Freesat UHD-X 4K TV Box review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- Set-top box
verdict: A simple, solid set-top box that’s ready for 4K
This Best Buy 4K set-top box can absolutely hold its own and is a great choice for anyone who needs to pick up free SD, HD and one day 4K channels via satellite.
- Great picture and sound quality
- Simple to set up
- Easy to catch up on shows you’ve missed in the electronic programme guide
- Poor remote
- No All 4
- No way to download more apps
Manhattan T3 review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- Set-top box
verdict: One of the best
Yes it’s a bit pricier than your average set-top box, but it’s comfortably one of the best models on the market. Features are plentiful, but it doesn’t make the device difficult to use and the picture quality is top-notch.
- Great picture and sound
- 4K output
- Catch-up apps and Freeview Play
- Easy to set up and use
- Some features could be better explained
Freesat UHD-4X 4K PVR – 1TB review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 1000GB
verdict: A great option for anyone looking to ditch their Sky subscription
It’s a wonderful PVR with plenty of hard drive space, access to apps and an easy to use interface. What more could you ask for?
- Plenty of hard drive space
- Easy to set and watch recordings
- Good picture and sound
- Remote is a bit small
- Only two useable tuners unless you have wideband LNB on your satellite then you can use four
- Missing All 4 and Amazon Prime Video
Humax HDR-1800T review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 320GB
verdict: Excellent recording features
Humax has delivered yet again – the HDR-1800T is a great all-rounder and a Best Buy. The electronic programme guide (EPG) is well laid out and easy to use, and has a host of Freeview recording features, including series link and trailer booking, which allows you to schedule a programme to record during a trailer for that programme.
- Great picture
- Easy to navigate
- Stylish
- Good recording features
- Wi-fi connectivity not built in
- Limited number of on-demand services
Sky Q 2TB (Silver) review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 2048GB
verdict: Feels like next gen TV
Sky has clearly taken on a lot of customer feedback with its latest version of the Sky box and, while it’s stuffed with bells and whistles, it also gets the basics right. As for whether or not you should upgrade, that depends on how sold you are on Sky’s ‘fluid viewing’ concept (resuming with shows in different rooms, and the ability to store recordings to watch offline). Those who are will be more than happy. This review was updated on October 12th 2016 to reflect further testing of its 4K capability.
- ‘Fluid viewing’ feels very next gen
- New users might be bamboozled by options
Panasonic DMR-EX97EB-K review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 500GB
verdict: Great for archivists
There’s a lot going on here, and the DMR-EX97EB-K ticks all the right boxes to provide an all- encompassing TV box that should keep you happy for years. Not everyone will want all the features, but it’s a great choice if you’re after a PVR with DVD recorder.
- Packed with features
- Handles them all well
- Manual is overwhelming
Manhattan T3-R 500GB review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 500GB
verdict: Advanced and accomplished
The T2-R PVR left us cold, but its successor is much better. Picture and sound quality is top-notch and it’s mostly easy to use.
- Won’t negatively affect the picture and sound from your TV
- Easy to set up
- Simple to set recordings
- Catch-up apps are available
- Lack of Netflix and Amazon Prime doesn’t capitalise on 4K abilities
- Not enough information on EPG
Humax FVP-5000T review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 1000GB
verdict: A fine, premium option
It may not be the best PVR we’ve ever tested, but it’s certainly right up there. The inclusion of the Netflix app is a welcome inclusion on a product struggling to retain relevance in the era of smart TV, and its ability to connect to the H3 Espresso and the Eye smart home camera is impressive. Combine that with the choice of up to a 2TB hard drive and you have a nice, if expensive, option.
- Feature-rich
- Great picture and sound
- Record four channels while viewing a fifth
- Unimpressive EPG
- Uncomfortable remote
- Very pricey
Humax Aura 1TB review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 1000GB
verdict: A mostly successful debut for Android TV on PVRs
We like the Aura, but it’s not without issues. The electronic programme guide is fiddly, and its list of supported apps isn’t as comprehensive as we’d like.
- Good picture and sound
- Can record up to five shows at once
- Nice list of extra features
- EPG is fiddly
- Could be confusing to use for some
TalkTalk YouView (Huawei DN360T) review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- Set-top box
verdict: Too unreliable to recommend
The TalkTalk YouView box did fairly well in our tests. Unfortunately, due to its terrible reliability rating we can’t recommend this PVR.
- Free with Essentials TV package
- Pause and rewind feature
- Not available as a standalone device
- No wireless internet connection
Freesat UHD-X 4K TV Box review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- Set-top box
verdict: A simple, solid set-top box that’s ready for 4K
This Best Buy 4K set-top box can absolutely hold its own and is a great choice for anyone who needs to pick up free SD, HD and one day 4K channels via satellite.
- Great picture and sound quality
- Simple to set up
- Easy to catch up on shows you’ve missed in the electronic programme guide
- Poor remote
- No All 4
- No way to download more apps
Manhattan T1 review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- Set-top box
verdict: A cheap, no-frills set-top box
Yes, the Manhattan T1 is very simple, but it does its basic job well enough. Those looking for something a little more advanced should consider an alternative, though.
- Easy to use
- Great sound and picture quality
- Cheap
- Lack of features
- Remote could be better designed
Manhattan SX review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- Set-top box
verdict: Simple but effective
We were very impressed with this little box’s picture and sound quality, and it’s straightforward to set up and use. If you’re looking for a simple set-top box without smart capability, this one is worth a look.
- Easy to set up
- Great sound and picture quality
- Low power use
- No smart features
- Remote could be better
Virgin Media V6 Box review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 1000GB
verdict: A great way to watch 4K
It may not be our highest-scoring subscription set-top box, but it’s a huge improvement for Virgin Media and will no doubt be welcomed by new customers and those who choose to upgrade. The 4K picture quality is fantastic, and the box has some useful features. If you’re tempted by a Virgin Media TV subscription, the box should no longer be a deterrent – in fact, it’s very nice indeed.
- 4K looks great
- Loads of handy features
- Confusing menus and remote
Panasonic DMR-HWT250EB review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 1000GB
verdict: Should do better
It’s not bad, but it’s far from the best PVR you can get for the money.
- Easy to set recordings from an app
- Great picture and sound quality
- Clunky electronic programme guide
- Menus can be daunting to navigate
- Fewer tuners than rivals
Panasonic DMR-HWT150EB review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 500GB
verdict: Not your best option
It’s a decent streamer, but a high price and fiddly interface means this isn’t the one we reckon you should go for.
- Easy to set recordings from an app
- Great picture and sound
- Clunky electronic programme guide
- Menus can be daunting to navigate
- Fewer tuners than rivals
Manhattan T2-R review
Test scoreShow Context
Key features
- PVR
- 500GB
verdict: A simple, solid PVR
It’s not far off the pace thanks to its exemplary picture and sound, but it’s not the easiest PVR to use and that’s why it isn’t quite a Best Buy.
- Top-notch picture and sound quality
- Easy to set up
- EPG is well designed and easy to understand
- Manual gives incorrect information on what button does what
- Remote is a bit too big
- No smart features
- Not enough information displayed in the EPG
