Amazon Prime Video | Price, features and content compared

Long before Netflix launched in Norway and even before video streaming was even a thing, Norwegians looking for a bargain on the latest DVD movies would often head to Amazon to try and get a better price. And while that still happens, the rise of streaming platforms has changed the way Norwegians consume their entertainment.

Amazon wasn’t oblivious to the benefits of streaming. As far back as 2006, Amazon offered video rental and download services like iTunes, but in 2011 it launched Amazon Prime Instant Video in the US, a streaming platform offering a huge range of content to customers of its USD$99/year Amazon Prime service. But it wasn’t until December 2016 that Amazon’s streaming efforts really became relevant for Norwegians.

Timed around the launch of the spiritual Top Gear successor The Grand Tour, Amazon took Prime Video global to 200 countries around the world, including Norway. While global licensing arrangements meant that the lineup of content at launch was not as extensive as Netflix, Amazon’s publicly announced significant investment in original series, which will be delivered exclusively via the Prime Video platform.

How much does Amazon Prime Video cost in Norway?

It costs an introductory offer of USD$2.99/€2.99/NOK30 per month for the first six months, and then USD$5.99/€5.99/NOK60 per month after the introductory period ends. All new customers will receive a 7-day free trial.

What devices are compatible with Amazon Prime Video?

The fact Amazon Prime Video has been active in some international markets for years before its global launch means that there’s a solid lineup of devices you can use to access the service. In addition to the standard web browser, there are dedicated apps for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. For iOS you’ll need to be running iOS 7 or above, while Android users will need Android 4.0 or above.

Being that Amazon also plays in the hardware space, it’s not surprising to learn that its range of Amazon Fire tablets also support Prime Video streaming. While initially not available in Norway, you’re now be able to stream through the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. You can access the service via popular LG and Samsung Smart TVs though if you own them. Also slightly disappointing is the lack of an Apple TV app.

If you do want the full smart TV experience for Amazon Prime Video in Norway, you’ll need to ensure you own one of the compatible LG or Samsung Smart TVs. There’s also no native support for Chromecast. You can cast your screen to the big screen on Android devices, but native support is much better for your mobile’s battery life. Still, it’s still early days for Prime Video’s global expansion, so it wouldn’t be surprising to find the compatible device list improve consistently over time.

Don’t have a smart TV? No problem. The Prime Video app is available on Android TV by Sony, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Apple TV.

How much data will Amazon Prime Video use?

Amazon’s streaming app has a pretty robust range of streaming quality settings in its mobile applications, although the settings are different depending on the device you use. On Android, you can only get a standard definition video stream. The best quality setting will use about 460MB for one hour of content, while the data conscious can be miserly by selecting the Data Saver option, which uses about 140MB per hour of streaming.

You also have the option of always using the Best quality setting when connected to Wi-Fi. iOS users, meanwhile, will use a lot more data streaming Prime Video. The best quality setting for Apple devices will use 5.8GB per hour, while the good setting still manages to chew through double the data of its Android counterpart at 600MB per hour. Here’s a breakdown of the approximate data use for an hour’s worth of streaming across the operating systems and quality settings:

Amazon does also allow users to download videos for offline viewing, with files taking up about the same amount of space on your device as the streaming settings. You can change the quality setting at any time on your mobile device by heading into the settings menu and choosing the streaming and download quality within the app. As with streaming, the amount of storage you can expect a file to take up caries between iOS and Android devices. Here are the numbers provided by Amazon within the iOS and Android apps:

As with all the other streaming services though, those rates are indicative. If you are streaming and your connection can’t deliver the best quality stream, it will adapt to give you the best quality it can under the conditions, capped at the setting you’ve chosen.

Amazon Prime Video frequently asked questions

• Q: Do I need a separate account for video to my Kindle?

  A: No, you sign in with your Amazon account and everything is the same. If you’ve already set up your billing details, Amazon will just use those so you don’t need to enter credit card details again.

• Q: How much content is available on Prime Video?

  A: The list is constantly updating, and so far Amazon’s library is smaller than that of Netflix.

• Q: Am I charged in NOK or EUR or USD with Amazon Prime Video?

  A: After launching its full Amazon Prime service, Amazon now charges Norwegian subscribers in euros.

• Q: How many devices can watch Prime Video at once?

  A: After launching its full Amazon Prime service, Amazon now charges Norwegian subscribers in euros.

• Q: Can I watch in 4K?

  A: Prime Video does offer 4K streams for compatible 4K Smart TVs. Generally speaking, if you bought a 4K TV from LG or Samsung in the last year or so, you should be fine, but it’s worth checking if your new TV has an app before purchasing any new 4K panel.

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