I flew on United's Boeing 737 MAX 8 in economy from Newark to Seattle and saw how the upgraded cabin easily competes with Delta and American

United Airlines unveiled its all-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 interior in June 2021, which Insider toured at an event at Newark Liberty International Airport the same month.

I went inside United's brand-new Boeing 737 Max 8 with all new seat-back television screens and saw how the airline is revolutionizing air travel

The plane on display was the company's first 737 MAX 8 with the new cabin, featuring new amenities like seatback TVs and larger overhead bins.

The jet is part of a massive 270-aircraft order valued at over $30 billion, which is the largest in United's history. The order includes 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8, 150 Boeing 737 MAX 10, and 70 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

United just made the largest aircraft order in its history for 270 new Boeing and Airbus jets with seatback screens, WiFi, and more first class seats

All of the new planes will come standard with the updated cabin, but United plans to also retrofit its current Boeing and Airbus narrowbody planes with the signature interior by 2025.

I flew on United Airlines' first Boeing 737 Max flight in nearly 2 years and it was just the boring flight the airline needed

The modernization effort will not only make improvements to the carrier's aircraft but is also aimed at enhancing the airport and customer service experience.

United just launched an all-new 'bag drop shortcut' at its hub airports to check in passenger luggage in one minute or less

Since seeing United's new cabin, I have been eager to try it out. So, I booked a ticket on the longest flight I could manage, flying six hours from Newark to Seattle, to get the full experience — here's what it was like.

I arrived at Newark at 5:30 a.m. for my 7:00 a.m. departure, and, even at the early Monday hour, the airport was already bustling with travelers.

Security only took about five minutes with TSA PreCheck, which helped avoid the hectic lines during this busy summer travel season.

Inside the terminal, I made my way to gate C71. There was plenty of space to sit and wait for boarding, as well as plenty of power outlets, which I appreciated.

Boarding started 40 minutes before departure and I was in group 3, so I was one of the first people on the plane.

I took my seat in 23A, which was the third row in the regular economy section and located right over the wing. I pre-reserved the spot for $22 during booking.

The seat was marketed as a "preferred zone assignment" that is closer to the front of the plane.

According to SeatGuru, row 23 is in the center of the jet, but I had fewer people to wait on when deplaning because there is less capacity in premium economy and first class, so it was worth the fee.

Source: SeatGuru

While I waited for the rest of the passengers to board, I started exploring the updated seat. The first thing I noticed was the space.

The economy seats offer 30 inches of pitch, which is on par with some competitor airlines, and even low-cost carrier Breeze Airways, which offers the same legroom on its A220 planes.

I had a medium-sized duffel, but I kept it stowed under the seat in front of me to leave space for larger carry-ons, especially since it was a completely full flight.

This limited the amount of legroom I had to stretch my legs fully straight, but I still felt I had plenty of space in the window seat. Granted, I'm only 5'3" and on the smaller side, so I fit in most airline seats easily — even Spirit's miserably tight cabin.

Without my bag under the seat, I could easily stretch my legs out.

Meanwhile, the width of the seat was also similar to competitors at 17.2 inches, leaving just enough hip room to be comfortable.

However, taller or larger passengers may feel snug regardless and might want to consider booking an "Economy Plus" or first class seat instead, which offers 34 and 37 inches of pitch, respectively.

Poking around the new seat, I also found a several other amenities, like USB ports…

…110v AC power outlets…

…large seatback pockets big enough for my laptop…

...a medium-sized tray table...

...good recline...

…adjustable headrests…

…and seatback screens, which offer over 2,800 selections of movies, TV shows, music, and games. I decided to watch Tom Holland's new film, Uncharted, which was actually pretty good.

I also like that the screen flips up when the seat in front reclines.

The new inflight system also allows passengers to connect Bluetooth headphones to the seat.

I have wired headphones, so I stuck to those, but still appreciate the unique feature and am happy to know it's available if and when I ever invest in AirPods.

United has opted to bring back inflight entertainment screens to better compete with Delta, which has TVs installed on many of its narrowbody aircraft.

The upgrade will leave American Airlines as the only "big 3" carrier without seatback screens on most of its single-aisle jets. The carrier has opted instead for free inflight streaming, which is seen on other carriers like Southwest Airlines.

For those that prefer to stream entertainment to their personal device, United still offers the option for free through its inflight portal.

Also offered via the portal is free texting and for-purchase WiFi, which cost me $8 as a Mileage Plus member. The service is $10 for non-members. The WiFi was fast and I was easily able to work during the flight.

I worked from my laptop, which fit on the tray table, though the table was smaller than expected. When the seat in front of me reclined, I struggled to type because I could not push the screen back.

This is an issue I've had on every carrier I've flown on, so it's not specifically a United problem.

It appeared I was not the only person in my row with this problem, so I think carriers could design the tray tables better so they extend further out from the seatback if possible.

Despite my qualms with the tray table, the rest of the service was great. United offers complimentary drinks and snacks, as well as buy-onboard options.

I opted for several cups of coffee to get me through the long flight…

…as well as bought the tapas snack box full of treats.

Inside the box were pita, hummus, almonds, crackers, a cheese spread, olives, and chocolate. I'm not a fan of olives but everything else was good and kept me filled until we landed in Seattle.

Halfway through the flight, I made my way to the aft lavatory, which was very small compared to other carriers.

Despite the snug space, there was a changing table over the toilet…

…and a little cubby to stash small items, like a phone or wallet.

Walking back to my seat, I noticed the mood lighting. According to United, the colors change during the day to create a calming ambiance and help passengers relax.

I liked the blue hues displayed during my journey, which is a soothing color that likely made it easier for passengers to nap.

After the long transcontinental flight, we finally landed in Seattle around 10:00 a.m. local time. I quickly deplaned and was off to enjoy brunch at the Priority Pass restaurant at the airport.

Overall, I really enjoyed the flight. The seats were comfortable and I was able to keep all of my electronics charged, which is important for workers on the go.

Not to mention the inflight entertainment available, which helped pass the time. I personally prefer seatback TVs over streaming because I can look forward at the screen rather than down at my laptop.

With the tray table being my only issue, I would happily book a flight on United's 737 MAX aircraft again. The amenity-heavy product easily competes with Delta and American.