sKY’s newest streaming TV model offers an excellent all-in-one budget solution for your living space. It successfully fulfills all these demands while establishing a strong presence among similar priced, average appliances.
Glass Air is the lightweight, sleek, and affordable alternative to the Glass Gen 2, designed to be the first low-cost option from Sky, priced at £309 or available for £20 with interest-free credits.
Like its pricier counterparts, Glass Air requires a Sky subscription for full functionality. It serves as a basic smart TV featuring streaming apps and three HDMI ports, but you won’t be utilizing Sky TV unless you subscribe to TV over broadband service.
Glass Air can be viewed as a stripped-down version of Glass Gen 2, maintaining the same service and internal smart hardware, yet lacking an integrated soundbar, aluminum housing, and various display options, leading to a reduced weight and thickness.
This means all you need is a power cable and an internet connection; no aerial or satellite cables are needed thanks to WiFi or Ethernet. The remote also unifies TV, streaming apps, and services. Additionally, it includes Sky’s voice control system with a built-in microphone, allowing you to power it on and manage search, volume, and playback simply by saying “Hello Sky” followed by a command. While the voice command can be a bit finicky at times, it works effectively. Alternatively, you can press and hold the microphone button on the remote to communicate with it.
The 60Hz display is a vibrant and clear 4K LCD panel with HDR support, although it lacks the superior local dimming backlight found in Glass Gen 2 and other premium TVs. Consequently, the picture maintains a uniform brightness across scenes, diminishing the contrast between bright and dark areas. This can make certain high-contrast scenes appear less dramatic and somewhat shallow, though bright visuals remain appealing.
Nonetheless, the TV excels at showing beautiful visuals, performs well with everyday television shows, and handles vivid animations and dark-themed films competently.
The 15W stereo speakers are surprisingly impressive for a slim TV devoid of a soundbar. They deliver clear vocals and can reach volumes sufficient to fill medium-sized rooms, a feat not typically associated with most TV speakers.
While they lack deep bass and any surround sound capabilities, they are adequate for viewing bargain hunts and Premier League games. For a more immersive audio experience, you can connect a soundbar via one of the three HDMI ports; however, turning up the TV’s volume may impede some screen visibility.
Sky OS
A significant selling point for Glass Air over other budget TVs is its robust software. Sky OS has seen considerable improvements in recent years and operates smoothly with Glass Air.
It allows for seamless integration of live broadcasts and on-demand content through excellent playlist functionalities, making it easy to keep track of shows and movies. The ability to watch live TV, pause, and rewind functions efficiently. It supports nearly all major streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer, ITV X, Channel 4, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, and Discovery+, among others.
Glass Air is compatible with AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth for streaming content from a variety of Apple devices.
Sustainability
The TV is designed for repair, incorporating recycled materials and solder. The company has a program for recycling older units and ships the TV in packaging free of plastic.
Price
The Sky Glass Air is offered in three sizes: £309 for 43 inches, £509 for 55 inches, and £649 for 65 inches. It also provides 24- or 48-month, interest-free payment options for £6-£20 per month.
The minimum Sky package for essential TV service starts at £15 per month, with various options for entertainment, movies, kids, and sports channels available on a 24 or 1-month rolling contract, including Netflix and Discovery+.
Verdict
Sky Glass Air is a solid budget-friendly television that includes all the perks of Sky’s Pay-TV bundled with broadband service.
It’s lightweight and slim, with stereo speakers that outperform many other thin models. The 4K visuals are bright and vibrant, though there’s a slight contrast issue at times. The essential features of the TV are satisfactory. When compared to other budget competitors in terms of service and software, it is notably superior to many low-end smart TVs.
However, a monthly subscription is required for full access, but those interested in Sky Pay-TV will find that they are not compromising on software experience with this affordable model. Plus, it offers the remarkable convenience of all TV and streaming services in one box, needing just one remote and basic power and internet.
Shop wisely and secure a well-designed mid-range TV that exceeds expectations at this price point. Glass Air is an excellent choice for those seeking value in a crowded market of budget televisions.
Pros: All-in-one streaming and pay TV device, decent sound quality, no satellite/cable or aerial needed.
Cons: Lacks local dimming which results in lower contrast, limited refresh rates for gaming consoles, and no Chromecast support. Subscription required.
Source: www.theguardian.com
