4K HDR
Top picture quality across modern UK set-top boxes and sticks
£0
Up-front cost on most ISP-bundled boxes (EE TV, Sky Stream, Virgin Stream)
70+
Free channels via Freeview Play, including HD streams
10+ apps
Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more
What is a set-top box?
A set-top box is any external device that plugs into your TV and turns it into a channel-and-apps viewer. In 2026 the category covers three quite different products: traditional recorders like Virgin TV 360 with an internal hard drive, modern IP-only pucks like Sky Stream and Virgin TV Stream that pull everything over your broadband, and small streaming sticks such as Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Apple TV 4K and Roku that focus on apps rather than live linear channels.
Smart TVs already include many of the same apps, so a separate box is no longer compulsory. A box is still worth buying when you want a snappier interface than your TV's built-in one, integrated live channels and an electronic programme guide, cloud or hard-disk recording, or a single remote that controls live TV and streaming apps without switching HDMI inputs.
Free Freeview Play options
Freeview Play is the free-to-air UK service that combines live terrestrial channels (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, plus more than 70 standard and HD streams) with the catch-up players from each broadcaster (iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, U). All you need is a TV aerial and a Freeview Play certified box. There is no monthly fee and no contract.
Three boxes still dominate the UK Freeview Play shelf in 2026. They differ mainly on price, recording capacity and how many streaming apps they bundle on top of the free channels.
Manhattan T3-R and T3
The Manhattan T3-R is the consumer favourite for a no-subscription PVR. It records two channels at once to a 1 TB internal drive, supports 4K UHD playback through iPlayer and runs every major Freeview Play catch-up app. The cheaper Manhattan T3 drops the hard drive but keeps the apps and 4K iPlayer support. Both retail for roughly £200 (T3-R) and £100 (T3) and need no broadband contract from a specific provider.
Humax Aura
The Humax Aura pairs Freeview Play with the full Google TV ecosystem. It runs Android TV, so you get every app from the Google Play Store on top of UK Freeview channels, plus a 1 TB drive for recordings. It is the most flexible Freeview box on sale today and lands at around £200. Voice search, Chromecast built-in and Google Assistant are included.
Humax FVP-5000T
The Humax FVP-5000T is the older, app-light alternative. It records four programmes at once while you watch a fifth, holds up to 1 TB of recordings and accesses iPlayer, ITVX, All 4 and My5. It does not run Netflix, Disney+ or other paid apps natively, so it suits viewers who want a pure Freeview recorder. Prices start at about £200 depending on drive size.
ISP-bundled boxes: Sky, EE and Virgin Media
If you already pay for a TV subscription, your provider will bundle a set-top box at little or no up-front cost. The trade-off is the box is locked to that provider's service, you usually take a fixed contract (typically 18 or 24 months) and the kit is returned if you leave. In 2026 the three relevant ISP boxes are Sky Stream / Sky Glass, EE TV's Apple TV 4K and Virgin TV 360 or Stream.
Sky Stream
Launched in 2022, Sky Stream is the box Sky now ships to most new customers. It is a small puck about the size of a Roku, plugs into HDMI, and pulls every Sky channel over your broadband. There is no satellite dish and no engineer visit. The voice remote and on-screen UI behave almost identically to Sky Q. Sky Stream is included with the Sky TV package (currently from £15 a month for the entry plan), and the Sky Ultimate add-on unlocks 4K UHD on supported shows.
Recording is handled in the cloud through a 30-day Playlist rather than a local hard drive, so any programme you tap to record stays available for one month and is replayed via streaming. Any UK broadband line that delivers at least 25 Mbps will run Sky Stream comfortably.
Sky Glass
Sky Glass is a 43, 55 or 65 inch 4K HDR television with Sky Stream and Dolby Atmos speakers built in. There is no separate box, no dish and no soundbar. It is sold on a monthly payment plan and stacked on top of your Sky subscription, with the hardware effectively financed over 24 or 48 months. The picture is bright rather than reference grade, but the all-in-one form factor wins over many households who want one set of cables and one remote.
Sky Q for existing customers
Sky Q remains supported for existing satellite customers who already have a dish. You can still record up to six channels at once on a 1 TB or 2 TB internal drive and watch in 4K UHD on the Ultimate plan. New customers are no longer offered Sky Q though, so anyone signing up today receives a Sky Stream puck or a Sky Glass television instead.
EE TV (formerly BT TV)
EE TV replaced BT TV in 2024 after the EE rebrand. New customers receive an Apple TV 4K device pre-loaded with the EE TV app, alongside live UK channels and cloud recording. Because the hardware is an Apple TV, you also get the full tvOS app store, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, YouTube and BBC iPlayer in one place. EE TV is bundled free with the EE Full Works TV plan and works only over an EE broadband connection.
Virgin TV 360
The Virgin TV 360 box is what most new Virgin Media cable TV customers receive in 2026. It pairs the Virgin cable network with a local 500 GB or 1 TB hard drive, so you can record up to six channels while watching a seventh and store hundreds of hours offline. The voice remote, smart recommendations and 4K UHD support on Ultimate channels are all included. It works only with a Virgin Media cable line.
Virgin TV Stream
For Virgin broadband customers without cable TV, Virgin TV Stream is the alternative. Launched in 2021, it is an Android TV puck that delivers selected Sky and Virgin channels plus all the major streaming apps over your broadband. There is no recording, no fixed term and no installation cost, with channel packs added on a monthly rolling basis.
Streaming sticks: cheaper than a full TV subscription
If you mainly watch Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer and ITVX, a £40 streaming stick will give you the same apps as a £15-a-month Sky Stream subscription without the contract. Sticks plug straight into a spare HDMI port, draw power from a USB cable and connect to your home Wi-Fi. The four mainstream UK options in 2026 are detailed below.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the UK's best-selling streaming stick. It supports 4K HDR (HDR10+, Dolby Vision), Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6E and Alexa voice search. The app catalogue covers Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, Now and almost every smaller app. Expect to pay around £70, with frequent Amazon sale prices closer to £40.
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)
The Apple TV 4K (3rd gen, 2022) is the premium option. It runs Apple's tvOS with no advertising on the home screen, the same A15 chip used in iPhone, AirPlay from iPhone or iPad, HomeKit hub functionality and pin-sharp 4K HDR output (HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos). It is the box EE ships with EE TV. Prices range from £149 to £169 depending on storage.
Google TV Streamer
Google replaced the Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TV in 2024 with the Google TV Streamer. It is a small puck running Google TV with 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and a Google Assistant remote. Tight integration with Google Home means it doubles as a smart-home hub and routes content casts from Android phones easily. UK price is around £99.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K and Express 4K
Roku remains a UK staple for viewers who want a neutral, app-led interface that does not push the platform owner's content. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K sells for about £50 and the budget Roku Express 4K for around £30. Both deliver 4K HDR streaming and the same Roku app catalogue, with Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, Prime Video and Apple TV+ all native.
Advantages
- ISP boxes deliver live linear channels and a proper electronic programme guide out of the box.
- ISP boxes (Sky Stream, EE TV, Virgin TV 360) come with integrated recording, either a cloud playlist or a local hard drive.
- Bundled hardware lowers up-front cost: typically £0 or token amount when you take the matching subscription.
- Single remote controls live TV, streaming apps and on-demand library without switching HDMI inputs.
Disadvantages
- You are locked into the provider's broadband or cable service for the length of the contract.
- Box must usually be returned if you leave, and early-exit fees apply mid-contract.
- Sticks are portable and follow you between homes, Airbnbs and hotels.
- Sticks are cheap (£30 to £70) but offer no live linear channels, no DVR recording and no EPG by default.
- A stick on its own requires paid subscriptions for premium content, with no bundle discount.
Which set-top box to choose?
There is no single best box. The right answer in 2026 depends on how much live TV you actually watch, which broadband or cable network you are on, and whether you want a hard-drive recorder, a cloud playlist or just a stick that runs Netflix. Match yourself to one of the profiles below.
The Freeview-only viewer
You watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and the catch-up players and refuse to pay a TV subscription. Pick the Manhattan T3-R for recording or the Humax Aura if you also want streaming apps and Google TV. Both work over a TV aerial with no monthly fee.
The cord-cutter
You have already cancelled Sky and watch only Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer and ITVX. Buy a Fire TV Stick 4K Max for £70, or a Roku Streaming Stick 4K if you want a neutral UI. Add a Now month-pass for occasional Sky content.
The Sky or Virgin household
You want hundreds of live channels, sports and a single remote. New Sky customers go to Sky Stream, or Sky Glass if you also need a new television. Virgin Media cable households still receive the Virgin TV 360 with its hard-drive recording; broadband-only Virgin homes take the TV Stream puck.
The Apple-ecosystem family
You own iPhones, iPads, AirPods, a HomePod or two and value privacy. The Apple TV 4K (3rd gen) is the natural fit at £149-169. If you also want UK live channels, take an EE Full Works TV plan, which bundles an Apple TV 4K free with the EE TV app and EE broadband.
Frequently asked questions
A set-top box is any hardware unit that plugs into your TV and delivers channels, on-demand apps or recordings. You still need one if you want live linear channels with an electronic programme guide, integrated recording, or a Sky / EE / Virgin TV subscription. If you only watch Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer and ITVX, a £40 streaming stick will do the same job for far less money.
Sky Stream replaced Sky Q for new customers in 2022. It is a small puck that streams every Sky channel over your broadband, with no satellite dish required. Sky Q is still supported for existing satellite customers but is no longer sold to new sign-ups.
Sky Glass is both. It is a 4K HDR television (43, 55 or 65 inch) with Sky Stream and Dolby Atmos sound built in, sold on a monthly payment plan alongside your Sky subscription. There is no separate set-top box and no satellite dish.
Sky discontinued the Now TV smart box and stick in 2023. Now is now a streaming service only and runs as an app on Sky Stream, Sky Glass, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast and most smart TVs. Existing Now boxes still work but no longer receive updates.
EE TV replaced BT TV in 2024 after the EE rebrand. New customers now receive an Apple TV 4K device pre-loaded with the EE TV app, live channels and cloud recording. Existing BT TV YouView boxes continue to work for current subscribers.
Apple TV 4K (3rd gen) has a faster A15 processor, a more polished interface and no advertising on the home screen, but costs around £149-169. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max delivers the same streaming apps in 4K HDR for about £70, with the trade-off of an Amazon-led UI. For most UK households the Fire Stick is the better-value buy; the Apple TV makes sense if you already own iPhones, iPads or HomeKit gear.
Yes, but the recording is held in the cloud rather than on a local hard drive. Sky Stream offers a 30-day cloud Playlist of any show or series you tap to save. EE TV uses a similar cloud-recording library. Virgin TV 360 is the main UK box that still records to an internal hard drive (500 GB or 1 TB).
Next steps
Once you have picked the box that matches how you actually watch TV, line up the right broadband package to feed it. Sky Stream needs at least 25 Mbps, 4K streaming on any platform is more comfortable at 50 Mbps or more, and Virgin TV 360 only works on a Virgin Media cable line. Use the guides below to compare packages, providers and standalone streaming services.