The six albums are Wonderwall Music (1968), Electronic Sound (1969), All Things Must Pass (1970; spread over two CDs), Living in the Material World (1973), Dark Horse (1974) and Extra Texture (1975).

[2] The final disc is a DVD containing a feature titled "The Apple Years", promotional films from some of his previous posthumous reissues, such as The Concert for Bangladesh, and other video clips.

[1] Speaking of why his father's later-period work had been repackaged first, rather than the complete Apple output, Dhani Harrison referred to "politics and legal things", while likening the non-chronological approach to that of the Star Wars film series.

Horowitz concludes of the set as a whole: "Regardless of the eclectic nature of these albums and their often subpar material, George Harrison deserves the elaborate treatment he gets here, which makes this a worthwhile addition to any Beatle lovers' bulging collection …"[18] In a less favourable review for Uncut, Richard Williams writes that "only a devoted Apple scruff could love Extra Texture, or its two immediate predecessors", although he admires Wonderwall Music as an album that "documents an innocent optimism that will always be worth a listen".

[26] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes The Apple Years as "a handsomely produced, impeccably remastered box set" with the sound "rich, deep, and alluring".

Ham suggests that for die-hard Beatles fans, The Apple Years "is essential listening to aid you in getting a little closer to appreciating Harrison's growth as an artist and as a human being".