Apple TV Plus is a unique beast in the VOD streaming jungle. It’s a platform built almost exclusively on original programming like The Morning Show, with only a handful of licensed titles compared to Netflix, which has hundreds. Subsequently, it has a slender content library, but it only costs $4.99 a month. And that's not the only way it differs to the streaming giant - it also comes with an Apple TV Plus free trial.

Yes, before you pay a dime, you’re likely entitled to an Apple TV Plus free trial. It'll provide complimentary access to critically acclaimed and Golden Globe-nominated films and TV shows; a burgeoning line-up of projects filled with A-list talent.

Below we’ll detail the many ways you can enjoy Apple’s streaming service free, with trials ranging from a week to an entire year.

Sign up below to get an Apple TV Plus free trial:

Apple TV Plus free trial: how long and how do I get it?

Anyone new to Apple TV Plus can make the most of a 7-day free trial before being charged the Apple TV Plus cost of $4.99 a month (or $49.99 if you opt for the annual plan). To sign-up you’ll need to:

If the service doesn’t grab you, remember to cancel before the 7-day trial ends to avoid being charged. Otherwise, payment will continue to be taken each month.

How else can I get an Apple TV Plus free trial?

Students and tech-heads are among those who could easily bag an Apple TV Plus free trial – and incredibly, enjoy Apple’s eclectic line-up of shows for three months or even longer!

If you’re studying at a degree-granting university or college, all your entertainment dreams have come true. Not only does a subscription to the Apple Music student plan mean paying $4.99 rather than $9.99 a month, but Apple TV Plus is thrown in at no extra charge for a limited time.

Previously you could get a whole year free with the purchase of an Apple device. Now you can get three months of Apple TV Plus absolutely free when you purchase an Apple device: that's any eligible iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac. Just remember to redeem the deal within 90 days of purchase.

Additionally, if you haven’t already signed-up for Apple TV Plus, then you can trial it free for a month as part of an Apple One subscription. There are three plans available, all of which include Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage.

Paying members are being rewarded too. Apple are currently crediting $4.99 to your Apple account to spend in the App Store – which you can also use to pay for your TV Plus sub. Result!

What can I watch on Apple TV Plus?

Nintendo closing the Wii U and 3DS eShops makes classic NES titles subscription-only

Nintendo has announced it will be closing the Wii U and 3DS eShops in March next year. While you’ll still be able to download games and DLC you’ve already purchased from the digital storefronts, it will no longer be possible to buy new titles, download demos, redeem download codes, or add funds.

In a blog post on the publisher's website, Nintendo says the discontinuation of the eShops is simply part of the consoles’ “natural lifecycle”, although there are no immediate plans to shut down their online play features.

If you've already added digital funds to the storefronts, you'll be able to transfer any leftover balance to the Nintendo Switch eShop after they close next year. On top of that, any remaining eShop Cards sold by retailers that show the Wii U or 3DS logo can be used to add funds to your Nintendo Account for use on the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo hasn’t stipulated exactly for how long the eShops will remain supported, only suggesting that players will be able to re-download their games, DLC, and receive software updates for their existing purchases for “the foreseeable future”.

It's also launched a new 3DS and Wii U Memories webpage that reveals several of your playtime stats for the consoles.

Analysis: the NES era is now subscription-only

With the Nintendo 3DS now 11 years old, and the Wii U due to celebrate its 10th anniversary later this year, the closure of their eShops shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Running, maintaining, and updating a digital storefront is costly, so Nintendo will be looking to shave expenses from the aging consoles. Sony attempted to make, but later reversed, a similar decision with the PlayStation Store for PS3 and Vita last year.

More aggravating, however, is that the discontinuation of the eShops will effectively prevent players from purchasing and owning many classic Nintendo titles. While the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service gives you access to a library of gems from the NES and SNES era, the Wii U and 3DS eShops include a bigger selection of classic titles, and let you purchase the games outright, rather than having to pay a monthly fee.

As spotted by Kotaku , Nintendo’s original announcement was accompanied by a Q&A section explaining the decision to remove older titles from purchase. That section was taken down, but reportedly read:  “Will you make classic games available to own some other way? If not, then why? Doesn’t Nintendo have an obligation to preserve its classic games by continually making them available for purchase?”

In response, Nintendo said, “Across our Nintendo Switch Online membership plans, over 130 classic games are currently available in growing libraries for various legacy systems. The games are often enhanced with new features such as online play.

“We think this is an effective way to make classic content easily available to a broad range of players. Within these libraries, new and longtime players can not only find games they remember or have heard about, but other fun games they might not have thought to seek out otherwise.

“We currently have no plans to offer classic content in other ways.”

PS5 voice commands finally make the DualSense’s microphone worthwhile

PS5 voice commands are coming to Sony’s console as part of a new system update which is currently in beta. I’ve been playing around with them in recent days and found myself using them more than I thought. Not only do they work rather well (hurray!), they’ve also helped me rediscover a DualSense feature that I’d almost forgotten about: the controller’s microphone.

You see, I’ve had the PS5 DualSense controller ’s microphone on mute for as long as I can remember. After subjecting some online strangers to the sound of me demolishing a bag of delicious Haribo, I’ve been extra cautious about making sure I would never be caught broadcasting my private conversations (and eating habits) to the world again.

I’ve had the DualSense’s microphone on mute for so long, in fact, that I forgot it was there. It took me a while to realize, then, that I could use the pad’s in-built mic to activate the PS5 ’s new voice commands, something which it handles with aplomb.

Chatty man

Every voice command I tried registered loud and clear using the DualSense’s mic, provided I properly enunciated some troublesome words. From finding Knack to putting the PS5 into Rest Mode , the voice commands made navigating and controlling my console a little more exciting than before.

They could be better, though. As the video below shows, the PS5 errs on the side of caution by showing you a selection of search results when you ask it to find a game. Instead of taking me straight to Knack, it also brought in Knack 2, a game that I’m sadly yet to own. That takes away the immediacy you want when using voice commands, but it’s something I’m sure can be fixed as the feature is fleshed out.

The DualSense’s mic also helped me get out of a rather unique situation that some of you may also encounter. I’ve recently started to game on PS5 using a pair of Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee open-back headphones, and they sound absolutely phenomenal – especially in games that take full advantage of 3D audio like Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection .

The problem is, my favorite pair of headphones doesn’t have a microphone, making voice communication a no-go. However, instead of reaching for one of my many gamer-focused headsets , I simply pressed the little mic button on the DualSense and reeled off some voice commands, quick as a flash.

If you’re comfortable leaving the mute button off, the voice commands also make consuming media a more laid-back affair. With the DualSense resting on my coffee table, I was able to tell the PS5 to stop and play media. While watching Netflix’s Love is Blind Japan , this came in particularly handy as I didn’t need to sit up and hit X each time I wanted to discuss each tear-jerking proposal with my partner.

Hey, PlayStation

Now, I’m fully aware I may be in the minority here, but I still find talking to technology and hearing it respond kind of magical – even in 2022. There’s a real chance that some of you may never use them, and that’s understandable. Voice commands still can’t replace the speed and accuracy of pressing physical buttons, but for me, there’s something undeniably cool about using your voice to communicate with an inanimate object.

It won’t come as a surprise, then, that I was one of the few people who actually liked voice commands on Xbox One . Yes, Kinect had its many flaws (too many to get into here), but I never grew tired of shouting “Xbox, record that” during an awesome gaming moment or “Xbox, on” to wake the console from sleep – though that did admittedly take numerous attempts.

Intuitive technology like voice commands will always be appealing to me as there are basically no barriers to entry (strong accents permitting). Everyone immediately understands how to use voice commands, sort of like when you wave your hand under a tap, and it automatically turns on using a motion sensor. Technology that doesn’t get in the way can be really magical when done right.

Open mic night

The PS5’s voice commands aren’t quite as varied or as fun as Kinect’s – at least not yet – but crucially, they work and make Sony’s machine a little bit more accessible in the process. The chances of your voice registering isn’t a lottery anymore as the DualSense’s microphone is in close proximity, and I’ve come to appreciate that having a mic to hand when you need one is actually rather nice.

I’m still conscious about accidentally oversharing my love of sweets with the world, though.