Max is taking away 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to stream on three devices simultaneously from long-time subscribers on the ad-free plan starting December 5.

When HBO Max transformed into Max in May 2023, existing subscribers on the ad-free plan were informed that they could retain "their current plan features for a minimum of six months following launch", including 4K streaming, even though 4K had been moved to a more expensive Max Ultimate tier.

This will no longer be possible starting December 5.

- "On December 5, 2023, some of your features in the Max app will change. You can still stream all your favorite blockbuster movies, fresh originals, and iconic series," Max wrote in an email to longtime customers.


4K now exclusive to Max Ultimate
Instead, long-time users of the ad-free plan will be limited to streaming content in up to Full HD resolution in SDR on a maximum of 2 devices, down from the previous limit of 3.

To continue enjoying 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to stream on 3 devices concurrently, users in the US must upgrade to the Max Ultimate tier, which costs $20 per month or $200 per year. The email should include a promo code to reduce the annual price to $160 for the first year.

Here is Max's pricing structure:

Max plans

Ad-Lite
Ad-Free
Ultimate
 
Price
 
$10/mo
$16/mo
$20/mo
Simultaneous streams
 
2
2
4
Offline downloads
0
30
100
Video quality
 
1080p SDR
1080p SDR
4K Dolby Vision
Audio quality
 
5.1
5.1
Dolby Atmos
 FlatpanelsHD
Max's email notification
 Photo: ianoble, reddit
 FlatpanelsHD
 - Source: reddit