Is it free for HBO Go and HBO Now subscribers?

Just in case you were tired of every streaming service you already use to pass the time right now, HBO Max is almost here.

You might be thinking: “Oh, I have HBO Go or HBO Now. Surely, this is irrelevant to me!” 

Sorry, but that’s not WarnerMedia’s modus operandi right now. HBO Max is a brand new streaming service that includes the same content as the company’s other two online services, but that’s just the start. It’s also home to a ton of original shows and films, as well as plenty of other existing content from throughout WarnerMedia’s empire.

Mashable’s illustrious entertainment team has got you covered with a breakdown of everything coming to HBO Max, as well as trailers for its launch day programming. But you more than likely have some lingering questions about what it’ll cost, where to find it, and what level of streaming quality you can expect when it launches on May 27.

Allow us to break that down for you.

How much do I have to pay? What about current HBO subscribers?

First things first, a standalone subscription to HBO Max is $15 per month. That’s a little more than what Hulu and Disney Plus each charge, but WarnerMedia probably thinks the sheer breadth of its content will sell itself. It’s also the same exact monthly fee as HBO Now, making the older service look like a questionable value in comparison. 

I have great news for anyone concerned about that: HBO Now subscribers get access to Max without any extra charge. And since it has all that same glorious HBO content, as well as oodles of other shows and films, you might as well just switch to using Max full-time. 

Unfortunately for HBO Go users (i.e., those who subscribe to HBO through a cable provider), things are a little more murky. WarnerMedia’s official FAQ just says to “stay tuned for more details” to find out how traditional HBO subscribers can access Max.

People who get their TV service through AT&T don’t have to wait, though. AT&T announced that subscribers to some DirecTV and AT&T packages will get access to HBO Max for free. You can find out whether or not your package qualifies here. 

Which devices can I watch HBO Max on?

Unfortunately, we don’t know what devices will or won’t support HBO Max yet. Its website says the service will be available on “phones, tablets, Mac and PC browsers, streaming media players and game consoles,” but offered no specifics. We reached out to WarnerMedia and were told there would be more announcements about this to come before May 27.

Can I watch HBO Max in 4K or HDR?

With more and more big streaming services supporting 4K Ultra HD streaming, as well as HDR in some cases, it’s worth wondering if HBO Max will hop on the bandwagon, too. After all, neither HBO Go nor HBO Now are 4K- or HDR-compatible.

Bad news: We don’t know yet! None of the pre-release marketing has said anything about 4K or HDR streaming for HBO Max. Once again, WarnerMedia assured us there would be more technical announcements to come before it launches.

So, as you can see, there’s still a lot we don’t know about HBO Max — and that’s with just a month to go until we can enjoy it. But we’ll be sure to fill you in once we find out all those juicy technical details about the cabler’s new streaming service.