# SBS News — user reviews > 95 indexed App Store user reviews of SBS News by Special Broadcasting Service Corporation, rated 4.10/5 from 13 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbs-news/id432849691/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbs-news/id432849691.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 8 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 1 ## What do users think of SBS News? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Broad news coverage - 👍 Objective news source (for some) - 👍 Clean and nice app design - 👍 Good load speeds (recent) - 👍 Trustworthy information **Cons** - 🐛 Stories not loading/body not showing - 🐛 App freezes/crashes - 🐛 Ads are intrusive/too many - 🐛 Outdated news content - 🐛 Poor UI/UX - 🐛 Bias/propaganda accusations - 🐛 App uses excessive memory/storage - 🐛 Notifications issues (language, repetition) - 🐛 Cannot enlarge photos - 🐛 No search function - 🐛 Layout issues (iPad, iPhone XR/12) - 🐛 Text size too small/dynamic text not supported - 🐛 Frequent updates required - 🐛 Video/multimedia playback issues - 🐛 Inappropriate advertising (gambling) - 🐛 Lack of content filters - 🐛 Widget not working **Commonly reported bugs** - App body of articles not showing - App stopped working - Stories not fully loading - App height restricted in landscape mode on iPad - Cannot enlarge photos - No search function - Ads relocate and cause headlines to jump - Interface jumping/defeating scrolling efforts - Page goes blank, reloads, flickers when scrolling - Cumbersome to navigate to other news stories - Old news content remains for too long - Notifications sent multiple times, wrong language, against preference - Notifications in Chinese - App requires frequent updates - Live stream not accessible - Cannot zoom in on photos - Widget doesn't work - App uses excessive storage/memory - Instagram stories style buttons are pointless - Red icon is ugly - Back button inaccessible on iPhone XR/12/X - Return arrow competes with search function - App freezes on welcome screen - No sound on video or audio clips - App locks up on startup - Video quality flaky, shuts off app - Slow to load, won't play multimedia videos - App crashes when attempting to watch video - App crashes on startup - App doesn't display well on iPhone SE 1gen - App stopped working on iPhone 8 Plus - Dark mode requested - Gambling advert in feed - 30-second ads with no option to remove - Trackers detected - App keeps crashing - Return/back button doesn't work - Swipe right navigates to previous news instead of home - Return arrow in terrible position on iPhone - App won't load past homescreen **Most requested features** - Allow users to save articles - More obvious identification of advertisements - Option to adjust layout (linear vs. grid, remove images) - Search function - Dark mode - Ability to zoom/enlarge photos - More control over content filters - Option to adjust font size - Playlist/queue for audio/video - Swipe right to return home option - Allow live stream viewing anywhere - Show Christian News - Improve iPadOS windowing and multitasking support ## Newest reviews (20 of 95) ### 2/5 — App hogs 14GB of memory on iPhone *2026-04-09* Great news source Unfortunately I had to delete the app from my iPhone when it was using more than 14GB of memory. That’s a lot for a news app. ### 4/5 — Adverts *2025-12-06* Great news app with excellent news coverage BUT advertising needs to be more obviously identified as such. With the image heavy layout the advertising needs to be more obviously identified. Otherwise the news is great and the advertising content justified. ### 2/5 — Stories not loading *2025-11-17, version 5.15.2* Clicked on article, full story not loading. Updated pp, still not fully loading ### 3/5 — Okay, but UI needs work. *2025-10-26* The app does not currently fully support iPadOS 26 windowing and multi-tasking options. For example, one cannot freely resize the app’s height in landscape mode (often used when working with a keyboard). The app’s height is restricted not allowing it to be reduced to allow for the app bar to be simultaneously displayed. Likewise, it can’t be freely resized to aid mutil window overlapping in an app multitasking & switching manor. ### 2/5 — Light on actual news *2025-08-29, version 5.14.2* Very light on actual news, especially overseas news. Too much fluffy stuff and human interest articles. Just report the news not your opinions. ### 3/5 — Cannot enlarge photos *2025-06-05, version 5.14.2* For some reason, SBS have disabled the ability to enlarge the photos on their app. Consequently many of the photos accompanying news articles are so small as to often be indecipherable. ### 2/5 — No search function *2025-05-17, version 5.14.0* The lack of one of the most basic navigating tools of any news app, the ability to search by keyword, rather than by just the “available topics“ undermines the utility of this app. I would have expected more of SBS… ### 2/5 — Poor layout, bad UX ad placement issues, biased journalism *2025-01-11* I’d recommend going back to simpler layouts for accessibility of information. The ads also are a massive impact and relocate as you scroll which makes the headlines jump around. The Australian news stories are also biased to rewriting the narrative of modern Australia and have forgotten what forged this nation. ### 3/5 — Cannot scroll *2024-12-30* I cannot simply scroll through news stories without the interface “jumping” and defeating my efforts to actually preview news stories. Drives me mad, I eventually give up trying. I’d say it’s due to attempts to load advertising that’s causing this. Any updates to fix this in the foreseeable future? ### 3/5 — App *2024-09-26, version 5.12.1* SBS news app is no way as good a look or feel as other main news feeds. Look is very important, and relevant updated news events are essential. Needs an overhaul. ### 4/5 — I would give 5 stars except… *2024-09-03* I think it would be a really great idea for the developers to consider allowing readers to save articles they want to read for later! Is that possible? ### 3/5 — Update me to death. *2024-08-17, version 5.11.8* How about saving all the little updates until there is a bunch. Seems like every time i open the app it wants an update. I just go to another news app while it does it. Maybe come back. ### 2/5 — SBS news alerts changed to Chinese *2024-05-29, version 5.11.6* My news alerts have automatically changed into Mandarin for some reason. When I go into the app everything is still in English. I can’t seem to change it ### 2/5 — SBS news *2024-04-06, version 5.11.4* Far too many articles remain in the app for too long and are old news Malcolm, Attadale ### 3/5 — Poor *2024-02-04, version 5.10.2* Same news stories stay in app for days / weeks. Only one or two new stories each day. No point using more than once a week or so. ### 1/5 — Headlines only *2024-01-15, version 5.10.2* Can’t read full stories, headlines ony ### 2/5 — News app? Really? *2023-12-11, version 5.10.1* While I enjoy much of the drama and movies on SBS it’s news is way too lefty for me. So something I found particularly offensive made me delete the app. Was just watching the news- something I rarely do because I no longer trust MSM there was an item about an ancient sea creature on this afternoon’s news. I have a grandson obsessed with dinosaurs so I reinstated the app so I could send it to him. I scrolled- nothing. So I searched dinosaur, sea creature and a few others. Nada. I’ve re deleted the app. ### 1/5 — Just another propaganda site *2023-10-28, version 5.10.1* Bias and partisan is the name of the game and this site does not discriminate nor does it disappoint. Just like any other mainstream cooperate media, and they wonder why people are turning away from these outlets! Waste of time. ### 1/5 — Adds *2023-10-14, version 5.10.1* Too many adds. ### 3/5 — App uses too much space *2023-09-26, version 5.10.1* App is using 30 gig of storage but there’s no way of seeing how. I need to delete the app to recover the space. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — The most not news outlet that USED TO BE objective *2026-01-06* I guess SBS caved to Zionist/USA pressure now. Now it’s just another propaganda distribution medium. (This is what I wrote 2 years ago) SBS is the only news outlet still at least attempting to remain fair and objective. I am not surprised that there are many negative reviews, as in the current climate SBS is really fighting against so much propaganda- no doubt in the negative reviews as well (paid by…?) **Developer response:** Thank you marinadm for your 5 star review, we're happy to hear you're enjoying our app and news coverage. Cheers ^SG. SBS News App ### 1/5 — App stopped working, now useless *2025-11-21* The SBS News app has worked for years on my IPad, now with all the latest iOS and app, the news articles body doesn’t show, only the headlines appear. I have raised a technical problem report but to no avail. Also tried deleting and reloading the app too. Anyway, there are better news organisations around that are less left biased so it’s probably time to dump it anyway. ### 1/5 — Unusable *2024-11-25, version 5.13.0* Impossible to read- if you try to scroll through stories, the page goes blank, reloads, flickers, jumps around on the page, reloads again.. don’t even bother ### 1/5 — Can do better *2024-10-08, version 5.12.1* Take a leaf from the ABC NEWS app or even copy it as it's far too cumbersome to go to another news story with the SBS app. ### 1/5 — Old old news *2024-08-14, version 5.11.8* Why is so much of this app populated by news that is days, and sometimes weeks old. It’s in the name, stupid: NEWs. I don’t want archival news, I want to find out what’s happening now, not what happened a week ago! Mongrel of an app: doesn’t know what it is! ### 1/5 — Notifications *2024-05-30, version 5.11.6* Serious, ongoing issues with notifications: sending multiple times, in the wrong language, against preference in app. ### 1/5 — Getting only Chinese notifications, no English *2024-05-29, version 5.11.6* For some reason, the notifications are all in Chinese, leading to Chinese articles. I downloaded this app primarily for news notifications, so it’s basically useless for my use case. Can’t see any area to change the language and SBS mandarin news notifications are turned off. ### 1/5 — More app updates than news stories *2024-03-25, version 5.11.3* Surely it doesn’t need updating THAT often - I mean how much difference does it actually make? ### 1/5 — SBS News Live Stream *2024-03-14* I would really like to watch live stream anywhere. Even if I would like to watch the World News in Canada. After all SBS is World News from Australias POV. Tx. ### 1/5 — Why can’t I see more photo detail? *2024-03-02, version 5.11.1* The quality of news is debatable. Generally it’s still a cut above the murdoch shlock. BUT you often feature some great images. Why then can we not zoom in and look at the detail?! Very frustrating when this option is available on most other news aps. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — The only news outlet still objective *2023-02-02, version 5.6.1* SBS is the only news outlet still at least attempting to remain fair and objective. I am not surprised that there are many negative reviews, as in the current climate SBS is really fighting against so much propaganda- no doubt in the negative reviews as well (paid by…?) ### 5/5 — Great new upgrade, good load speeds *2022-02-24, version 5.1.1* Enjoying the new app, nicer layout and much faster load speeds. A much needed upgrade and a modern competitive app you have now. ### 5/5 — New interface *2021-12-10* Outstanding new interface and opportunity to explore specific news articles, chance to engage with live news! I am grateful that they considered the feedback of loyal users and look forward to continuing to use it and promote the SBS world news app. 👏🏽 well done SBS. **Developer response:** Hi Pharan Akhtarkhavari , Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. Please keep suggestions coming or email us at apps@sbs.com.au. Cheers ^SR. SBS News App ### 5/5 — App review *2021-11-16, version 4.3.10* Great news app, broad news coverage from around the world along plenty of Australian content ### 5/5 — Edit: issues with back button fixed! Previously: Back button not working is frustrating *2021-01-31* Edit: giving 5 stars now! Good content, minimal ads. Previous review was: Happy with the content but I’m having the same trouble, as reported by other users, with the back button on a new iPhone 12 - hence the low rating. I was finding this frustrating enough to almost delete the app when I accidentally discovered that if I touch the topic (e.g. Australia, North America), the app returns to the topic menu where the main menu can be accessed. It’s not ideal and not an intuitive way to exit a story page but I’ve decided to keep using app for now. **Developer response:** Hi caraluka. Thanks for the review and glad to hear you love our content. Select auto update so your're always accessing our latest app version and kept up to date with breaking news and top stories from Australia and around the world. Cheers ^JL. SBS News App ### 5/5 — Great app, use it for all my news *2020-06-15* Doesn’t have click bait articles which is a Huge plus, as well as all my current and up to date news. Highly recommend ### 5/5 — Great, but XR problem *2019-07-31* iPhone XR, the back button after reading an article is inaccessible. Other than that very clean and smooth - has now been fixed. Thanks to the developer for reaching out and letting me know. **Developer response:** Hi matamatix1, We released an update this morning (4.1.9) to resolve the issue where users were unable to return to the main screen using the back arrow. You can also contact us via apps@sbs.com.au ### 5/5 — PURE NEWS! *2019-03-06* Wow! I love love love using this app. I am a millennial, bi-racial, minority, young professional living in the city of Chicago. No matter how much I try to get away from ‘em, it seems like I’m always using the big 3 media tracking corporations; Apple, Google and Facebook for my news. This makes for painfully polarized and at most times biased news. I am so very thankful for this app and the mission of SBS as a news source. It’s unfortunate that I have to search across the globe to get objective American news. However, I am so glad this option is here for me. Thanks for all the trustworthy information. Corey ### 5/5 — Great news app *2018-12-22* Using this in the USA ### 5/5 — Great! *2012-05-31* Very clean if simply design, working perfectly --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*