Hey friend! As an electronics expert who loves streaming media and gaming, I put together this comprehensive 2500+ word guide to answer the question: can you get Apple TV free with an iPhone? I‘ll provide detailed info on how iPhone purchases qualify for Apple TV+ trials, how to access the Apple TV app, streaming Apple TV+ content to your TV, and getting the most value from your free subscription.
Let‘s dive in!
Apple TV and Apple TV+ – A Quick Primer
First, some quick background. Apple TV refers to the actual streaming media player hardware, which lets you access entertainment content and apps on your television.
The current generation is the Apple TV 4K, which offers 4K video, Dolby Vision HDR, and speedy A12 Bionic processing. There‘s also the HD-only Apple TV HD still available.
Apple TV+ is Apple‘s subscription video on-demand service, like Netflix. It features exclusive original TV shows, movies, documentaries, kids content, and more.
Now that we‘ve got that straightened out, let‘s move on to answering the key question…
How to Score Apple TV+ Free with an iPhone Purchase
When you buy a new iPhone, you become eligible for an extended free trial of Apple TV+. Here are the details:
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Up to 1 year free: iPhones purchased after September 10, 2019 get 1 year of Apple TV+. You must claim the offer within 3 months of activating your new iPhone.
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3 months free: For iPhones bought after July 1, 2021, you can get 3 months free of Apple TV+. Redeem within 90 days of first activation.
According to Apple, eligible devices activated July 1, 2021 or later qualify for the 3 month trial, while devices activated on June 30, 2021 or earlier get the 1 year offer.
So depending on your activation date, you can enjoy Apple TV+ on the house for up to 1 full year! Not a bad perk for becoming an iPhone owner.
Let‘s look at how to actually claim your free trial…
How to Claim Your Apple TV+ Trial with an iPhone
Scoring your free Apple TV+ is a simple process:
Step 1: Update your new iPhone to the latest version of iOS. This ensures compatibility with the latest Apple TV app.
Step 2: Open the Apple TV app. It comes pre-installed on all new iPhones out of the box.
Step 3: Browse and select any Apple TV+ original movie, show, documentary, etc.
Step 4: Tap "Enjoy 3 Months Free" or "1 Year Free" and follow the prompts.
Step 5: Sign in with your Apple ID and payment method (needed in case you don‘t cancel).
After signing up, you should have instant access to the entire Apple TV+ catalog to stream ad-free.
According to Apple‘s support site, you can verify eligibility and offer status in the Apple TV app under Settings > About. It will show your remaining free trial time.
And remember, this Apple TV+ trial offer must be claimed within 90 days of activating your new iPhone, or else it expires!
Does Simply Having an iPhone Get You Apple TV+?
This is a common point of confusion, so let‘s clarify:
No, just owning an iPhone does NOT entitle you to unlimited Apple TV+ access.
There‘s no way to get Apple TV+ permanently free with an iPhone.
You must specifically claim the 1 year or 3 month free trial available to new iPhone owners.
Once the trial period expires, you‘ll need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to keep watching ($4.99/month).
However, periodic free trials are sometimes offered if you‘re a lapsed subscriber. And qualifying iPhone purchases do get you Apple TV+ free for an extended time.
Apple TV+ Adoption and Usage Statistics
To provide some context on Apple TV+‘s popularity:
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Apple TV+ was used on over 1 billion devices as of January 2022, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
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An estimated 40 million households in the U.S. and Canada stream Apple TV+ as of Q1 2022, per Antenna Data.
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Over 10 million U.S. households are estimated to have subscribed to Apple TV+ directly by early 2022, via CIRP.
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Apple TV+ accounted for 6% of overall TV streaming in Q1 2022, behind only Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime, per Reelgood.
So while exact subscriber numbers aren‘t public, various indicators show strong adoption of Apple‘s streaming service. Offering extended free trials via iPhone purchases has certainly helped drive interest.
Do You Get the Apple TV App Free with an iPhone?
Unlike the Apple TV+ subscription, the Apple TV app comes preinstalled on all new iPhones at no cost.
The Apple TV app lets you:
- Browse and watch Apple TV+ content
- Access your personal iTunes library to rewatch purchased movies and shows
- Subscribe to premium channels like HBO Max, AMC+, Paramount+ and more
- Watch titles you rented or purchased from the iTunes store
So you can download the Apple TV app itself free on your iPhone. But you‘ll need to pay to subscribe to Apple TV+ or other premium channels within the app.
Think of the Apple TV app like a convenient hub to access a variety of great video content.
Apple TV Market Share and Competition
How does Apple TV stack up against other streaming media players in terms of market share?
According to Parks Associates research, as of Q1 2022, the Apple TV 4K and HD models hold about 10% of the streaming player market, behind Roku at 39% and Amazon Fire TV at 34%:
| Streaming Media Player | Market Share |
| Roku | 39% |
| Amazon Fire TV | 34% |
| Apple TV | 10% |
| Google Chromecast | 8% |
| Others | 9% |
Though not the market leader, Apple TV holds its own against competitors like Roku and Fire TV.
Key advantages of Apple TV include tight integration with the Apple ecosystem, support for 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio, an intuitive touch remote, access to Apple Arcade gaming, and a polished, ad-free interface.
And Apple TV+ provides exclusive access to highly acclaimed original programming like Ted Lasso, Severance, Trying, and CODA. This gives Apple TV an edge for fans of Apple content.
Is the Apple TV Hardware Free with an iPhone?
Unfortunately, just buying an iPhone does not qualify you for any free Apple TV devices.
You must purchase the Apple TV 4K ($179) or Apple TV HD ($149) streaming players separately.
However, owning an Apple TV gives you full access to the Apple TV app and Apple TV+ service on your TV screen.
And by redeeming your free Apple TV+ trial on an iPhone, you can enjoy Apple‘s streaming service on an Apple TV without any additional cost during the trial period.
An Apple TV device gives the best Apple TV+ viewing experience on a TV but isn‘t required.
Ways to Watch Apple TV+ on iPhone
Your iPhone offers you a few convenient ways to access and watch Apple TV+ content on the go:
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Apple TV App: Simply open the Apple TV app and tap on any show or movie to start watching. Download titles to take offline.
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TV Widget: Swipe left on your iPhone home screen to access Today View, and add the Apple TV widget. It gives you quick access to your Up Next queue.
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Control Center: Open Control Center on your iPhone and long press on the audio player module. An Apple TV section appears.
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Shared Links: Tap links to Apple TV+ content shared in apps like Messages or Mail to open directly in the TV app.
No matter how you access it, the Apple TV app provides a unified viewing experience on your iPhone.
And features like downloading for offline viewing make it perfect for streaming during travel or commutes.
How to AirPlay Apple TV+ to Your Television
Don‘t want to watch those epic Apple TV+ shows and movies on your iPhone‘s small screen?
Use AirPlay to wirelessly stream content to a compatible TV:
Step 1: Open Control Center on your iPhone and tap Screen Mirroring to turn on AirPlay.
Step 2: Select your Apple TV, Samsung smart TV, or other AirPlay 2 TV from the target list.
Step 3: Open the Apple TV app and start playing a video.
Step 4: Tap the AirPlay icon in the player and choose your TV.
AirPlay allows you to sit back and enjoy Apple TV+ on the big screen while controlling playback from your iPhone. No need for any wires or connectors!
And iOS 16 adds shared playback via AirPlay, letting you sync content with friends.
Getting the Apple TV App on Popular Smart TVs
Many newer smart TVs come with the Apple TV app built-in or available for download from the respective app store:
Samsung – Check the Samsung App Store on your Apps panel. Search for and install the Apple TV app.
LG – Go to the LG Content Store, select the Apps tab, and look for the Apple TV app. Download it.
Sony / Android TV – On the home screen, open the Google Play Store and search for the Apple TV app. Install it.
Vizio – From the Vizio SmartCast home screen, find the Apple TV+ app in the Apps row and install it.
Once you have the Apple TV app set up on your smart TV, you can sign in and start streaming Apple Originals to your big screen.
No need for any extra streaming boxes or devices!
Making the Most of Your Apple TV+ Free Trial
Here are some handy tips to maximize your 1 year or 3 month free Apple TV+ trial using your iPhone:
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Download titles to watch offline when traveling or without WiFi.
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Share your subscription via Family Sharing so up to 5 family members can enjoy.
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Try other premium channels like Showtime with a free 7-day trial. Great for bingeing!
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Pay annually to save $14.88 per year compared to monthly billing.
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Access extras like behind-the-scenes footage and soundtracks.
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Use the Apple TV app on other devices like game consoles, Roku, Fire TV, and smart TVs.
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Set a reminder to cancel renewal at least a day before your trial ends if you don‘t want to be charged.
Leveraging these tips will help you maximize the value of your 1 year or 3 month free access to Apple TV+!
Apple TV+: Pros vs Cons
Let‘s do a quick pros vs cons rundown of the Apple TV+ service:
Pros
- Entire catalog available free for up to 1 year with new iPhone
- Original high quality shows and movies not on other streaming platforms
- No ads to interrupt your viewing
- Download for offline viewing
- Share with Family at no extra cost
- Available on many devices: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, smart TVs, game consoles
Cons
- Limited catalog compared to competitors like Netflix
- No back catalog of older licensed TV shows and movies
- Original content aimed at Apple fans vs mass appeal
- Lack of 4K HDR quality for some titles
Overall, Apple TV+ may appeal more to fans of Apple‘s ecosystem and original content vs casual streamers looking for breadth. But the free year offer makes it easy to try out risk-free with a new iPhone.
Final Summary
Well friend, that wraps up this complete guide to getting Apple TV free with an iPhone. Here are the key points:
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New iPhones qualify for 1 year or 3 months of Apple TV+ free when you claim the offer.
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The Apple TV app comes preinstalled on iPhones and is free.
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You can stream Apple TV+ on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, smart TVs, and more.
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AirPlay lets you wirelessly view Apple TV+ on your TV from an iPhone.
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Make the most of the free trial by downloading, sharing, accessing extras, and more.
While Apple TV+ doesn‘t come free indefinitely with an iPhone, purchasing a new iPhone does offer an extended free trial period to enjoy Apple‘s original content.
I hope this guide clearly explains how to get and maximize your free Apple TV+ subscription when buying an iPhone. Let me know if you have any other questions!
