4 days ago
Sky unveils exciting TV upgrade coming very soon - but you'll need this plan
Sky has launched the new Sky Glass Air TV, which is cheaper than current sets and can be paired with one of its more affordable TV plans
Sky has unveiled the newest addition to its Sky Glass TV sets, the Sky Glass Air. An upgraded version of its integrated smart TV that has its software bundled inside, scrapping the need for a top box or satellite dish.
The 4K HDR Quantum Dot screen offers brighter visuals, with smart features to adjust the contrast and dimming of the display for users automatically. The sound is boosted with a Dolby Audio speaker system and it adapts to whatever is playing on the screen.
Announced today, Tuesday, June 3, UK shoppers will be able to get their hands on the new set pretty soon, as it goes on sale next on June 10. And price is one of its standout features.
Unlike the current Sky Glass Gen2 - which starts at £29 for the 43-inch 4K TV and Essential TV - the new Glass Air starts at a much cheaper £21 per month for both the device and plan - although, if you already have this set at home the Glass Air can work alongside it.
The drop in cost is all down to the sleeker TV set with a vibrant 4K picture quality, hands-free voice control, Sky tapped into it, plus it can be streamed over Wi-Fi - it may have a lower price, but there's no scrimping on quality.
Essential TV to pair with Sky Glass
Product Description
If you're not aware of the plans you need for Sky Glass, it's the Essential TV plan, priced at £15 per month. This hasn't changed from its current sets, and Sky Glass Air shoppers will pay the usual rate. Once bundled with the much cheaper £6 per month Glass Air, it comes to a combined £21 per month.
A perk of Sky Glass is flexibility, as shoppers don't have to commit to a long contract if they don't want to, but this will hike the price. Customers can choose between a 24-month TV subscription for the best value or opt for a 31-day rolling contract.
While the Sky Glass sets can technically be bought without the Essential TV package it is, as the name suggests, an essential buy for users who want to make the most of Sky's channels.
UK consumers also don't have to wait for the June 10 Glass Air on sale date to do that either, as the Essential TV plan is already available to buy now or wait to bundle together with the swanky Glass Air set.
Opting for the integrated set is more expensive, so shoppers looking for a cheaper alternative could opt for Sky's Essential TV plan on its own and sync it up with a different device—be it a Samsung, Hisense, Toshiba, or any other model. The only crucial thing it'll need is an HDMI port.
Alternatively, shoppers could also opt for Virgin Media's 360 box, which you can buy here. It is a similar internet-based box and, unlike the Sky Stream, can record multiple channels at once.
So, how does the newer TV differ from what Sky has brought out before?
The first is price, as we've touched on above, it's been designed to be 'more accessible' to households.
"It's all about giving people better for less: more choice, great tech, and the content they love, without compromising on quality', said Managing Director of Sky TV & NOW, Carli Kerr.
Continuing to speak about offering a product to fit all budgets, Carli said: 'From the ultimate performance of Glass Gen 2 to the incredible value of Air, there's now a Sky Glass to suit everyone, whether you're new to Sky or already with us."
The newer Air device will run on the same Sky OS that the Sky Glass Gen 2 and Sky Stream use too. A selling point to the Sky Glass Air is its ability to run on at-home wi-fi, cutting out the need for a satellite dish, however this will depend on users speeds and if not picked correctly it'll cause issues for the user experience - while the Glass Air is yet to be reviewed, this is a known issue for the current Glass Gen 2.
