For over five years, Apple One has been around, maintaining its basic tier structure without significant changes. However, recent updates, along with anticipated features, are making the high-end ‘Premier’ tier increasingly appealing.
Overview of Apple One Bundles
In case you’re unfamiliar, Apple One is Apple’s subscription package that combines various in-house services.
If you’re considering an Apple One bundle, you have three tiers to select from:
- Individual: $19.95/month
- Family: $25.95/month
- Premier: $37.95/month
The first two tiers offer iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade. The primary distinction is that the Individual plan is intended for one user, while the Family plan allows access for all family members.
The Premier plan includes all features of the Family plan, plus three additional elements:
- Apple News+
- Apple Fitness+
- A more extensive 2TB storage option with iCloud+
While this fundamental structure has remained intact, the Apple One Premier plan has recently grown much more attractive.
Enhancements to the Premier Plan, Thanks to News+
A major enhancement to the Apple One Premier plan has been the notable upgrades to Apple News+.
In the past year, Apple News+ has improved significantly in three key areas:
Games: Apple has emulated The New York Times’ strategy by introducing daily puzzles to keep users engaged with the News app. This includes the long-standing Crossword and Crossword Mini games, along with a new daily puzzle called Quartiles added last spring and daily Sudoku introduced at the end of 2024.
News: Apple formed a partnership with NYT over a year ago to integrate Wirecutter and The Athletic into the News+ service. The inclusion of The Athletic greatly enhances Apple’s news offerings, making News+ a more attractive option for those already subscribing to the sports platform.
Food: Recently, Apple News+ launched a new Food section in the iOS 18.4 beta, set to roll out to all users in early April. This hub consolidates restaurant news, reviews, food lifestyle articles, and a wealth of recipes. Users can easily navigate through tens of thousands of recipes and even save favorites to their Recipe Catalog, complete with a ‘Cook’ feature providing step-by-step cooking guidance.
Expanded Benefits in Fitness+ and iCloud+
Along with improvements to Apple News+, Apple Fitness+ has seen substantial recent developments:
- A major redesign and expansion of the Fitness app in iOS 18
- Integration with Strava
- Multi-week programs focused on building strength, pickleball conditioning, peak yoga poses, and breath meditation
- New Time to Walk episodes with guest Fitness+ trainers, among other updates
For Apple Watch users, Fitness+ maintains a distinct advantage over competitors due to its seamless hardware integration.
Additionally, iCloud+ has expanded with the introduction of the Apple Invites app, allowing only subscribers to create new events.
This applies regardless of which Apple One tier you select, making it a compelling reason to consider the bundle. Moreover, as our need for cloud storage grows, the 2TB offered by Apple One Premier will become increasingly valuable.
Upcoming Features for Apple One Premier
As mentioned earlier, Apple News+ is set to unveil a substantial new Food section and recipe experience in iOS 18.4.
This feature will become even more useful with the introduction of a new Home device designed for culinary assistance.
Expected to launch this spring, Apple’s new ‘HomePad’ could serve as the ideal kitchen companion. Upgrading to Apple One Premier might be especially beneficial for users wanting to leverage the HomePad’s capabilities.
Furthermore, there are whispers of a new service debuting with Apple One later this year, likely exclusive to Premier subscribers.
This AI-powered “wellness and coaching” service reflects Apple’s ambitious plans in the health sector.
In the meantime, all these enhancements to Apple One Premier will continue to benefit from Apple’s ongoing success with its other services.
For instance, if Apple TV+ sustains its popularity after Severance concludes, it will contribute to an overall increase in Apple One subscriptions. The Individual and Family plans act as essential stepping stones for attracting more users to the Premier tier.
Are you currently a subscriber of Apple One Premier? What are your thoughts on it? Share your opinions in the comments.
