Finest set-top containers 2023

The Sky Q is a great trying field, with a design that arguably set the tone for all of the set-top containers that adopted just like the BT TV Field Professional. Its kind issue is far more engaging than the utilitarian design of the Virgin V6 field.

Sky’s UI is likely one of the finest within the enterprise in our opinion, providing a handy technique of discovering on-demand content material, recordings and looking its TV information. It’s clear in look, loaded with pictures for a extra visual-based technique of interplay in addition to handy textual content descriptions. There are devoted sub-menus for various classes or forms of programming, which comes helpful for extra particular searches.

Sky Q helps a multi-room configuration with extra Mini containers. These are small units that hook up with different TVs to stream content material from the principle field. The Mini Containers solely assist HD although, whereas the principle Q field streams in 4K. We discovered that to be a disappointing improvement, particularly if the Mini field is linked to a 4K TV.

Sky’s vary of content material is huge and arguably the perfect on this record, with US dramas, comedies, movies, 1000’s of TV box-sets and sport within the Premier League and System One however the subscriptions will not be notably low cost – that is very a a lot a premium service. The UHD content material is healthier than some other service present we’ve reviewed, and there’s paid content material although the Sky Retailer that gives entry to instantaneous downloads.

Our reviewer discovered image high quality to be excellent, with HD programming offered in sharp element, and UHD content material trying improbable (though it will rely on the TV its watched on). Sky has additionally added HDR assist, that brings higher distinction and color constancy to content material.

On the audio entrance there’s assist for Dolby Atmos, which we discovered produced a step-up in high quality with further peak and width to audio. Simply among the best set-top containers if you happen to can afford Sky’s premium subscriptions.

There may be now the choice of Sky Stream, which incorporates Atmos and Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR amongst its specs, for many who need a streaming-based resolution.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Evaluate: Sky Q

The Manhattan T3-R Freeview Play is a great trying, compact field that may simply match beneath a telly. We discovered connectivity to be good with HDMI, aerial, optical digital audio output, Ethernet and Wi-Fi current. There’s a USB port however it’s just for energy.

The T3-R comes with 4K HDR assist with HDR10 and HLG included for watching in HDR in apps akin to iPlayer and YouTube. We discovered setup was handy, a easy story of hooking the field to a TV and going by the method of tuning the channel record. The interface was simple to make use of and perceive, making certain that even essentially the most technophobic will be capable of discover their method around the interface.

Freeview Play presents 85 channels, though most of those are in customary definition. On TVs lower than 50-inches in dimension and the prevalence of ordinary definition content material received’t be as huge an issue because it might be on 65-inch TVs and greater. Alongside reside TV, Freeview Play has UK streaming catch-up and on-demand apps akin to iPlayer, All4 and My5, however on the time of evaluate there was no signal of Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+.

There’s a selection of both a 500GB or 1TB onerous drive for storing domestically recorded programmes, with 500GB mannequin providing a capability of round 300 hours for normal definition programming with series-linking and reside pause included, which is sweet to have. The T3-R can now document two channels concurrently, with the power to observe a 3rd.

The T3-R is a stable performer for viewing reside tv. Our reviewer discovered that HD channels akin to NHK look sharp with none artefacts, providing some nice texture and depth. SD content material is respectable when it comes to image constancy however will rely in your high quality of your TV’s upscaling. The T3-R has been discontinued, however two new fashions within the T4 and T4-R are set to reach August 2023. We’ll be trying to evaluate them if we get the prospect.

Maintain an eye fixed out for our Humax Aura evaluate, which is coming within the subsequent few weeks to see if that may problem the Manhattan field.

Reviewer: Steve Could
Full Evaluate: Manhattan T3-R

If Sky Q is simply too costly, then the Freesat 4K TV Recorder is a extra inexpensive satellite tv for pc different. It’s a neat trying field, with virtually the whole lot you would wish when it comes to connections with an HDMI port, Ethernet, a digital audio port for audio, and a pair of satellite tv for pc inputs.

How these satellite tv for pc inputs are used is determined by which sort of LNB (Low Noise Block) the satellite tv for pc dish has. A typical LNB permits for 2 channels to be watched concurrently, whereas wideband presents as much as 4. There’s additionally Wi-Fi for streaming over the Web.

Throughout testing we discovered the interface to be responsive and intuitive, with the minimally designed menus that includes handy entry to on-demand apps, reside programming and saved recordings. We additionally discovered a wide variety of reside channels with 180 made accessible though solely 24 are broadcast in HD.

On-demand content material constitutes of BBC iPlayer, My5, STV Participant and UKTV Play, giving entry to many of the foremost free-to-air channels. There’s additional comfort with a cell app that enables for recording reveals if you’re exterior the home, though it’s price noting it takes as much as half-hour for recordings to seem on the field itself.

In the case of visible high quality, we discovered the Freesat conveyed HD channels in an in depth and sharp with no artefacts. With SD content material, there’s the standard softness across the edges of individuals and objects issues, though the Freesat field does an honest job of decreasing artefacts the place doable.

Not like Sky Q, Extremely HD isn’t accessible on Freesat platform itself, with solely Netflix and YouTube assist 4K HDR. Watching Netflix in 4K HDR and our reviewer famous extra impression when it comes to wonderful element and hues with extra subtleties in tone. A stable field and a extra inexpensive value than Sky, though with out as a lot content material.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Evaluate: Freesat 4K TV Recorder