Sky's long-standing change to stand-alone service is here, but it's not what many people have been expecting. Rather than launch an internet-enabled set-top box, Sky introduced Sky Glass, its first TV with its next-generation integrated entertainment interface, as well as more that make it an exceedingly capable and powerful TV. Sky Glass will be sold both as a standalone device and through a subsidized contract option similar to a cell phone. This makes Sky Glass an intriguing new option for the TV market and the best new is that it packs the latest display and sound technology into a package many will find affordable. But is Sky Glass now the better TV option for the most dedicated home theater enthusiast? Read on for our first thoughts on this exciting new release.
(Image credit: Avenir)
Come to the point
- What is it? A television with an Internet connection that offers you Sky TV programming without the need for a satellite dish
- How much will it cost? It will be free both as a standalone product and as a subscription, with costs from € six hundred and forty-nine / € thirteen per month.
- What size is this? The forty-three-inch, fifty-five-inch, and sixty-five-inch models are going to be free.
- What resolution is it? Each and every set is in 4K, with HLG, HDR-ten and Dolby Vision support, and Dolby Atmos sound
- At what point will it be released? October XNUMX in the UK, with auxiliary regional availability to be confirmed
Sky Glass: cost and availability
The Sky Glass TV range will launch on 3th October in the UK, with further regional availability to be announced next year. The new Sky TV can be purchased outright or you can get it on a phone type contract with Sky content bundles. It comes in XNUMX sizes: forty-three inches, which if you buy it directly will cost you €XNUMX, fifty-five inches (€XNUMX) and sixty-five inches (€XNUMX). ). When you purchase a Sky Glass display, these sizes will be sold as small, medium, and large. Subscription costs start at €XNUMX per month for the XNUMX-inch version, €XNUMX for the XNUMX-inch version and €XNUMX for the XNUMX-inch version, over a period of forty-eight months. . Higher monthly rates can also be negotiated if you want a shorter contract. As with Sky's existing decoder subscriptions, you can also add additional content packages for extra money. For example, Sky's Ultimate TV package, which includes Sky Entertainment and Netflix (but skips popular Sky Sports and Cinema content), costs an additional €XNUMX a month, which would put the cost of the package up to XNUMX inches. at €XNUMX a month. .
(Image credit: Avenir) If you want to bring Sky Glass functionality to another display in your home, this is available as an auxiliary option. The Sky Glass 'Puck' connects to a second TV via HDMI and will cost an additional €XNUMX a month as part of the new Sky Whole Home package. Over time, if Sky introduced new and improved Sky Glass TV models, which we'd hoped, you'll also be able to upgrade your TV through subscription options. One essential thing to keep in mind is that most of the Sky Glass TV experience relies on a high speed internet connection. While their eleven Mbps minimum requirement is fairly affordable in most places, factor that into the overall monthly commitment; You're not limited to Sky broadband here though, as the TV doesn't accept any distributor. Also keep in mind that you can't have Sky Q or Sky HD as well as Sky Glass; if you opt for the new Sky Glass TV, you'll need to 'upgrade' your service from existing set-top boxes to the TV service. Read More: Sky Glass Booking Guide
Integrated
As we mentioned, Sky Glass TVs come in 4-inch (small), 3-inch (medium) and 10-inch (large) sizes. Using the latest quantum dot panel technology, each and every Sky Glass screen is 55K resolution and supports 4 major HDR formats: HLG, HDR4 and Dolby Vision, and the screens offer ten-bit color depth. It's running a 5-core ARM A2 processor, and based on our short usage time, it seems fast enough to handle the fairly fast internet interface. TVs are also a bit larger than the average 2K screen, but for good reason. Each screen includes a full XNUMX-channel Dolby Atmos setup. XNUMX upstream speakers sit at the top of the screen and XNUMX on the sides at the front, and there is a center channel (with sub) at the bottom center of the TV. While built-in soundbars are becoming more common in TVs (check out Philips' partnership with Bowers & Wilkins, for an example), it's considerably rarer to see speakers facing up on a TV, rather than on a bar. separate sound, especially at Sky costs. works at.
(Image credit: Avenir) The TV is being sold in 5 different colours: the anodized aluminum casing is available in blue, green, pink, white and black, and there will also be a number of magnetic faceplates which are sold separately. , in a plurality of models, which are connected at the bottom. television, adding a splash of color to the Sky Glass screen casings. This isn't all that common in the TV business and might appeal to people who like to find ways to personalize their technology. A color-coordinated stand is also included, while brackets for wall-mounting the set are pre-installed on the rear of the display. Although their soundbar element calls for a boxier build size, they're attractive sets, strongly reminiscent of Apple's recent iMac releases. With the built-in Sky TV interface and sound bar already built in, there's only one feeder cable to feed the show. Thanks to the use of renewable energy sources, recyclable packaging and the fact that it's a soundbar/TV/set-top box combo, Sky claims it's also the first carbon-neutral TV.
(Image credit: Avenir) There are 3 built-in HDMI ports, each listed as the HDMI 2 standard, but it's worth noting that although eARC audio pass-through is included, they don't seem to support the super-fast refresh rates of one hundred and twenty Hz, while technology allows it. , with all the Sky Glass TV literature counting sixty Hz as the upper limit. Bluetooth XNUMX is built in, as is a single USB-C port (only used for charging now). The latest Wi-Fi XNUMX standard is also onboard, as is the option of a wired Ethernet port. And while the entire experience relies heavily on broadband connectivity, there's a DVB-T/TXNUMX TNT connection for an antenna in case your internet goes down, allowing you to continue watching terrestrial stations. A new remote control is also on the way, separate from the one sold with Sky decoders. It's similar to the Sky Q remote, with a built-in microphone and circular control button, but the record button is now replaced with a "More" button that adds content to a user's playlist in the cloud, on instead of triggering a locally saved download. . Available in colors to match the TV, the remote also has a backlight that activates when it warns you've been picked up.
Features
There's no doubt that this is a line of smart TVs, with enough connected features out of the box to make the competition blush. First, there is the Sky interface. Building on and building on the great work that Sky has already put into its Sky Q boxes, Sky Glass TV will bring together shows and movies from hundreds and hundreds of channels and dozens of streaming and catch-up services into one interface. Over time, it will learn your preferences and make recommendations, and it seems to be admirably agnostic in the content it suggests to you: the panel-like interface isn't just one long stream of Sky production ads, but rather a significant mix of content. from the full range of dealers on board.
(Image credit: Avenir) Aside from Sky's own lineup, the list of distributors is extensive, including Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and much more. While you can use the remote to navigate them in a traditional scrolling interface, you have the option of going completely hands-free with Sky Glass. The remote control and the television itself have built-in microphones and can activate a pager assistant with the opening sentence "Hello Sky." Sky Glass's interface is smart enough to understand everything from vague searches for actors and genres to searches for specific shows, series and movies. For those concerned about privacy, a physical button on the side of the screen disables the built-in microphone. The wizard can also be used to change HDMI sources. Sky Glass will recognize most devices connected to it, so if, for example, you have an Xbox connected to your TV, you can say "Hey Sky, switch to Xbox" and you'll see the TV change. automatically to that input source. Sky also wants its Sky Glass TVs to eliminate the need to adjust picture and audio settings. While there are more detailed customization options available for the DIY enthusiast, multiple preset modes have been tailored to the precise content Sky delivers, from TV to movies to sports, Sky engineers work with management to ensure the presets are activated transparently at the right time. . the content is on the screen and is adjusted to look its best. This customization extends beyond movie and TV show settings to audio output only, while "Music" will give your Spotify playlists a hearty stereo performance, a "Celebration" alternative it will turn on Speakers for room-filling sound. We were somewhat annoyed to discover that there's no dedicated "Game" mode option here, which is typically used to reduce latency for more responsive gameplay.
(Image credit: Avenir) Like the Samsung Frame series of TVs, Sky Glass TVs will also have sleep options that won't cause the screen to go completely blank. Instead, Sky Glass will have a 'Glance' mode, activated when no user input has been acknowledged for a period of time, which will suggest program recommendations, news headlines, weather reports and more. Over time, these options will expand to include custom wallpapers and smart family device management, they told us. In addition to this, a motion sensor on the screen will allow it to turn on automatically when ...