Bundling is fast becoming one of the big success stories for streaming services, and Apple seems to know that, making Apple One even harder to resist with its new Apple TV+ price increase and the forthcoming iOS 26 update to Apple Music.
The growing power of bundles in streaming era
Apple One launched in 2019, and since that time bundling has become even more of a success story than ever.
Amazon Prime is the classic example, but several streaming services have recently proven the strategy a winner too. Disney has its bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN. HBO Max found great success partnering with Disney. And now ESPN and FOX Now are bundling too.
Apple One has kept getting better since its launch, but two new moves show Apple getting even more serious about building its bundle subscriber base.
- The Apple TV+ price increase
- and Apple Music’s major iOS 26 update
Apple TV+ price increase doesn’t impact Apple One
Apple TV+ has truly hit its stride this year, earning its ‘new HBO’ reputation with a steady stream of prestige TV shows.
It also has its best fall content lineup ever right around the corner.
It’s not a big surprise, then, that Apple chose this moment to increase the price for TV+.
Apple TV+ is now $12.99/month in the US and several international markets. You can save money by subscribing annually.
Or you can join Apple One, which despite TV+ increasing, is keeping its existing prices unchanged.
Now that Apple TV+ costs $12.99, the $19.99 price for Apple One is instantly more attractive. You also get Apple Music, iCloud+, and Apple Arcade for just $7 extra.
Apple TV+ and Apple Music are the core pillars of every Apple One plan. They’re the services that tend to be the biggest draws for users.
And now, not only is Apple TV+ essentially discounted even further with Apple One. But Apple Music is also getting significant upgrades very soon in iOS 26.
Apple Music in iOS 26 gets its biggest update in years
Apple Music is always improving in small ways, such as debuting new live radio stations, or the recent Replay All Time or Sound Therapy playlists.
But iOS 26 brings a huge update for users. New features include:
- AutoMix for DJ-like transitions between songs
- Beautiful full-screen animated artwork for the iPhone Lock Screen
- Pinned music in your library
- Three new widgets
- Apple Music Replay goes fully native
- Playlist folders can now be created
- Lyric translation and pronunciation
Top comment by Scamper Robinson
Article leaves out that Apple One provides a positively stingy amount of iCloud storage compared to what most people already have through stand-alone iCloud. Which means that you have to keep that service in addition to Apple One (if you want to retain your space), which means $19.95 + $9.99, which isn’t the bargain those people (hi) might expect.
If you’re a Spotify user, will these changes alone win you over? Maybe not.
But if you can save a lot of money by subscribing to Apple One and get Apple Music, Apple TV+, and more—that changes things.
The power of bundles is nothing new, but as other streaming services increasingly find success in bundling, Apple appears ready to make Apple One more appealing than ever.
Are you an Apple One subscriber? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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