Netflix updated its Apple TV app, replacing the tvOS video player with its own custom player, leading to several interface changes and the removal of familiar features. Users have reported dissatisfaction with the modifications, citing difficulties in playback and missing functionalities that have impacted their viewing experience.
The transition to a proprietary player on Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K devices is concerning for many subscribers, given the popularity of these platforms. Viewers are frustrated as essential playback functions have been altered or removed entirely, prompting speculation about subscriber retention in light of a recent price increase for the Premium plan.
Before the update, users relied on the built-in tvOS player for a consistent interface across streaming services. Now, basic operations like skipping forward or backward during playback require additional steps, causing disruptions. “Now it pauses and brings up the frame selector, and then you have to click again,” one user noted, expressing concerns over the lack of usability testing before the update.
Key features such as auto-subtitling when rewinding, Enhanced Dialog options, and detailed format information are no longer available. Users have complained explicitly about video quality issues, with one describing the visuals as “not looking like 4K” and others reporting random pixelation problems that necessitate force-closing the app.
Many subscribers have expressed their frustration on Reddit. One user compared the update to “someone moving all the doorknobs in my house to the other side,” highlighting how the changes complicate simple tasks. This sentiment resonates amid discussions of the latest price hike for the Premium subscription, which is the second increase in 14 months.
User feedback suggests that dissatisfaction with the app changes is leading some to consider unsubscribing. “Latest Netflix app update is ‘time to unsubscribe’ bad,” one Redditor stated, indicating the challenge Netflix faces in maintaining its user base as it modifies its service.
As user experience disturbances coincide with increased subscription costs, questions arise regarding the long-term effectiveness of Netflix’s strategy. For now, the replacement of the tvOS player appears to have sparked widespread disapproval among its users.
