Neil Armstrong biopic called First Man.

When you can watch: No release date yet.

Apple TV

Apple’s Vision Pro headset, unveiled at WWDC earlier this month, is only the first step on the company’s journey into the mixed-reality market, and it clearly isn’t perfect. It’s understood that Cupertino’s design team recommended that the project be pushed back until the available technology caught up with the sort of product they wanted to make, but CEO Tim Cook overruled them and insisted on announcing something this year. Real artists ship, after all.

One of Vision Pro’s obvious physical limitations at this stage of evolution is its relatively high weight, which some early testers have suggested is likely to make it uncomfortable when worn for long sessions. But Apple is aware of this issue, and working to solve it. Indeed, when my colleague Roman was able to spend an hour going hands-on with the device, he was equipped with an additional strap over the top of the headset, which appears to have at least partially mitigated the weight problem over that admittedly quite short period.

“In my demo,” he writes, “the headset had a Velcro strap that goes across the top of your head–this strap is not shown in Apple’s product photos or videos. I think that after the measurements were taken of my head, Apple determined that I would benefit from this top strap.

“After about an hour, my demo was done and I took off the headset. I didn’t have any fatigue in my neck or feel any tenderness where the headset and straps hugged my head. I felt like I could’ve gone on longer with the session, and I would’ve if Apple let me.”

One can readily imagine that Apple’s design team, already irritated at being pushed into announcing earlier than they wanted, would have been extremely keen to make sure the additional strap was kept out of publicity materials as much as possible; it doesn’t sound very minimalist. But for most customers, comfort will be at least as important as aesthetics, and it makes sense for Apple to explore ways to address the headset’s weight issue, especially if movie watching will be one of the main selling points.

Less pleasingly, however, it’s emerged that the company currently plans to sell that top strap as an optional extra rather than bundling it in the box. That’s according to knowledgeable leaker-analyst Mark Gurman, writing in the latest instalment of his Power On newsletter.

“With more people testing the headset, its shortcomings are coming under greater scrutiny,” Gurman writes. “Many users are finding that the metal-framed device feels too heavy after a couple hours of continuous use. To address the weight issue, Apple has developed a second strap that goes over a wearer’s head. But the company is considering selling that strap as an extra accessory rather than including it in the box.”

Sounds like the strap that Roman used in his testing, doesn’t it? But it’s astonishing that the company would view this as an upsell add-on rather than something worth including in the box as standard.

For one thing, Roman suspects that he was pushed into using the extra strap because of his less-than-petite head (he reports a hat size between 7 ½ and 7 ¾). If that’s correct, that would make the accessory analogous to the larger-size Apple Watch bands for those with chunkier wrists, for which Apple does not charge extra.

For another, when a product costs $3,499, you need some serious brass neck to not include the accessory that stops it being uncomfortable. But then again, the $6,999 Mac Pro doesn’t include wheels, so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.

Apple Inc