Apple is often accused of charging too much money for its products, but some of the company’s most momentous releases are free. Such as the annual major software updates for the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch, which unlock a raft of new features at no extra expense.

This year, in fact, the watchOS 10 software update (cost: $0) is expected to be considerably more significant than this year’s new hardware. The Apple Watch Series 9 (likely cost: $399 and upwards) has been labeled “anything but major,” whereas the new OS is expected to bring “bigger enhancements, including an updated interface.”

This article is our watchOS 10 deep dive, sifting through the leaks and rumors to bring you the best available information about its release schedule, hardware compatibility, and range of interface changes and new features. WWDC can’t come soon enough!

watchOS 10 release date: When will watchOS 10 arrive?

watchOS 10 will be announced at WWDC 2023 on June 5, enter a lengthy beta testing process, and finally become available for official public download in the fall.

It’s worth noting that Apple hasn’t yet announced any of this (other than the date of WWDC), but the company’s OS updates follow a predictable pattern. Every summer, Apple announces major new versions of watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. It demonstrates some or all of these at its WWDC gathering–the stage time varies depending on what Apple thinks is most interesting to the audience–and then begins beta testing. The final releases generally appear in September (watchOS 9 was released on September 9 in 2022), at roughly the same time as the year’s new iPhones and Apple Watches are introduced.

Here’s the schedule we expect for watchOS 10:

• June 5: watchOS 10 is unveiled at the WWDC keynote presentation.
• June 5: First developer beta is released.
• July: First public beta is released.
• June-September: A series of betas are released, gradually getting closer to the final product.
• September: watchOS 10.0 is rolled out to the public.

watchOS 10 compatibility: Which Apple Watches will be able to run watchOS 10?

We expect watchOS 10 to run on the same devices as watchOS 9: the Apple Watch Series 4 and later. But we won’t know for sure until WWDC.

The recent pattern has been that Apple trims its list of compatible models every other year. In 2018, watchOS 5 dropped support for the first-gen Apple Watch; in 2020, watchOS 7 dropped the Series 1 and 2; and in 2022, watchOS 9 dropped the Series 3. That’s why we think watchOS 10 will refrain from swinging the axe, and the Series 4 will live for one more year–although it may not get access to the full range of new features.

Of course, each version of watchOS also has a list of compatible iPhones: for the time being, each Apple Watch needs to have a paired iPhone with iOS 17. In 2019, watchOS 6 dropped support for the iPhone 5, 6, and 6 Plus; the remaining iPhones lasted another three years, but in 2022, watchOS 9 dropped the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the 7 and 7 Plus, and the 2016 iPhone SE. Following that bloodbath, our suspicion is that the iPhone 8 and later will again be compatible with the new version of watchOS this year.

watchOS 10: How to install the beta and full version

Once watchOS 10 is here for real, installing it on your Apple Watch will be easy. Simply open the Watch app on the companion iPhone, make sure you’re in the My Watch tab, then go to General > Software Update and follow the onscreen instructions. You may need to update the iPhone first.

You’ll also be able to try out a beta of watchOS 10 before the fall. To do that, you’ll need to join Apple’s beta program and understand that some features on your watch might break. Apple is streamlining the beta process in watchOS 9.5, so you’ll only need to sign into your Apple ID to get betas on all of your devices, and you can easily switch them off if you want to stop receiving them. In the same Software Update tab, you’ll see a new watchOS 10 Beta tab that will let you switch from watchOS 9 updates to watchOS 10 updates.

watchOS 10: Rumored new features

The new version of watchOS will include umpteen small tweaks designed to improve the reliability of existing functions, but the real meat of Apple’s announcement will focus on the new things you will soon be able to do with your Apple Watch and the new ways you will interact with it. Here are the new features and major changes we expect in watchOS 10.

Updated interface

The user’s comfort with a digital interface is as much about familiarity as sound design principles, and any major change in this area is sure to lead to pushback; that’s what Apple experienced with the radically redesigned and initially unpopular iOS 7 back in 2013. But Mark Gurman, the leaker/Bloomberg reporter who predicted big things for the Apple Watch this year, was careful to use the word updated rather than new to describe the watchOS 10 interface. It’ll be different, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be totally different.

More detail about what this will look like emerged on April 18, when leaker Analyst 941 on Twitter (Anonymous-A.S on the Macrumors forums) predicted “a redesigned homescreen layout/grid” and said this would be “much easier to use, move, & act more familiar to iOS, including folders.” The prediction was accompanied by renders showing very large icons lined up in straight rows and columns (as opposed to the space-saving tessellating honeycomb pattern currently used) and a rough visual of how folders will work.

Unfortunately the tweet containing this information was later removed. Analyst 941 who had scored a few hits with accurate predictions, was busted by Apple who discovered that his source was his sister, who happened to be an Apple employee. The leaker may well have been fed incorrect information by Apple while they were attempting to identify his source.

https://twitter.com/analyst941/status/1648366185967239170

It’s fair to say that the current honeycomb grid is not easy to use, because the icons are small and haphazardly arranged, while their closeness to one another makes it easy to open the wrong app. The list view is a better option for most Apple Watch owners, but having larger and more regularly arranged icons feels like a win, even if the idea of folders on such a small screen is less appealing.

Even if the general theory is correct, the details and execution are still up in the air. The rough renders of course look slightly awkward, but Apple’s designers would be able to create something more polished. But once we’re used to it, this could be a very usable interface.

Health and other new apps

Apple likes to offer an entirely new app to headline an OS update, such as Breathe in watchOS 3 and Walkie Talkie in watchOS 5, but we’ve not heard any rumors of something similar this year. What we are hearing is that Apple may bring the existing Health app to the Apple Watch… although the origin of this theory is unclear. (At the time of writing BGR confidently states that Apple “is expected to bring the Health app for the Apple Watch,” without citing a source; Tom’s Guide, meanwhile, mentions this as something it would like to happen, and we wonder if wires have become crossed somewhere along the line.) Nevertheless, it would make sense for the Apple Watch to get a centralized health dashboard, given its increasing centrality to Apple’s health and fitness efforts.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also indicated that Apple is working on a project with the code-name “Quartz” that will be an “AI coach” for health and wellness that works on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Quartz, is said to use data from Apple Watch and the Health app to “make suggestions and create coaching programs tailored to specific users,” according to Gurman. The service will carry its own monthly fee and have its own app. The service is not expected to launch until 2024 though, so, while Apple may preview it at WWD, it is unlikely to arrive in the first version of iWatchOS 10 in September 2023.

Widgets

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman Apple will be focused on widgets rather than apps in WatchOS 10. Analyst941 also collaborated this on Twitter before his account closed.

Gurman indicates that a set of widgets will appear on the screen and the crown button is used to scroll through them, with dynamically updated information being displayed.

This is a major departure from the app-based UI, and it may just be optional when introduced so as not to confuse users.

Most people use the Apple Watch for quick access to data rather than to use apps, so a Widget-based UI that provides easy access to multiple data points seems like a superior option.

Multiple device pairing

According to Analyst941 (prior to his Twitter account being closed–see above for more information about that), Apple is looking to remove one of the biggest Apple Watch limitations: device syncing. As it stands, Apple Watches need to be paired to an iPhone and only one iPhone at a time. Analyst941, who has leaked accurate Apple information in the past, the feature will allow Apple Watches to “sync across multiple iOS/iPadOS/Mac devices, and will no longer be tied to one single iPhone.” The leaker is uncertain whether it’s a watchOS 10 feature or planned for a future release but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it’s included in watchOS 10.

Miscellaneous changes

There are certain features Apple adds to its smartwatch each year as a matter of routine. watchOS 10 will almost certainly see the addition of new faces, for example, and there will be new complications for the faces we’ve already got. There’s a good chance the Workout app will get a new routine or two. Sleep tracking will probably be tweaked a little more since it’s still behind the equivalent feature on Fitbit.

None of these is big enough to headline a keynote, since they are expected. But small iterative improvements are still an important part of the value offered by Apple’s free yearly updates.

Further reading

With no spring event held earlier this year, WWDC 2023 should be a cracker of an event, with loads of major announcements expected.

On the software side, watchOS 10 will be accompanied by four other operating system updates, of which the most significant will probably be iOS 17 (which could see the arrival of sideloading on the iPhone for the first time) and macOS 14 for the Mac.

But there should be new hardware too. Apple would like to build the event around its long-awaited mixed-reality headset, the first in an entirely new ecosystem of products that could eventually surpass the iPhone in importance–although the word “could” is carrying a lot of weight for this troubled and often-delayed project.

There are also new Macs in the pipeline. There could be as many as three new MacBooks, including a new 15-inch MacBook Air, and Apple fans dare to hope the company will finally bring the Mac Pro into the realms of Apple silicon.

Apple Watch

Plug your MacBook in and out of a multi-port docking station to swiftly add devices and external displays to your laptop. We tested a bunch to find the best Thunderbolt 3 and 4 and USB-C docks available to owners of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Thunderbolt 3, 4 or USB-C

The connectors all look the same, but there are significant differences, particularly on speed—with USB-C maxing out at 10Gbps (usually 5Gbps) compared to the 40Gbps of Thunderbolt 3 and 4. That extra bandwidth allows not just for faster data transfer but higher frame rates to external displays, plus some other smart benefits.

Of Apple’s current laptop range, the M1 and M2 MacBook Air and 13in M1 MacBook Pro feature two Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) ports, while the 14in and 16in M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro models come with three Thunderbolt 4 (TB4 ports.

Apple’s older 12in MacBook features one 5Gbps Gen 1 USB-C port, while the later Intel MacBook Air (2018 and later) and MacBook Pro (from 2016) boast either two or four 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports.

If your MacBook is equipped with Thunderbolt 4, then you really should buy a TB4 dock if you need more ports than those 14/16in laptops already possess.

Buying a Thunderbolt 4 dock is a wise decision based on future-proofing even for owners of TB3 Macs as the standard is backwards compatible with TB3 and USB-C. That said, there are still some great—and often more affordable—TB3 docks available, and most Apple users won’t see much difference between TB3 and TB4—the Thunderbolt 4 standard was mainly about getting Windows laptops up to speed, although there are technical benefits for MacBook Pro users, such as smarter daisy-chaining and faster PCI hard-drive connections.

We have included some cheaper non-Thunderbolt USB-C docks. If you don’t require the ultimate bandwidth for the fastest data transfer and best screen frame rates or resolutions, a USB-C dock might suit your purposes and save you money. 

Add external displays to your MacBook

If you use your laptop as your principal computer, you would do well to consider attaching at least one larger display to create a hybrid desktop/laptop setup (with a keyboard, mouse and printer all available via a single connection to your MacBook). You can turn that 13in laptop screen into an iMac-sized 27in or even larger monitor by adding an extra display—or connect two large screens to extend your screen across your whole desk.

If you want to connect more than one external display to your MacBook you’ll need a Thunderbolt dock, rather than a USB-C dock. Natively over USB-C, Macs can only connect to one external display in Extended mode (where the screen extends beyond what you can see on the laptop screen, as opposed to Mirrored mode that replicates exactly what you get on the laptop screen) but you’ll get two Extended mode screens over a Thunderbolt connection.

While Apple’s MacBooks featuring the company’s own M1 or M2 Silicon chip are super speedy compared to the models sporting Intel processors, early models come with an incredible limitation: they don’t support more than one external display in Extended Mode even via their Thunderbolt 3 ports. This means that when using any docking station, M1 MacBook users cannot extend their desktop over two or more displays, and will be limited to either dual Mirrored displays or one external display—although there are software workarounds and dedicated docks that allow you to add more than one external monitor to an M1 or M2 MacBook.

Thankfully, the superior M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro models can support multiple displays.

Do I need a docking station?

The new M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro models boast a wider range of built-in ports, so lighter users might not need a docking station at all.

With three TB4 and an HDMI port, a MacBook with an M1 Max could connect to up to four external displays without the need for a dock, although such a power user would likely require extra Thunderbolt ports for other devices to make up for using all the laptop ports for multiple monitors.

These MacBooks also have an SD card reader. Although this is rated as UHS-II (312MBps), Apple has pegged it back at 250MBps, so for the fastest speeds (and a microSD slot if you need one), a dock will likely be a better choice for memory-card use if it is rated at UHS-II rather than UHS-I (104MBps).

MacBooks also lack wired Internet access via a Gigabit Ethernet port, so if you want to escape flaky Wi-Fi, buy a dock with at least Gigabit Ethernet, although you could add a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter if you have a spare TB port. Some later docks include faster 2.5Gb Ethernet but you’ll need a 2.5GbE router or other device to get the benefit. As Gigabit Ethernet’s speed is 1Gbps, a cheaper 5Gbps USB-C to Ethernet adapter will work just as well.

If you just need a few extra ports, a USB-C hub or Thunderbolt 4 hub might be your best choice. If you require a bunch of fast ports including Gigabit Ethernet, then look for a docking station that fulfils your needs.

USB-C and Thunderbolt speeds

Thunderbolt vs USB-C dock compatibility

Plain USB-C runs at either 5Gbps or 10Gbps, while Thunderbolt (TB3 and TB4) hits speeds of 40Gbps. You can hook up a Thunderbolt laptop to a USB-C dock but you won’t access the faster speeds unless you buy a true Thunderbolt dock.

• USB and Thunderbolt speeds explained

Docks with a Titan Ridge or Goshen Ridge chipset will work with both Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops. Other Thunderbolt docks won’t work with USB-C laptops, such as the 12in MacBook. With Titan Ridge and Goshen Ridge, you get all the benefits of a Thunderbolt dock, but can use it with non-Thunderbolt laptops, too.

In the review list below, we state at the top which type of laptop (USB-C or Thunderbolt) each docking station is compatible with.

Our sister website Tech Advisor has separately tested all the best Thunderbolt 4 hubs and docks.

USB PD: Power Delivery for your laptop

Look out for a dock with USB PD. The PD stands for Power Delivery. 

Charging the laptop: The M1 and M2 MacBook Air require a PD charger with at least 30W power. You’ll need 67W for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and 14-inch MBP (with M1 Pro with 8-core CPU), 96W for 14-inch MBP (with M1 Pro with 10-core CPU or M1 Max), 96W (preferably 140W) for the 16-inch MBP. 13in MacBook Air. The older 15in MacBook Pro requires a 87W PD charger.

An 85W/96W MacBook Pro can be charged by a 30W or 60W charger, but slower than it would be with its native charger. A larger MacBook with a heavy workload might start fading on a lower wattage charger and not last all day even when plugged into a power source.

If you own a larger MacBook Pro, buy a dock with a PD (Power Delivery) potential of at least 90W if you can. More portable hubs are usually rated at lower power.

Charging the docked devices: Some docks don’t feature an external power supply but actually use your laptop to draw power from. Add too many devices to one of these docks and you may well experience power issues, as USB-C can handle just 7.5W bus-device power while Thunderbolt can pass back 15W.

If you just need a spare charger, we’ve tested the best MacBook chargers for you.

Whole lotta ports

You need one (“upstream”) Thunderbolt port for connecting to and charging your laptop (although the 14/16in MacBooks can also power via the MagSafe port), and likely at least another (“downstream”) to attach further devices (hard drives, external display, and others).

There are many cheap adapters that let you add more devices to a USB-C or Thunderbolt MacBook (see our roundup of the best USB-C adapters for Macs), but for maximum flexibility check out these docking stations that take care of all your extra port requirements, and allow you to simply attach it to your laptop with just one cable when you get to the office or come home.

Here we concentrate on Thunderbolt docks, but also include cheaper USB-C docks—which Thunderbolt MacBooks can use, but at the cost of reduced bandwidth and display limitations. For more non-Thunderbolt USB-C-only docks check out Tech Advisor’s roundup of the best USB-C docking stations for laptops. Tech Advisor also reviews all the available Thunderbolt 4 docks.

Docks aren’t just for MacBooks. Mac mini (2018 and later) and iMac (2017 and later) owners may also consider expanding their ports with a Thunderbolt docking station.

The inclusion of an SD or microSD card reader isn’t just for camera buffs. It’s a convenient and affordable way to add storage to your laptop setup. We found a 512GB Samsung Evo microSD card on Amazon for around $100 in the US and under £100 in the UK. That’s a very cheap way of adding half a terabyte of portable storage. For more details read up on our best microSD cards.

Now think about a stand to go alongside the dock

These MacBook docking stations look and work great with a laptop stand, and we’ve also tested some
MacBook-friendly stands that lack all the extra ports but keep your MacBook/Air/Pro upright and out of the way: further saving valuable desk space, reducing clutter, keeping your laptop cool, and saving it from spills.

Read our best MacBook accessories feature for more essential laptop gear.

Accessories, Computer Accessories, Laptop Accessories

Apple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+, its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies.

This resource will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, grouped into: TV shows, limited series, and movies. There’s also a ton of new content in the works for Apple’s $6.99-a-month service. If you want to know what’s on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple TV+ shows and movies.

Updated 05/12/23: Documentary film STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie and drama series City on Fire are now streaming.

Shows and series

These are all the episodic, recurring series you can currently watch on Apple TV+, ordered from the most recent premiere date to the oldest.

City on Fire

A college student is shot in Central Park. The investigation connects a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and a wealthy uptown real estate family fraying under the strain of the many secrets they keep. Watch here

Premiered: May 12, 2023

Harriet the Spy (season 2)

Outspoken and perpetually curious. That’s 11-year-old Harriet in a nutshell. But if she’s going to be Harriet M. Welsh, future writer, she’ll need to know everything. And to know everything means she’ll need to spy…on everyone. Watch here

Premiered: April 5, 2023

Silo

In a ruined and toxic future, thousands live in a giant silo deep underground. After its sheriff breaks a cardinal rule and residents die mysteriously, engineer Juliette starts to uncover shocking secrets and the truth about the silo. Watch here

Premiered: May 5, 2023

Frog and Toad

Frog is a frog. Toad is a toad. They have a lot in common … but they are also very different. Frog and Toad are best friends who know that the true secret to friendship is not only enjoying the things you have in common, but embracing the things that make you different. Watch here

Premiered: April 28, 2023

Jane

Budding environmentalist Jane is a 9-year-old on a quest to save endangered animals. Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends David and Greybeard the chimpanzee on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world. Watch here

Premiered: April 14, 2023

Schmigadoon! (season 2)

Having found true love in the town of Schmigadoon, season two of Schmigadoon! will find Josh and Melissa in Schmicago, the reimagined world of ’60s and ’70s musicals.  Watch here

Premiered: April 5, 2023

The Big Door Prize

Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel of the same name, The Big Door Prize tells the story of a small town that is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential. Watch here

Premiered: March 29, 2023

Eva the Owlet

Join in on feathery fun as Eva seeks adventure in her treetop community. Each night, she learns lessons, reflects through writing, and lends a helping wing wherever she can. Based on the bestselling book series Owl Diaries. Watch here

Premiered: March 31, 2023

My Kind of Country

Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves join Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, and Orville Peck on a global search for country music’s next big star in a new kind of competition series. Watch here

Premiered: March 24, 2023

Ted Lasso (season 3)

The third season of Apple’s breakout hit show about a Kansas football coach who goes to England to coach a Premiere League soccer team. Watch here

Premiered: March 15, 2023

The Problem with Jon Stewart (season 2)

Jon’s weekly show enters its second season, where he examines issues in society with a panel discussion and interview. The first episode is “The War Over Gender.” Watch here

Premiered: October 7, 2022 with a mid-season break. The show returned on March 3, 2023.

The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy

Award-winning actor and nervous explorer Eugene Levy steps out of his comfort zone for a whirlwind tour of the world’s most beautiful and intriguing destinations. Watch here

Premiered: February 24, 2023

Liaison

Two agents-and former lovers–must work together to combat international cyberattacks threatening the UK while also confronting the buried secrets of their destructive relationship. Watch here

Premiered: February 24, 2023

Pretzel and the Puppies (season 2)

Meet Pretzel, the world’s longest dachshund and a playful, supportive dad to five frisky puppies. Together with his wife, Greta, they encourage their pups to get their paws up to solve problems and “make their bark” on the world. Watch here

Premiered: February 24, 2023

Hello Tomorrow!

In a retro-futuristic world, charismatic salesman Jack Bilings (Billy Crudup) leads a team of fellow sales associates determined to revitalize their customers’ lives by hawking timeshares on the moon. Watch here

Premiered: February 17, 2023

Dear Edward

A 12-year-old boy becomes the lone survivor of a plane crash. As he and others affected by the tragedy try to make sense of what happened, unexpected friendships, romances, and communities are formed. Watch here

Premiered: February 3, 2023

Pinecone and Pony (season 2)

Kate Beaton’s beloved book comes to life in this animated series. As a warrior in training, Pinecone fears no challenge. Thankfully, Pony always makes sure Pinecone never gets in over her head. Together they learn life can be a fun-filled adventure. Watch here

Premiered: February 3, 2023

Shrinking

Jimmy is struggling to grieve the loss of his wife while being a dad, friend, and therapist. He decides to try a new approach with everyone in his path: unfiltered, brutal honesty. Can he help himself by helping others? Will it bring him back into the light? Watch here

Premiered: January 27, 2023

Shape Island

On a charming island, Square, Triangle, and Circle seek adventure and connection while learning how to navigate each other’s differences. Based on the internationally best-selling books by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Watch here

Premiered: January 20, 2023

Truth Be Told (season 3)

Decend into the world of true-crime podcasts. This NAACP Image Award-winning drama stars Octavia Spencer as a podcaster who risks everything—including her life—to pursue truth and justice. Watch here

Premiered: January 20, 2023

Servant (season 4)

The final season of this thriller about a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home. Watch here

Premiered: January 13, 2023

Little America (season 2)

An anthology series based on the true stories of immigrants in America. Watch here

Premiered: December 9, 2022

Puppy Place (season 2)

Charles and Lizzie Peterson have found the perfect way to foster their love of dogs—literally. The siblings take on the tough but rewarding task of fostering puppies and finding their forever homes. With ever new pup, a new adventure begins. Watch here

Premiered: December 9, 2022

Carpool Karaoke (season 5)

Celebrities! They’re just like us! They sing in the car! Don’t you want to watch them sing in the car? Watch here

Premiered: December 9, 2022

Slow Horses (season 2)

This darkly funny espionage drama follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. Led by their brilliant but irascible leader, the notorious Jackson Lamb, they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces. Watch here

Premiered: December 2, 2022

Interrupting Chicken

Little red chicken Piper is a budding writer who uses her big imagination to rewrite stories, jumping into the action to create unforgettable adventures. Based on David Ezra Stein’s best-selling, award-winning children’s book series. Watch here

Premiered: November 18, 2022

Mythic Quest (season 3)

Game development workplace comedy Mythic Quest returns for its third season. Watch here

Premiered: November 11, 2022

Circuit Breakers

In this family sci-fi anthology series, curiosity leads to chaos when students in the near future experience mysterious events. Watch here

Premiered: November 11, 2022

The Mosquito Coast (season 2)

Allie Fox—a brilliant inventor and stubborn idealist—uproots his family for a dangerous quest through Mexico to flee the U.S. government and find safety. Watch here

Premiered: November 4, 2022

Slumberkins

Embark on adventures with Bigfoot, Unicorn, Sloth, Yak, and Fox as they explore a world of feelings in this Jim Henson Company series that brings the emotional learning of Slumberkins to life. Watch here

Premiered: November 4, 2022

Acapulco (season 2)

In 1984, Maximo Gallardo’s dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetimes at Acapulco’s hottest resort, Las Colinas. But he soon realizes that working there will be far more complicated than he ever imagined. Watch here

Premiered: October 21, 2022

Ghostwriter (season 3)

When a ghost haunts a neighborhood bookstore and starts releasing fictional characters into the real world, a group of friends team up to solve an exciting mystery surrounding the ghost’s unfinished business. Season 3 brings on a new cast of characters. Watch here

Premiered: October 21, 2022

Hello Jack! The Kindness Show (season 2)

Jason is one of Clover Grover’s most thoughtful and caring residents, greeting everyone with kindness and humor. His ability to spread compassion, creativity, and imagination inspires everyone in town to do the same. Watch here

Premiered: October 7, 2022

Sago Mini Friends

Welcome to Sagoville, where Harvey loves to play and discover ways to have silly fun! He and his closest friends explore, imagine, and express true thankfulness for all things, big and small, through creative adventures and unforgettable songs. Watch here

Premiered: September 16, 2022

Central Park (season 3)

The animated musical comedy continues for a third season. It’s about Owen, the manager of Central Park who lives there with his family, and a wealthy hotel heiress who wants to buy the park and build over it. Watch here

Premiered: September 9, 2022

Life by Ella

After a life-changing experience, 13-year-old Ella is eager to seize the day. As she learns to appreciate each moment, she faces the fears that once defined her–and encourages others to do the same. Watch here

Premiered: September 2, 2022

See (season 3)

The final season of Apple’s post-apocalyptic epic, starring Jason Momoa, about a far-future world where humans have long since lost their sight. Watch here

Premiered: August 26, 2022

Bad Sisters

The tight-knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for each other. When their brother-in-law winds up dead, his life insurers launch an investigation to prove malicious intent–and set their sights on the sisters, all of whom had ample reasons to kill him. Watch here

Premiered: August 19, 2022

Amber Brown

Between her parents’ divorce and best friend moving away, Amber Brown is having a tough time. But her art, video diary, and new friend Brandi provide outlets for Amber to express her feelings and find gratitude in the love that surrounds her.
Watch here

Premiered: July 29, 2022

Best Foot Forward

John Dubin is thrilled to switch from homeschool to public school, and being the only kid with a prosthetic leg is a challenge he’s ready to face. As he carves out a place among his peers, his friends and family are with him every step of the way.
Watch here

Premiered: July 22, 2022

Trying (season 3)

Nikki and Jason finally got their adopted kids, and that’s just the start of their troubles.
Watch here

Premiered: July 22, 2022

Duck & Goose

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.
Watch here

Premiered: July 8, 2022

Loot

After divorcing her husband of 20 years, Molly Novak must figure out what to do with her $87 billion settlement. She decides to reengage with her charitable foundation and reconnect with the real world—finding herself along the way.
Watch here

Premiered: June 24, 2022

Home (season 2)

Discover the groundbreaking ideas and inspiring stories behind the world’s most imaginative dwellings. In this globe-spanning docuseries, meet the visionaries who are challenging conventional concepts of “home” and rethinking how we live.
Watch here

Premiered: April 17, 2022

For All Mankind (season 3)

Nearly ten years after the events of Season 2, this season sees the space race extend to Mars, and take on new challengers from the private commercial spaceflight arena.
Watch here

Premiered: June 10, 2022

Lovely Little Farm

Nestled in lavender fields is a lovely little farm where sisters Jill and Jacky nurture and love all their animals—including the talking ones. Being a young farmer isn’t easy, but every day brings adventure and a chance to grow.
Watch here

Premiered: June 10, 2022

Physical (season 2)

Shelia Rubin is a quietly tormented housewife in the ’80s San Diego. Behind closed doors, she battles extreme personal demons and a vicious inner voice. But things change when she discovers aerobics, sparking a journey toward empowerment and success.
Watch here

Premiered: June 3, 2022

Now & Then

On the eve of college graduation, six best friends embark on an epic weekend the celebrate—but it takes a fatal turn. Nearly 20 years later, the survivors are reluctantly reunited by a blackmail text threatening to expose the truth about that fateful night.
Watch here

Premiered: May 20, 2022

Greatness Code (season 2)

Iconic athletes pull back the curtain on a pivotal career moment when they touched greatness. A stylized hybrid of live action and visual effects, this short-form docuseries sheds new light on the sports legends you thought you knew.
Watch here

Premiered: May 13, 2022

Tehran (season 2)

Glenn Close joins the cast in the second season of this action-packed Israeli spy thriller.
Watch here

Premiered: May 6, 2022

Shining Girls

Years after a brutal attack left her in a constantly shifting reality, Kirby Mazrachi learns that a recent murder is linked to her assault. She teams with veteran reporter Dan Velazquez to understand her ever-changing present—and confront her past.
Watch here

Pinecone & Pony

Kate Beaton’s beloved book comes to life in this animated series. As a warrior in training, Pinecone fears no challenge. Thankfully, Pony always makes sure Pinecone never gets in over her head. Together they learn life and be a fun-filled adventure.
Watch here

Premiered: April 8, 2022

Slow Horses

This quick-witted spy drama follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
Watch here

Premiered: April 1, 2022

Stillwater (season 2)

Siblings Karl, Addy, and Michael have a very special next-door neighbor: a wise panda names Stillwater. His friendship and stories give them new perspectives on the world, themselves, and each other.
Watch here

Premiered: Season 2 premiered on March 18, 2022

The Snoopy Show (season 2)

Charlie Brown’s famous beagle is back for more animated adventures.
Watch here

Premiered: Season 2 landed on March 11, 2022

The Problem with Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart is back on TV with his new one-hour show. Each episode covers a single topic, and speaks to experts and advocates about the systems that cause them and how we can affect change.
Watch here

Listen to the
companion podcast.

Premiered: September 30, 2021, came back from break with new weekly format March 3, 2022

Central Park (season 2)

The animated musical comedy from the creators of Bob’s Burgers continues, as the family that lives and works in the park continues their quest to stop an evil old woman from buying the whole thing and filling it with skyscrapers and stores.
Watch here

Premiered: June 25, 2021, continued March 4, 2022 after an extended break

Dear… (season 2)

The second season of this documentary series inspired by the “Dear Apple” ad campaign. Celebrities read letters by people whose lives they have changed through their work.
Watch here

Premiered: March 4, 2022

Severance

Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.
Watch here

Pretzel and the Puppies

Meet Pretzel, the world’s longest dachshund and a playful, supportive dad to five frisky puppies. Together with his wife, Greta, they encourage their pups to get their paws up to solve problems and “make their bark” on the world.
Watch here

Premiered: February 11, 2022

Suspicion

Four ordinary Brits are accused of kidnapping the son of a prominent U.S. media mogul. They embark on a desperate race against time to prove their innocence, but will anyone believe them—and are they telling the truth?
Watch here

Premiered: February 4, 2022

The Afterparty

When a high school reunion’s afterparty ends in a stunning death, everyone is a suspect. A detective grills the former classmates one by one, uncovering potential motives as each tells their version of the story—culminating in the shocking truth.
Watch here

Premiered: January 28, 2022

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock

Jim Henson’s fun-loving, musical Fraggles are back! Jon Gobo, Red, Wembley, Mokey, Boober, and new Fraggle friends on hilarious, epic adventures about the magic that happens when we celebrate and care for our interconnected world.
Watch here

Premiered: January 21, 2022

Servant (season 3)

From M. Night Shyamalan, Servant follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home.
Watch here

Premiered: January 21, 2022

El Deafo

Going to school and making new friends can be tough. Having to do both while wearing a bulky hearing aid on your chest? That takes superpowers! With a little help from her superhero alter ego, El Deafo, Cece learns to embrace her differences.
Watch here

Premiered: January 7, 2022

Harriet the Spy

Outspoken and perpetually curious. That’s 11-year-old Harriet in a nutshell. But if she’s going to be Harriet M. Welsch, future writer, she’ll need to know everything. And to know everything means she’ll need to spy…on everyone.
Watch here

Premiered: November 19, 2021; additional episodes on May 20, 2022

Snoopy in Space (season 2)

Black off with Snoopy as he takes on a new frontier: space! Joined by Charlie Brown, Woodstock, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, Snoopy embarks on epic adventures of interstellar exploration and discovery.
Watch here

Premiered: November 12, 2021

Dickinson (season 3)

The third and final season of this period drama with modern sensibilities and references, a coming-of-age story about one of America’s greatest poets.
Watch here

Premiered: November 5, 2021

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Jack is one of Clover Grove’s most thoughtful and caring residents, greeting everyone with kindness and humor. His ability to spread compassion, creativity, and imagination inspires everyone in town to do the same.
Watch here

Premiered: November 5, 2021

Swagger

From NBA star Kevin Durant, filmmaker Reggie Rock Bythewood, and the team behind Friday Night Lights. A basketball prodigy must navigate a maze of pressure if he’s going to overcome the odds against him and learn what it truly means to have swagger.
Watch here

Premiered: October 29, 2021

Invasion

Earth is visited by an alien species that threatens humanity’s existence. Events unfold in real time through the eyes of five ordinary people across the globe as they struggle to make sense of the chaos unraveling around them.
Watch here

Premiered: October 22, 2021

Puppy Place

Charles and Lizzie Peterson have found the perfect way to foster their love of dogs–literally. The siblings take on the tough but rewarding task of fostering puppies and finding their forever homes. WIth every new pup, a new adventure begins.
Watch here

Premiered: October 15, 2021.

Acapulco

In 1984, Maximo Gallardo’s dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at Acapulco’s hottest resort, Las Colinas. But he soon realizes that working there will be far more complicated than he ever imagined.
Watch here

Premiered: October 8, 2021

Get Rolling with Otis

Welcome to Long Hill Dairy Farm, home to Otis the tractor and all his friends. Otis may be little, but he has a big heart. Whenever he sees a friend in need, he hits the brakes to see what’s wrong and rolls into action to help.
Watch here

Premiered: October 8, 2021

The Problem with Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart is back on TV with his new one-hour show. Each episode covers a single topic, and speaks to experts and advocates about the systems that cause them and how we can affect change.
Watch here

Listen to the
companion podcast.

Premiered: September 30, 2021

Foundation

Based on the classed Isaac Asimov novels, Foundation chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.
Watch here

Premiered: September 24, 2021

Wolfboy and the Everything Factory

William Wolfe is no ordinary human boy. Down in the magical spryte realm of the Everything Factory, he’s Wolfboy. And with his new spryte friends, he learns his vivid imagination and limitless creativity have the power to change the world.
Watch here

Premiered: September 24, 2021

The Morning Show (season 2)

The second season picks up where the first left off, with The Morning Show reeling from sexual misconduct allegations and about to run right into the COVID pandemic.
Watch here

Premiered: September 17, 2021

Doug Unplugs (season 2)

The second season of this 3D animated show for kids about a curious robot named Doug is split into two halves.
Watch here

Premiered: The first half of season 2 started on September 17, 2021. Episodes 8-13 landed on April 1, 2022.

See (season 2)

In the second season of this post-apocalyptic epic thriller, Dave Bautista joins the cast, playing the brother of Jason Momoa’s character Baba Voss.
Watch here

Premiered: August 27, 2021

Truth Be Told (season 2)

Season 2 has Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) investigating the murder of the husband of her childhood friend Micah Keith, a successful lifestyle guru played by Kate Hudson.
Watch here

Premiered: August 20, 2021

Mr. Corman

With better luck, better choices, better posture…Josh Corman could’ve been a rock star. Now he teaches fifth grade, and though he loves his students, he still struggles to find happiness and meaning in a world that sometimes feels short on both.
Watch here

Premiered: August 6, 2021

Ted Lasso (season 2)

Apple’s breakout hit continues as AFC Richmond finds itself struggling to break an unprecedented streak of tie games and earn its way back to the Premiere League.
Watch here

Premiered: July 23, 2021

Schmigadoon!

In this parody of 1940s musicals, backpacking couple Melissa and Josh get trapped in Schmigadon, a magical town filled with singing and dancing townspeople, and learn they can’t leave without finding true love—which they thought they already had.
Watch here

Premiered: July 16, 2021

Central Park (season 2)

The animated musical comedy from the creators of Bob’s Burgers continues, as the family that lives and works in the park continues their quest to stop an evil old woman from buying the whole thing and filling it with skyscrapers and stores.
Watch here

Premiered: June 25, 2021

Physical

A half-hour drama/comedy series set in a 1980s Southern California beach community. It’s about a tortured woman who finds a path to power in the world of aerobics.
Watch here

Premiered: June 18, 2021

Home Before Dark (season 2)

In season two, when a mysterious explosion hits a local farm, reporter Hilde Lisko begins an investigation that will lead her to fight a powerful and influential corporation—with the health of her family and Erie Harbor in the balance.
Watch here

Premiered: June 11, 2021

Trying (season 2)

In the eight-episode second season of Trying, Nikki and Jason are continuing to navigate the adoption process.
Watch here

Premiered: May 21, 2021

Mythic Quest (season 2)

With the quarantine finally over, the second season of Mythic Quest finds everyone back in the office, attempting to build upon the success of Raven’s Banquet by launching an epic new expansion.
Watch here

Premiered: May 7, 2021

The Mosquito Coast

Adapts the bestselling novel The Mosquito Coast, to star Justin Theroux. The novel was published in 1981 by Theroux’s uncle, Paul Theroux, and made into a movie five years later starring Harrison Ford.
Watch here

Premiered: April 30, 2021

Mythic Quest ‘Everlight’ special

A special bonus episode in advance of Season 2. With the COVID pandemic over, the Mythic Quest crew returns to the offices for the company’s annual “Everlight” party.
Watch here

Premiered: April 16, 2021

Tiny World (Season 2)

Six more episodes of this nature documentary narrated by Paul Rudd, featuring spectacular footage of some of the smallest creatures in nature.
Watch here

Premiered: April 16, 2021

The Earth at Night in Color (Season 2)

Tom Hiddleston narrates six more episodes showcasing the nighttime activities of wild animals, shot using a new technique that enables full color in the dark.
Watch here

Premiered: April 16, 2021

For All Mankind (Season 2)

The story continues in the 1980s, almost a decade after season 1. Tensions escalate with the Soviets, and NASA struggles to push forward into the next generation of spaceflight.
Watch here

Premiered: Feb. 19, 2021

The Snoopy Show

An animated series all about Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s famous dog.
Watch here

Premiered: Feb. 5, 2021

Losing Alice

The series follows Alice, a 48-year-old female film director, who feels irrelevant since raising her family. She becomes obsessed with 24-year-old screenwriter Sophie, and eventually surrenders her moral integrity in order to achieve power, relevance, and success.
Watch here

Premiered: Jan. 22, 2021

Servant (Season 2)

Continuing the mystery around Jericho’s disappearance.
Watch here

Premiered: Jan. 15, 2021

Dickinson (Season 2)

The story continues as Emily struggles with her burgeoning notoriety.
Watch here

Premiered: Jan. 8, 2021

Stillwater

A CG animated kids’ cartoon about three siblings who live next door to a wise panda named Stillwater, who teaches them new perspectives on life through Eastern philosophy.
Watch here

Premiered: Dec. 4, 2020

Earth at Night in Color

A six-part nature documentary series that films animals at night using new technology to capture full natural color. Narrated by Tom Hiddleston.
Watch here

Premiered: Dec. 4, 2020

Doug Unplugs

A CG animated kids’ series that follows the robot Doug and his human friend Emma as they go on adventures and learn how the world works.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 13, 2020

Helpsters (Season 2)

An educational series produced by Sesame Workshop. A group of monsters work together to help solve the problems of customers who enter their shop through teamwork and problem solving.
Watch here

Premiered: Oct. 20, 2020

Ghostwriter (Season 2)

More mysteries for the kids in the bookstore. This season is only seven episodes.
Watch here

Premiered: Oct. 9, 2020

Tiny World

A six-part nature documentary about the lives of some of the smallest creatures in the wild. Narrated by Paul Rudd.
Watch here

Premiered: Oct. 2, 2020

Tehran

An espionage thriller that tells the thrilling story of a Mossad agent who goes deep undercover on a dangerous mission in Tehran that places her and everyone around her in dire jeopardy.
Watch here

Premiered: Sept. 25, 2020

Ted Lasso

Jason Sudeikis plays American college football coach takes over as head coach of U.K. Premiere League soccer team AFC Richmond.
Watch here

Premiered: Aug. 14, 2020

The Oprah Conversation

Oprah leads intimate discussions with today’s foremost newsmakers, thought leaders, and masters of their craft.
Watch here

Premiered: July 30, 2020

Little Voice

A romantic comedy-drama about a singer-songwriter who struggles to be heard and find herself.
Watch here

Premiered: July 10, 2020

Greatness Code

Seven famous athletes discuss their moments of greatness. Presented in a hybrid of live action and special effects.
Watch here

Premiered: July 10, 2020

Dear…

A documentary series inspired by the “Dear Apple” ad campaign. Celebrities read letters by people whose lives they have changed through their work.
Watch here

Premiered: June 5, 2020

Central Park

A musical comedy animated series from the creators of Bob’s Burgers, about the family of the Central Park groundskeeper and their attempts to foil the wealthy old woman who wants to buy and destroy the park.
Watch here

Premiered: May 29, 2020

Fraggle Rock (Seasons 1-4)

Apple will reboot the classic Jim Henson show from the 1980s, but in the meantime, it has all four original seasons. This is a rare case where Apple TV+ has a library of old content.
Watch here

Premiered: May 27, 2020

Mythic Quest (Quarantine Special)

A special filmed remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing how the Mythic Quest staff is dealing with remote work.
Watch here

Premiered: May 22, 2020

Trying

A British comedy series that follows a couple who want to become parents but are struggling to conceive.
Watch here

Premiered: May 1, 2020

Home

A documentary series that examines the inspiration behind some very creative living spaces.
Watch here

Premiered: April 17, 2020

Home Before Dark

Based on the life of young Hilde Lysiak, a girl moves from New York to the small lakeside town her father is from, and investigates the town’s old mystery.
Watch here

Premiered: April 3, 2020

Amazing Stories

An anthology of fantastical tales, reviving the acclaimed 1985 TV series. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, among others.
Watch here

Premiered: March 6, 2020

Mythic Quest

A comedy that follows the video game studio that produces the popular fictional online RPG Mythic Quest.
Watch here

Premiered: Feb. 7, 2020

Little America

An anthology series based on the true stories of immigrants in America.
Watch here

Premiered: Jan. 17, 2020

Truth Be Told

A true crime podcaster investigates the case of a convicted killer she previously painted as the murderer, who now claims he was framed.
Watch here

Premiered: Dec. 6, 2019

Servant

A psychological horror series executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 28, 2019

Helpsters

An educational series produced by Sesame Workshop. A group of monsters work together to help solve the problems of customers who enter their shop through teamwork and problem solving.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

Oprah’s Book Club

A stand-alone version of the popular “Oprah’s Book Club” segment on her talk show.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

Ghostwriter

A revival of the 1992 TV series, where four kids help a ghost in a bookstore solve mysteries that bring to life characters from the books.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

Dickinson

A half-hour comedy-drama about the life of Emily Dickinson that blends period-era trappings with modern sensibilities, music, and dialogue.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

See

Hundreds of years after a plague kills most of humanity and robs the rest of their sight, a pair of twins are born who can see. Jason Momoa plays their adoptive father.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

The Morning Show

A drama about the production of a fictional morning news show amidst a sexual misconduct scandal. Features big-name stars like Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, and Billy Crudup.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

For All Mankind

How would history play out differently if the Soviet Union landed on the Moon before the United States?
Watch here.

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

Limited series

These limited series are comprised of multiple episodes, but are not expected to have multiple seasons or continue in an ongoing basis.

Drops of God

While the world of wine mourns the death of Alexandre Léger, his estranged daughter, Camille, learns his extraordinary collection is now hers. But before she can claim her inheritance, Camille must best Alexandre’s protégé, Issei, in a test of their senses. Watch here

Premiered: April 21, 2023

The Last Thing He Told Me

A woman must forge a relationship with her teenage stepdaughter in order to find her husband, who has mysteriously disappeared. Watch here

Premiered: April 14, 2023

Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker

An inside look at the controversial life and career of tennis great Boris Becker-featuring interviews with John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, Björn Borg, and other icons. Watch here

Premiered: April 7, 2023

Extrapolations

Eight interconnected stories told over 33 years explore how our planet’s changing climate will affect family, work, faith-and survival. Watch here

Premiered: March 17, 2023

Monster Factory

Welcome to The World Famous Monster Factory, a school where spandex-clad misfits escape the confines of everyday life to chase the dream of going pro. Watch here

Premiered: March 17, 2023

Real Madrid: Until the End

Step onto the field and go behind the scenes with the iconic soccer team for a look at their astonishing 2021-2022 season. Fueled by their fervent fans, they defy the odds and silence the skeptics. Watch here

Premiered: March 10, 2023

Make or Break (season 2)

Dive into the world of pro surfing as the best in the sport travel the globe to compete for the World Championship title. With unprecedented access, this docuseries captures the athletes’ lives on tour and the sacrifices they make to get to the top. Watch here

Premiered: February 17, 2023

Super League: The War for Football

The past, present, and future of European football collide when plans for a breakaway league emerge, leaving the game’s most powerful leaders to defend—or upend—the traditions of the sport. Watch here

Premiered: January 13, 2023

Shantarm

Escaped convict Lin Ford flees to the teeming streets of 1980s Bombay, looking to disappear. Working as a medic for the city’s poor and neglected, Lin finds unexpected love, connection, and courage on the long road to redemption. Watch here

Premiered: October 14, 2022

Gutsy

Take an unforgettable journey with Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton as they go on adventures with some of the world’s boldest and bravest women—from household names to unsung heroes—who make us laugh and inspire us to be more gutsy. Watch here

Premiered: September 9, 2022

Five Days at Memorial

Based on actual events from Hurricane Katrina. When the floodwaters rose, power failed, and heat soared, exhausted caregivers at a New Orleans hospital were forced to make profound, heart-wrenching decisions.
Watch here

Premiered: August 12, 2022

Surface

A traumatic head injury leaves Sophie with extreme memory loss. In her quest to put the pieces of her life back together–with help from her husband and friends–Sophie begins to question the truth behind her picture-perfect life.
Watch here

Premiered: July 29, 2022

Black Bird

Inspired by actual events. As Jimmy Keene begins a 10-year prison sentence, he gets an incredible offer: If he can elicit a confession from suspected killer Larry Hall, Jimmy will be freed. Completing this mission becomes the challenge of a lifetime.
Watch here

Premiered: July 8, 2022

Prehistoric Planet

Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic series from Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth. Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.
Watch here

Premiered: May 23, 2022

The Essex Serpent

London widow Cora Seaborne moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a surprising bond of science and skepticism with the local vicar—but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.
Watch here

Premiered: May 13, 2022

The Big Conn

Eric C. Conn was a lawyer living a little too large in eastern Kentucky…until two whistleblowers realized he was at the center of government fraud worth over half a billion dollars, one of the largest in U.S. history. And that was just the beginning.
Watch here

Premiered: May 6, 2022

Make or Break (season 1)

Dive into the world of pro surfing as the best in the sport travel the globe to compete for the World Championship title. With unprecedented access, this docuseries captures the athletes’ lives on tour and the sacrifices they make to get to the top. Watch here

Premiered: April 29, 2022

The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball

Makur Maker was a five-star NBA prospect heading to the Draft—until an unexpected detour led him to Howard University. This inspiring docuseries follows Makur’s journey and his determination to rewrite his story with the help of his family.
Watch here

Premiered: April 22, 2022

They Call Me Magic

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is an icon for the ages—from humble beginnings to the Dream Team to business titan. Featuring interviews with President Obama, Larry Bird, Pat Riley, and more, this docuseries charts the life and career of a legend.
Watch here

Premiered: April 22, 2022

Roar

Featuring an all-star cast, this genre-bending anthology series waves together eight darkly comedic feminist fables that take unexpected approaches to subjects like gender roles, autonomy, and identity.
Watch here

Premiered: April 15, 2022

Pachinko

Based on the New York Times bestseller, this sweeping saga chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland in an indomitable quest to survive and thrive.
Watch here

Premiered: March 25, 2022

WeCrashed

Inspired by actual events—and the love story at the center of it all. WeWork grew from a single coworking space into a global brand worth $47 billion in under a decade. Then, in less than a year, its valuation dropped $40 billion. What happened?
Watch here

Premiered: March 18, 2022

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

Suddenly left without his trusted caretaker, Ptolemy Grey is assigned to the care of orphaned teenager Robyn. When they learn about a treatment that will restore Ptolemy’s dementia-addled memories, it beings a journey toward shocking truths.
Watch here

Premiered: March 11, 2022

Lincoln’s Dilemma

Discover a side of Abraham Lincoln you’ve never seen before. In this four-part docuseries, a diverse panel of historians and rare archival materials offer a more nuanced look into the man dubbed the Great Emancipator.
Watch here

Premiered: February 18, 2022

The Line

In covert modern warfare, the line between right and wrong has blurred. This docuseries examines the moral ambiguities of war as embodied by the 2018 case in which a U.S. Navy SEAL platoon accused its chief, Eddie Gallagher, of war crimes.
Watch here

The Shrink Next Door

Inspired by the true story of Marty and the therapist who turned his life around…then took it over. When he first meets Dr. Ike, Marty just wants to get better at boundaries. Over 30 years, he’ll learn all about them—and what happens when they get crossed.
Watch here

Dr. Brain

From visionary filmmaker Kim Jee-Woon. Brilliant brain scientist Sewon (Lee Sun-kyun) suffers a horrific personal tragedy. Desperate to uncover what happened to his family, he conducts “brain syncs” with the dead to access their memories for clues.
Watch here

Blush

When a horticulturalist-astronaut crashes onto a desolate planet, he encounters an ethereal visitor and discovers the joy of building a new life–realizing the universe has delivered something astonishing.
Watch here

Premiered: October 1, 2021

Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson

Oscar and Grammy award-winning producer Mark Ronson explores the intersection of technology and musical innovation with his heroes and fellow hitmakers—including Paul McCartney, DJ Premier, Charli XCX, Dave Grohl, and Questlove.
Watch here

Premiered: July 30, 2021

Lisey’s story

Based on the Stephen King novel and adapted by King himself. A series of unsettling events causes Lisey (Juliette Moore) to face memories of her marriage to novelist Scott Landon (Clive Owen) that she has deliberately blocked out of her mind.
Watch here

Premiered: June 4, 2021

The Me You Can’t See

A collaboration between Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry, this five-party documentary series explores mental health in our modern world. It talks to experts, celebrities, and everyday people about the challenges of mental health across the world.
Watch here

Premiered: May 21, 2021

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything

In a tumultuous era, 1971 was a year of musical innovation and rebirth fueled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time. Stars reached new heights, fresh talent exploded on the scene, and boundaries expanded like never before.
Watch here

Premiered: May 21, 2021

Calls

Based on the French series of the same name, using audio and minimal abstract visuals to tell nine short-form stories. Each episode follows a mystery that unfolds through a series of seemingly average, unconnected phone conversations that quickly become surreal.
Watch here

Premiered: March 19, 2021

Becoming You

Told through the eyes of hundreds of kids around the globe, this six-part documentary series shows how kids grow up from birth to age five.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 13, 2020

Long Way Up

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman ride Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles up from Argentina to Los Angeles. It is similar in style and scope to their previous outings in Long Way Round and Long Way Down.
Watch here

Premiered: Sept. 18, 2020

Helpsters Help You

A remote-produced version of Helpsters made during the COVID-19 pandemic, staring the helpful monster Cody as she helps kids deal with what to do when life doesn’t go as expected.
Watch here

Premiered: April 24, 2020

Defending Jacob

Based on the novel of the same name, parents deal with the accusation that their 14-year-old boy may have committed murder. Stars Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery.
Watch here

Premiered: April 24, 2020

Fraggle Rock: Rock On!

A series of six shorts filmed remote during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Fraggles talking to each other in remote caves.
Watch here

Premiered: April 21, 2020

Oprah Talks COVID-19

Oprah has remote conversations with experts and people facing challenges to provide insight, meaning, and tangible advice for the human spirit.
Watch here

Premiered: March 21, 2020

Visible: Out on Television

A five-episode documentary series about the representation of LGBTQ+ people in television, on-screen and off.
Watch here

Premiered: Feb. 14, 2020

Snoopy in Space

A dozen animated shorts in which Snoopy becomes a NASA astronaut and goes into space.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

Movies, short films, and specials

Apple TV+ is home to a fair number of original movies, too. Some of the movies saw a limited theatrical release, but are listed here by the date they were made available on Apple TV+.

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie

A short kid from a Canadian army base becomes the international pop culture darling of the 1980s-only to find the course of his life altered by a stunning diagnosis. What happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease? Watch here

Premiered: May 12, 2023

Ghosted

Salt-of-the-earth Cole falls head over heels for enigmatic Sadie-but then makes the shocking discovery that she’s a secret agent. Before they can decide on a second date, Cole and Sadie are swept away on an international adventure to save the world. Watch here

Premiered: April 21, 2023

Tetris

Based on the true story of American video game salesman Henk Rogers and his discovery of Tetris in 1988. When he sets out to bring the game to the world, he enters a dangerous web of lies and corruption behind the Iron Curtain. Watch here

Premiered: March 31, 2023

Sharper

No one is who they seem in this neo-noir New York City thriller of ruthless manipulations and high-stakes power games. Watch here

Premiered: February 17, 2023

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Charlie Mackesy’s best-selling book comes to life in this beautifully animated film from NoneMore and Bad Robot Productions. Follow the unlikely bond between four friends as they explore the meaning of kindness, courage, and hope. Watch here

Premiered: December 25, 2022

Emancipation

Inspired by the gripping true story of a man who would do anything for his family—and for freedom. When Peter, an enslaved man, risks his life to escape and return to his family, he embarks on a perilous journey of love and endurance. Watch here

Premiered: December 9, 2022

Spirited

Imagine Charles Dickens’ heartwarming tale of a scrooge visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve–but funnier. And with Will Farell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spender. Also, huge musical numbers. Okay, we’re asking a lot. Maybe just watch the trailer? Watch here

Premiered: November 18, 2022

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me

After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey to a new light. Watch here

Premiered: November 4, 2022

Causeway

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Lynsey, a soldier struggling to adjust back home in New Orleans following a traumatic injury. When she meets local mechanic James (Brian Tyree Henry), the pair begin to forge an unexpected bond. Watch here

Premiered: November 4, 2022

Raymond & Ray

Half brothers Raymond and Ray reunite when their estranged father dies–and discover that his final wish was for them to dig his grave. Together, they process who they’ve become as men, both because of their father and in spite of him. Watch here

Premiered: October 21, 2022

The Greatest Beer Run Ever

Chickie (Zac Efron) wants to support his friends fighting in Vietnam by doing something wild—personally bringing them American beer. What starts as a well-meaning journey quickly changes Chickie’s life and perspective. Based on a true story. Watch here

Premiered: September 30, 2022

Sidney

From producer Oprah Winfrey, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Barbara Streisand, and more. Watch here

Premiered: September 23, 2022

Lucy’s School

The Peanuts gang is nervous about going to a new school, so Lucy starts her own. She soon learns that teaching is tougher than she thought—and that change can be a good thing.
Watch here

Premiered: August 12, 2022

Luck

From Skydance Animation and the creative visionary behind Toy Story and Cars comes the tale of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world! Sam’s quest to turn her luck around leads to a magical adventure in the never-before-seen Land of Luck.
Watch here

Premiered: August 5, 2022

Cha Cha Real Smooth

Fresh out of college and stuck at his New Jersey home without a clear path forward, 22-year-old Andrew begins working as a party starter for bar/bat
mitzvahs-where he strikes up a unique friendship with a young mom and her teenage daughter.
Watch here

Premiered: June 17, 2022

To Mom (and Dad), With Love

Mother’s Day is almost here, and the gang is excited—except Peppermint Patty. For her, it’s a reminder that she didn’t grow up with a mom. But good pal Marcie helps Peppermint Patty see that families come in all shapes and sizes.
Watch here

Premiered: May 6, 2022

It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is determined to win the big baseball game. But things turn into a fiasco right before the matchup, when Sally bonds with a little flower on the pitcher’s mound and vows to protect it at all costs.
Watch here

Premiered: April 15, 2022

The Sky is Everywhere

Lennie is a teen musical prodigy grieving the death of her sister when she finds herself caught between a new guy at school and her sister’s devastated boyfriend. Through her vivid imagination and conflicted heart, Lennie navigates first love and first loss.
Watch here

Premiered: February 11, 2022

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Denzel Washington and Farnces McDormand star in Joel Coen’s bold and fierce adaptation–a tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning.
Watch here

Premiered: January 14, 2022

Swan Song

In the near future, Cameron Turner is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Presented with an experimental solution to shield his wife and son from grief, he grapples with altering their fate in this thought-provoking exploration of love, loss, and sacrifice.
Watch here

Premiered: December 17, 2021

Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne

After finding out her grandmother wont’ be visiting for Christmas, Lucy decides to cheer herself up by throwing the ultimate New Year’s Eve party. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown tries to fulfill one of his resolutions before the clock strikes midnight.
Watch here

Premiered: December 10, 2021

Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues

The Queen of Christmas returns with a blast of holiday cheer in this special. Mariah performs her enchanting original song “Fall in Love at Christmas” with Khalid and Kirk Franklin, chats with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, and signs off with a festive classic.
Watch here

Premiered: December 3, 2021

‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas

In this true-life twist on a holiday fable, Jeremy Morris brings a whole new meaning to Christmas spirit when his extravagant seasonal display sparks a dispute with his neighbors that lands them all in court.
Watch here

Premiered: November 26, 2021

Finch

Tom Hanks if Finch, a man who embarks on a moving and powerful journey to find a new home for his unlikely family—his beloved dog and a newly created robot—in a dangerous and ravaged world.
Watch here

Premiered: November 5, 2021

The Velvet Underground

Experience the iconic rock band’s legacy in the first major documentary to tell their story. Directed with the era’s avant-garde spirit by Todd Haynes, this kaleidoscopic oral history combines exclusive interviews with dazzling archival footage.
Watch here

Premiered: October 15, 2021

Come From Away

Filmed live on Broadway, the Tony Award-winning musical tells the remarkable true story of 38 flights grounded in a small Canadian town on September 11, 2001. As the locals host these “come from aways,” they come together and find hope.
Watch here

Premiered: September 10, 2021

9/11: Inside the President’s War Room

Experience the events of September 11, 2001 through the eyes of President Bush and his closest advisors as they personally detail the crucial hours and key decisions from that historic day.
Watch here

Premiered: September 1, 2021

CODA

As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ruby is the only hearing person in her home. When she discovers a passion for singing, Ruby must choose between family obligations and her dreams.
Watch here

Premiered: August 13, 2021

Who Are You, Charlie Brown?

Lupita Nyong’o narrates a documentary about Peanuts and its creator, Charles M. Schulz. Famous fans—including Drew Barrymore, Kevin Smith, and Al Roker—share its influence on them, and a new animated story finds Charlie Brown on a quest.
Watch here

Premiered: June 25, 2021

Fathom

Two biologists set out on an undertaking as colossal as their subjects—deciphering the complex communication of whales. Dr. Michelle Fournet and Dr. Ellen Garland journey to opposite hemispheres to uncover a culture eons older than our own.
Watch here

Premiered: June 25, 2021

The Year the Earth Changed

Narrated by David Attenborough, this documentary special highlights the way nature has started to recover during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch here

Premiered: April 16, 2021

Cherry

A young Ohio man takes a wild journey through love, military service, PTSD, drug addiction, and crime.
Watch here

Premiered: March 12, 2021

Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry

A documentary that tells of the meteoric rise of singer-songwriter Billie Eilish.
Watch here

Premiered: Feb. 26, 2021

Palmer

Former high-school football star Eddie Palmer gets out of jail and tries to put his life together, and finds himself taking care of a unique young 7-year old kid.
Watch here

Premiered: Jan. 29, 2021

Wolfwalkers

An animated film in which a young apprentice hunter journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, she befriends a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night.
Watch here

Premiered: Dec. 11, 2020

Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special

Mariah Carey talks to a big list of celebs as she moves from one musical number to the next.
Watch here

Premiered: Dec. 4, 2020

Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds

A documentary about the study and cultural impact of meteorites and deep impacts sites.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 13, 2020

On the Rocks

Laura thinks she’s happily married, but when her husband starts logging late hours at the office with a new co-worker, Laura begins to fear the worst. She turns to her father Felix, who insists they investigate the situation.
Watch here

Premiered: Oct. 23, 2020

Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You

Behind the scenes of the recording of Springsteen’s latest album “Letter To You.”
Watch here

Premiered: Oct. 23, 2020

Boys State

A documentary film that dives into a week-long annual program in which a thousand Texas high school seniors gather for an elaborate mock exercise: building their own state government.
Watch here

Premiered: Aug. 14, 2020

Greyhound

Tom Hanks stars as a longtime Navy veteran who is tasked with protecting a convoy of ships across the treacherous waters of the Atlantic during World War II.
Watch here

Premiered: July 10, 2020

Dads

A documentary film celebrating fatherhood featuring testimonials of Judd Apatow, Jimmy Fallon, Neil Patrick Harris, Ron Howard, Ken Jeong, Jimmy Kimmel, Hasan Minhaj, Conan O’Brien, Patton Oswalt, Will Smith and more.
Watch here

Premiered: June 19, 2020

Beastie Boys Story

A live documentary retrospective of the Beastie Boys, as told by Michael Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock).
Watch here

Premiered: April 24, 2020

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

An animated short family film where a seven-year-old learns about the wonders of the world from his parents and the Museum of Everything.
Watch here

Premiered: April 17, 2020

The Banker

Businessmen Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris devise a plan to take on the racist establishment of the 1960s by helping other African Americans buy homes. They train a working-class white man to pose as the face of their real estate and banking empire.
Watch here

Premiered: March 20, 2020

Hala

Hala Masood is a seventeen year old Pakistani American Muslim girl struggling with the clash of her family’s values versus her desires.
Watch here

Premiered: Dec. 6, 2019

The Elephant Queen

Follow elephant matriarch Athena as she leads her family across the African landscape in search of water during a drought.
Watch here

Premiered: Nov. 1, 2019

Apple TV

We’re happy to tell you about the latest rumors for various Apple products and services here at Macworld, but we always remind you of the caveat: Be careful what you believe. Some rumors are well-founded, some are made up, and some are correct at the time but Apple’s plans change. We do our best to remind you that such information is only a rumor and not present it as fact, and to identify and link to the original source as often as possible.

Case in point: Apple has busted @analyst941, which has dropped a lot of leaks lately about iOS 17 and other upcoming Apple releases. The leaker has deleted their Twitter account and left a farewell message explaining what happened on the MacRumors forums, where they go by “anonymous-A-S.”

In the message, the leaker describes how Apple found them out. Over time, Apple gave a different set of false information about upcoming products to various employees suspected of being the source of leaks. It looks like @analyst941’s sister, an Apple employee, got specific supposed release dates for Final Cut Pro and Logic on iPad. The combination of release dates they posted–Final Cut Pro coming in 2024 and Logic in 2025–was unique to his sister, and the source of the leaks thus identified.

Be careful what you believe

Apple is a famously secretive company that goes to great lengths to protect its upcoming projects from the outside world. This includes not only serious security and legal measures for its employees and suppliers, but almost certainly also operations to “poison the well” with false information, strategic planted “leaks” to gauge fan response, and situations like this one where unique false information is given to suspected leakers inside the company in order to help identify them. Famously, one of the original Apple rumor sites, Think Secret, was forced to shut down and faced a lawsuit after publishing a planted leak about a Firewire audio box.

So whenever you read an Apple rumor–here or anywhere else–carefully consider the source and its track record. In this case, @analyst941 first made a name for themselves by leaking correct information about the Dynamic Island prior to the iPhone 14 Pro launch last year.

This year, they detailed a bunch of features about iOS 17, many of which found their way into our own rumor roundups. This leaker getting busted both validates those prior leaks (they had a real inside source) and calls them into question (some of the info may be deliberately wrong as part of Apple’s sting operation). In all honestly, we’ll probably never know if this story is true either.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: It is best to assume nothing is actually true until Apple officially announces it. We’ve seen too many seemingly reliable rumors turn out wrong or simply never materialize. According to typically reliable sources, the 15-inch MacBook Air was originally going to be released at a March event (there wasn’t one), and then in April (which came and went), and is now supposed to be announced and ship at WWDC in June.

Those rumors came from often-accurate sources, but they still never came to pass, either because they had bad information or because Apple’s plans shifted. And ultimately, it just leads to disappointment.

Apple

We’re happy to tell you about the latest rumors for various Apple products and services here at Macworld, but we always remind you of the caveat: Be careful what you believe. Some rumors are well-founded, some are made up, and some are correct at the time but Apple’s plans change. We do our best to remind you that such information is only a rumor and not present it as fact, and to identify and link to the original source as often as possible.

Case in point: Apple has busted @analyst941, which has dropped a lot of leaks lately about iOS 17 and other upcoming Apple releases. The leaker has deleted their Twitter account and left a farewell message explaining what happened on the MacRumors forums, where they go by “anonymous-A-S.”

In the message, the leaker describes how Apple found them out. Over time, Apple gave a different set of false information about upcoming products to various employees suspected of being the source of leaks. It looks like @analyst941’s sister, an Apple employee, got specific supposed release dates for Final Cut Pro and Logic on iPad. The combination of release dates they posted–Final Cut Pro coming in 2024 and Logic in 2025–was unique to his sister, and the source of the leaks thus identified.

Be careful what you believe

Apple is a famously secretive company that goes to great lengths to protect its upcoming projects from the outside world. This includes not only serious security and legal measures for its employees and suppliers, but almost certainly also operations to “poison the well” with false information, strategic planted “leaks” to gauge fan response, and situations like this one where unique false information is given to suspected leakers inside the company in order to help identify them. Famously, one of the original Apple rumor sites, Think Secret, was forced to shut down and faced a lawsuit after publishing a planted leak about a Firewire audio box.

So whenever you read an Apple rumor–here or anywhere else–carefully consider the source and its track record. In this case, @analyst941 first made a name for themselves by leaking correct information about the Dynamic Island prior to the iPhone 14 Pro launch last year.

This year, they detailed a bunch of features about iOS 17, many of which found their way into our own rumor roundups. This leaker getting busted both validates those prior leaks (they had a real inside source) and calls them into question (some of the info may be deliberately wrong as part of Apple’s sting operation). In all honestly, we’ll probably never know if this story is true either.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: It is best to assume is actually true until Apple officially announces it. We’ve seen too many seemingly reliable rumors turn out wrong or simply never materialize. According to typically reliable sources, the 15-inch MacBook Air was originally going to be released at a March event (there wasn’t one), and then in April (which came and went), and is now supposed to be announced and ship at WWDC in June.

Those rumors came from often-accurate sources, but they still never came to pass, either because they had bad information or because Apple’s plans shifted. And ultimately, it just leads to disappointment.

Apple

The monitor might be the most important part of your Mac’s setup–after all, you can’t use any computer without one. Because you’ll spend a lot of time looking at it, you’ll want to invest wisely. Not only will you want a monitor that provides a pleasing experience, but the quality of the images on the screen can also affect your work.

However, picking a new monitor can be daunting. Not only are there lots of manufacturers to choose from, but there are also lots of sizes, resolutions, and features to consider–and when we say lots, we mean lots. We’re here to help guide you while you shop, and we have some tips on what to look for in a monitor.

Apple sells displays for its Macs, and you could go with its offerings, but its displays are a quite bit more expensive than what third parties have. Buying from a different company may mean you may not get a feature that Apple offers, but then it may also be a feature that you don’t need, depending on how you use the monitor. Note there are compatibility issues for M1 Macs. We have a guide to monitors for M1 Macs and what you need to know before buying.

Fortunately, there are plenty of companies that have great monitors that you can use with your Mac, without having to take out a second mortgage. Our sister publications TechAdvisor and PCWorld have tested several displays, and we list their top-rated ones that we have been able to confirm work with Macs, alongside the monitors we have reviewed below. Here are our recommendations in alphabetical order.

If you are looking for a deal on a new display check out our best Mac monitor deals.

Updated May 10 2023 to add CopGain Dual Laptop Screen Extender.

Best Mac monitors: Recommendations

How to choose a Mac monitor

Display technology is a bit of a movable feast, with a lot of confusing jargon and technical features to wade through, as well as a variety of different interfaces and cables that are used by Apple itself and the various monitor manufacturers. So it’s worth taking a closer look at some of the factors that you need to think about when buying a monitor for your Mac.

Screen size

Size isn’t everything, as the saying goes, but it’s a good place to start. Your decision will be influenced by how much desk space you have, and how comfortable you are while using the display. Some people think that a big screen is best, but then when they start to use it daily, they find that it’s too big. And the same goes for customers who think a small screen is best.

If you’re looking for a size to start with for your own personal research, we recommend 24 inches—just like with Apple’s iMac. That seems like a good size for most people, and it’s easy to go up or down from that point. Most people tend to go between 24 and 27 inches for home use.

For professionals—graphics, video, audio, even spreadsheets—a large screen will help you be more productive. Think 27 inches and higher. You’ll be able to fit more elements on the screen and not waste your time scrolling.

If on-screen real estate is valuable to you, consider a multi-display setup. A smaller screen can be used for things like chat, email, web, and more, while the bigger screen is your main workspace. Or get screens of the same size and maximize the space.

Screen resolution

Screen resolution can go hand-in-hand with screen size. Screen resolution refers to the number of pixels used to create what you see on the screen. The higher the resolution, the more detail you can see. Larger displays tend to have more resolution options, as well as the ability to support higher resolutions.

Often, when you find two displays that are the same size but have a wide price difference, it’s mostly because of the screen resolution. Monitors with high resolutions are more expensive. For example, Apple’s $1,599 Studio Display is 27 inches, and it has a high screen resolution of 5120×2880 (5K resolution). On the other hand, LG sells the 27-inch 27UK650-W, but it’s a 3840×2160 (4K) resolution display for content creators, and it’s $350–lower resolution, but $1,249 cheaper. (There actually aren’t other 27-inch 5K monitors available, except for the $1,449 LG UltraFine 27MD5KL-B.)

So what screen resolution should you get? Here are some suggestions; these are guidelines that you can adjust based on your preferences.

• For general purpose use, such as web browsing, email, media viewing, small photo and video projects and viewing: 1920×1080 or 2560×1440 (HD)
• For more-involved content creation, productivity, and media viewing: 3840×2160 (4K)
• For pro-level content creation, productivity, and media viewing: 4K or higher

Want to use an 8K monitor? Read How to connect an 8K display to your Mac.

Connecting to a Mac

How a monitor connects to a Mac can be confusing. The traditional HDMI and DisplayPort connectors used by many monitors are being replaced–or complemented–by USB-C and Thunderbolt ports. And though USB-C and Thunderbolt cables may look the same, there are actually some important technical differences between them, so it’s important to check which ports your new monitor uses and make sure you buy the correct cables and adapters.

Most recent Mac models have Thunderbolt ports, so if you buy a monitor that has HDMI or DisplayPort interfaces only, then you’ll need an adapter to connect to the Mac. This can get a bit confusing, but Apple does provide a list of the ports included on most recent Mac models so that you can figure out what you need.

Apple also provides a guide to HDMI and DisplayPort technology, which covers Mac models going right back to 2008, so that should provide all the info you need for all the Macs you use at home or at work. Less expensive monitors still tend to use HDMI and DisplayPort, and while it’s not too costly to buy adapters that will allow you to connect your Mac, we reckon it’s worth future-proofing your new monitor by getting one that includes at least one USB-C or Thunderbolt port.

If a display uses Thunderbolt to connect to the Mac, it may have additional USB-C or Thunderbolt ports so the display can act as a hub. In this case, If you have a device you want to connect to your Mac, you can connect it to one of the ports on the monitor, which is already connected to the Mac and probably in an easier location for access.

Look for a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection with power delivery (PD) that can charge your MacBook. A 65W PD will be enough for a MacBook Air or 14-inch MacBook Pro, but you’ll need at least 90W for a 15-inch or 16-inch Pro.

Read our article on how to connect a second screen to a Mac which explains everything you need to know about how to identify which ports you have, the adapters you will require, and how to set things up.

Ergonomics

If you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting at a desk looking at your lovely new display then you need to keep ergonomics in mind. The ability to tilt the angle of the monitor back and forth, swivel it around for easy viewing, and adjust the height of the monitor in order to avoid an aching back or neck.

Some monitors can pivot or rotate in either landscape or portrait mode.

As a rough guide, there is a point at about 2 to 3 inches from the top of the screen that should be at eye level. Obviously, eye level varies from one person to another, so it’s important that you can adjust the screen for your own personal comfort. You may also prefer a monitor that doesn’t suffer from glare, or you will be forever repositioning the monitor (or your head) to compensate for that.

Other considerations

There are other considerations you’ll want to make when shopping for a monitor. A lot of these come down to personal preference or what you need for the work you do. They include:

• Color space (gamut): The number of colors a monitor can show. Professionals need specific color spaces.
• Refresh rate: The frequency when a screen is refreshed. Higher rates produce smoother animations.
• Webcam: Some displays have a built-in camera you can use for FaceTime and other video conferencing apps, or to record yourself.
• Speakers: If you plan on frequently viewing or listening to media, a good set of speakers makes for a better experience.

Cliff Joseph contributed to this article.

Monitors