After an agonizing wait, Apple TV 4K finally supports Amazon Prime Video

By Simon Cohen Updated December 7, 2017

Since Apple announced its Apple TV 4K, and followed it up with confirmation that Amazon Prime Video would finally make an appearance on the platform, fans of the set-top streamer have been eager to find out exactly when this would happen. This furor was further stoked by claims that the app had been ready “for months.”

Well, the wait is finally over; the Amazon Video app is now available on Apple TV 4K. That’s no doubt welcome news to Apple TV users who have been waiting — perhaps not so patiently — for an alternative to Hulu and Netflix, and putting to bed a storied cycle of rumors that have persisted for several weeks that the release was imminent.

Recommended Videos

Having the app available opens Apple TV 4K users to even more content to watch, as Amazon just so happens to have a pretty kick-ass line up of 4K shows and movies. And really, what’s the point in owning a 4K TV, and a 4K Apple TV, if you’re limited in what you can watch?

Please enable Javascript to view this content

That said, there are some points to keep in mind, as the current version of the Amazon Video app on the Apple TV 4K is subpar when compared to others — primarily that it only outputs in stereo sound, rather than the 5.1 like you find on versions of the app on other devices. It’s also less graphically rich than other apps available on the Apple 4K TV. Hopefully a future update will iron out the kinks.

Also worth considering is whether your setup can handle 4K at all — just because you can access 4K streaming content doesn’t mean you’ll get true 4K UHD. Amazon notes that you’ll need a minimum of 15Mbps of bandwidth for the full experience, while also pointing out that Netflix and YouTube recommend 20Mbps for 4K.

The good news for apple is that the release comes during the all-important holiday sales period. While it’s admittedly cutting it close (Black Friday and Cyber Monday are now well and gone), being able to tell customers that their 4K library now includes Amazon video content when they fire up their brand new toy should help stem the tide against Roku and Amazon’s own devices.

Update: This article has been revised following the official release of the Amazon Video app on Apple TV 4K.

Topics

Contributing Editor, A/V

Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…

Audio / Video

Google TV Streamer vs. Onn 4K Pro

Google TV Streamer alongside Onn 4K Pro and Chromecast With Google TV.

We now have two new contenders in 2024 to take the top spot for the best Google TV device you can buy. (You Nvidia Shield folks pipe down over there -- that thing’s almost as old as I am.) Google TV Streamer -- which replaces Chromecast with Google TV -- and the Walmart-exclusive Onn 4K Pro.

These are very similar devices. Both run the Google TV operating system, which means they basically do the exact same thing in the exact same way.

Audio / Video

What is Apple TV+? Price, devices, features, how to get it, and more

The Apple TV+ home screen with an image from Invasion.

Apple TV+ may not be one of the oldest streaming services out there, but since its arrival in 2019, it's gone head-to-head with streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu since day one. It prioritizes exclusive content, so you won't find a library of shows and movies you already know and love. Instead this streamer has been pushing out amazing new shows like Ted Lasso, For All Mankind, Silo, and Foundation. There's even access to Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer for sports fans.

With no ads, Apple TV+ has cemented itself as one of the best streaming services out there, and has amassed an estimated 25 million subscribers over the last five years. It's estimated, because the company has a penchant for offering free promotional subscriptions to those who buy a new Apple device like an iPhone or MacBook.

Audio / Video

Should you upgrade to tvOS 18 right away?

The rear of Apple TV 4K.

Another year has come and gone, and that means we’re getting new major versions of Apple’s operating systems. Enter: tvOS 18. It’s probably not what you’d consider to be a huge update. I’ve been using it in its various beta forms for a while now, and you’re not going to see it and feel out of place or anything. But there are some new features.

But that brings up a good question, which is something worth asking anytime there’s a major update: Should up go ahead and update to tvOS 18? There are two camps on this sort of thing.
The case against updating
There are some folks who exercise a good deal of patience when it comes to updates. They hold off and see what other folks experience first. They’re not in a hurry for the latest and greatest features. They don’t see a software update and feel compelled by some invisible hand to click that install button just as quickly as possible.