Top Tech: Sky dishes out free TV upgrades to Brits who beat this week's deadline
Brits considering upgrading their smart TV may want to head to Sky as the provider hands out free upgrades to its devices this week. Sky is currently giving away free Ultra HD access for a year to shoppers picking up one of its 43' Sky Glass Air TVs.
This free add-on will boost the device's image to make it crisp and more vibrant when enjoying select Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Sports channels. Shoppers must act fast to claim the deal though as it's due to end on July 30.
Doing so will save £72 compared to the usual price, as Sky's UHD add-on usually costs an extra £6 per month. For those unfamiliar with the Sky Glass line-up, this is the telecoms giant's alternative to satellite dishes and Sky Q boxes, which delivers Sky TV channels and streaming apps straight from the device through a broadband connection.
The Sky Glass Air first hit the market in June as a budget-friendly and slimmer version of the new and improved Sky Glass Gen 2. Prices start at £6 per month for the Air, which is significantly less than the £14 cost of the Gen 2.
Despite its cheaper price tag, the Glass Air still features a 4K HDR Quantum Dot screen and Dolby Audio speaker system, with other notable features including hands-free voice control, intelligent and personalised recommendations and a simple plug-in-and-play setup. The gadget also comes in a choice of three colours: Carbon Grey, Cotton White or Sea Green, reports the Express.
It's worth noting that the £6 monthly price covers the TV itself and must be paired with a Sky TV and Netflix package. These now start at the £15 Essential TV bundle, bringing the total cost to £21 for the Sky Glass device, more than 100 TV channels, and subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
There's also the option to bag more than 35 extra channels like Sky Documentaries, Sky Comedy and National Geographic with the £22 Ultimate TV bundle, which Sky says is its 'most popular' TV package. Shoppers should note the length of the plan, as the Sky Glass Air comes on a 48-month deal alongside the 24-month TV and Netflix package.
But there are plenty of other options for those preferring to buy outright, including Amazon's 20% discount on the 43' Samsung Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV. This is the best-selling Samsung TV on the site and has been reduced from £299 to £239 – a £60 discount.
Elsewhere, Virgin Media's Summer of Sports sale has seen price cuts of up to £336 on its TV, Sky Sports and fibre broadband packages. The biggest saving is on the Biggest Combo bundle, which is packed with eight Sky Sports channels, more than 200 regular channels, Sky Cinema, Netflix and 516Mbps broadband.
However, Sky Glass has won over many of its users, some of which have left glowing reviews on the Sky Community forum. One said: 'This is a great TV that's perfect for the average TV viewer considering subscribing to Sky whilst seeking a good audio-visual experience at an affordable price. It's good as a standalone TV and works equally well for those who have already invested in a decent audio system.'
However, it may not be for everyone, as the same user added: 'It's perfectly suitable for casual gamers, although hardcore gamers would likely want to look elsewhere for a proper gaming TV to connect their gaming console to.'
Another said: 'I can't fault it. It was very easy to assemble, and account syncing to my Glass downstairs was straightforward. The 55-inch TV is still a heavy piece of equipment compared to the numerous Samsung TVs I've had.
"Picture settings on auto seem to suffice at this stage and the sound is totally different from the Glass downstairs – the speakers are at the back so it just projects differently, not in a bad way I might add. Speech is clear and it's certainly loud enough.'
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