Apple has officially launched the public beta programme for its 2026 software releases, which includes early access to tvOS 27.

The forthcoming update introduces a bevvy of new features and performance upgrades, including Hi-Res Lossless playback in Apple Music, a redesigned Podcasts app, a more responsive Control Centre, and faster wireless connections to other Apple devices (including HomePods for TV audio) via AirPlay.

However, the biggest upgrade relates to the day-to-day performance of the nearly four-year-old streaming box. Apple says app loading times will be reduced by 30 per cent, and animations should feel smoother too. This means that the whole tvOS interface should feel slicker and more responsive.

This update comes in the wake of a price increase, which means the current-generation Apple TV 4K now starts at £199 / $199 / AU$299, or if you want 128GB of storage and an Ethernet socket, then you can expect to pay £249 / $249 / AU$399.

While the tvOS 27 update isn't expected to launch to all users until September, members of the Apple Beta Software Programme can enrol their Apple TV 4K and install the update via the Settings app, under the System tab.

If you're not in the beta programme, you can sign up here for free, and Apple lets anyone trial its software and provide feedback via the Feedback Assistant app.

Be warned, this software is still in beta, and while Apple's pre-release software is generally stable and safe to use, we'd recommend exercising some caution.

If you happen to have a spare Apple TV 4K lying around, then we'd suggest installing it on that rather than loading it onto your main device, as bugs and glitches can cause issues.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K review

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best streaming services for movies and TV shows

A network transport is quite a niche product – essentially, it fetches your digital music from a NAS drive, network storage or streaming service and passes it to a DAC in order to play it. There’s no built-in DAC, as you get with most music streamers, but that’s no problem if you already have one elsewhere in your system, or you’re happy to buy a dedicated unit and go the separates route.

Now new Polish brand Ferrum Audio has announced the Broen, a premium network transport that promises an “uncompromising digital audio performance”.

It aims to provide a clean and precise digital signal path, alongside “flexible connectivity, intuitive operation and extensive streaming support”.

It is built around Ferrum’s Serce DDC (digital to digital converter) module, which should optimise every stage of digital-signal handling. Because there is no analogue circuitry inside, Serce focuses just on digital processing, which, Ferrum claims, “delivers outstanding precision while maintaining complete separation between input and output domains.”

Galvanically isolated audio outputs and ultra-low jitter clocks help to preserve signal integrity.

It supports both wired and wireless networking; as well as wi-fi, it has a modular SFP port that can take either a standard ethernet module or an optical module. That means it can hook up to compatible SFP network switches for less electrical noise and cleaner digital transmission.

Of course you will need a DAC, and Ferrum is only too happy to sell you one. The Broen works seamlessly with Ferrum’s Wandla range of DACs, thanks to the Ferrum Streaming Control Technology (FSCT). Connect a Wandla DAC to the Broen via USB, and you can control the latter from the former’s touchscreen or remote control. Artist information, album details and playback status will appear on the DAC’s screen.

At the heart of the Broen is the Volumio streaming platform. This brings a range of music services and playback options, including Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz (with their Connect variants), AirPlay, UPnP/DLNA, internet radio, CD, multi-room, AI-powered SuperSearch, Infinity Playback and enhanced album and artist metadata.

You can add more storage using the internal SSD slot, while over-the-air firmware updates allow new features to be added remotely in the future.

The Broen is out now, and costs £1995 / $2275 (around AU$3800). That’s a similar price to the Lumin U2 Mini to which we awarded five stars last year.

MORE:

What is a CD transport? Find out here

The best DACs to pair your transport with

DAC's not right: 7 mistakes to avoid with a DAC

Remember when tech used to get cheaper throughout its life span? Those were the glory days; but that all seems to be in the past now.

Apple is the latest company to hop on the trend of upping prices on its older products. It has just rolled out a fairly egregious swathe of updated pricing on its hi-fi and home cinema offerings; we think it’s fair to say that this is really not good news.

The Apple TV 4K now starts at £199 / $199 / AU$299 (originally £149 / $130 / AU$219) for the 64GB version, or £249 / $249 / AU$399 (originally £169 / $179 / $249) for the 128GB with ethernet. And this, we remind you, is the 2022 version, so it has been on the market for almost four years now.

The HomePod range hasn’t got off lightly either. The HomePod 2 now costs £349 / $349 / AU$549 – up from £299 / $299 / AU$479 – while the HomePod Mini (which launched in 2020 and hasn’t really been updated since) is now £129 / $129 / AU$199, up from £99 / $99 / AU$149.

There are price hikes across Apple’s iPad and Mac devices too.

The only products that appear to be mostly untouched are the iPhones and AirPods ranges; in fact, it looks like the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC have dropped by £10 for both models.

If you had been holding out in the hope of new models launching – rumours of a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod with a display have been circulating for years – you might be better off pulling the trigger and snapping up the current-gen models from the retailers that haven't yet caught on to the price increases.

We have rounded up the retailers from the UK, US and Australia that are still selling these products for their original prices at the time of writing.

There’s no guarantee that these original prices will stick around, or if they will be updated in the next couple of hours.

Apple TV 4K (2022)

Apple HomePod 2

Apple HomePod Mini

MORE:

Check out the best Prime Day deals on AV and hi-fi tech

Here are our picks for the best wireless speakers

As well as the best streaming devices

This isn’t my first Prime Day rodeo.

After covering more Amazon-led sales events than I care to count, I always bet on the company to discount its range of first-party AV devices, and for good reason, too.

The company practically always slashes the prices of its Fire TV range of devices, and my advice (even when reviewing them at full price) is to wait until a Prime Day or Black Friday sale to get the best deal.

In fact, during our Prime Day predictions roundup (spearheaded by our deals aficionado Daniel Furn), I said that I'd "eat my proverbial hat" if the Fire TV streaming sticks aren't heavily discounted.

Luckily for me, there will be no hat eating, as the Award-winning Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) is currently enjoying a pretty tasty discount.

Tongue twister of a name aside, this super-effective streamer offers up a simple proposition: you give it one of your TV’s HDMI sockets, and in return you get a pretty potent streaming upgrade.

We reviewed it at £70, making it one of the most affordable (if not the most affordable) products to enter our AV testing room, but you’ll find that price has been drastically reduced in the UK and the US.

We said that the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) “might just be the easiest no-brainer buy in the AV world,” in our full review, and with its price slashed in half, it somehow becomes even easier to recommend.

We approved of its detailed and rich picture, comprehensive coverage of all HDR formats, and impressive range of streaming apps on offer; it really is the full streaming package.

Our review highlights a "sharp and engaging picture", with excellent motion and a balanced approach to colours. It also sounds good, with a clear approach to dialogue, and music sounds warmer and more detailed compared to the competing Google TV Streamer.

Now, in an era of smart TVs, a dedicated streaming device may sound like a pointless recommendation. Still, we've found that you can get tangible picture and sound improvements by plugging in a dedicated streamer.

We've also tested plenty of projectors that don't have streaming platforms built in, and our advice to anyone suffering with a sluggish, older 4K TV who isn't ready to upgrade yet is to invest in a streaming stick (like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max) for a smoother experience.

At a discounted price of £40 on Amazon UK or $35 at Amazon US, this streamer is the perfect choice for those wanting a Prime Day treat without breaking the bank.

MORE:

Which Amazon Fire TV streamer should you buy?

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

Apple held its annual WWDC press conference last night, and while iOS, MacOS and iPadOS stole the limelight, tvOS was barely acknowledged.

Despite that, Apple has officially confirmed that tvOS 27 will launch this year, and it looks to be a bigger upgrade than we were expecting.

The focus this year is speed, which means your ageing Apple TV box – need we remind you that Apple last refreshed its Award-winning streaming box in 2022 – is about to get more responsive.

Apple claims that app opening speeds are expected to improve by 30 per cent, and animations are set to become smoother too. Control Centre is also becoming more responsive and connecting to other Apple devices, be that streaming content to your TV from an iPhone or outputting TV audio to HomePods, will also be faster.

Two key audio apps are getting upgrades as part of tvOS 27 as well. Apple Music receives a major boost in the form of Hi-Res Lossless (24-bit/192kHz) support and faster playback, and the Podcasts app is getting a full redesign for both audio and video podcasts playback.

General updates come in the form of better Apple HomeKit integration (ideal for smart home users), reduced app file sizes, support for smart downloads, and the ability to view Apple Care coverage in the settings app.

The upcoming tvOS 27 update is expected to launch later this year – Apple tends to launch its updates in September to coincide with the annual hardware launch event – and it will be supported on the second and third generation Apple TV 4K boxes.

This marks the end of support for the Apple TV HD from 2015, as well as the first-generation Apple TV 4K from 2017.

While it's encouraging to see Apple release an update that improves general performance on the current-generation Apple TV 4K, we hope that this new version of tvOS is laying the groundwork for the much-rumoured fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. The update is expected to launch later this year with the new Siri AI features coming with iOS 27.

MORE:

Check out our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

Here are our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best streaming services for TV shows and movies

If you’re looking to bring your hi-fi into the 21st century, Pro-Ject’s two new devices could be for you. The Stream Box E and Wireless Box E both add wi-fi to your hi-fi, letting you access the best music streaming services while also enabling multi-room functionality.

The Stream Box E (above) is the more feature-rich of the two. It’s a network streamer as well as a digital preamplifier, complete with volume control and inputs for external sources. It supports Qobuz, as well as direct streaming via Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. And like some previous Pro-Ject devices, it’s powered by the WiiM OS streaming platform.

The Stream Box E has three main uses: to add streaming services to an already amp-equipped hi-fi system; as a digital preamp, when paired with a power amplifier and pair of passive speakers; and adding streaming services and source switching to a pair of active speakers.

You can also hook up a turntable using the analogue input, so making your vinyl tunes available wirelessly.

The Wireless Box E is a bit more basic. It's a wireless receiver capable of sending audio to passive speakers. It is designed for use with Pro-Ject’s own speakers, but it will work with others that have a similar port layout. And if they don’t, you can buy the the Connect it LS-E Flex 0.3 m extension cable (price TBC).

This plugs into the rear of the speaker, as if it’s cadging a piggyback.

Each Wireless Box E has to be attached to a single speaker, so you will need two for a pair of speakers.

The Wireless Box E means you don’t have to run cables across the room or through walls in order to play music through more than one pair of passive speakers.

It too is powered by the WiiM OS streaming platform.

Both devices join the Uni Box S3 (which launched last summer) as part of Pro-Ject’s growing roster of streaming devices. That too runs on WiiM OS.

The Stream Box E is available now in black or silver for £159 (around $214 / AU$300). The Wireless Box E is out in late May for £199 (around $270 / AU$374) per unit – though remember you will need two for a pair of passive speakers.

MORE:

The best record players to use with them

Here's how to add a music streamer to your hi-fi system

It has taken more than six years, but we finally have two new Bluetooth turntables worth recommending

Cambridge Audio claims to have just made a five-star product even better. The CXN100 SE music streamer builds on the standard CXN100 we loved by adding an HDMI eARC port. That means you can connect it to your TV so anything you watch or stream – be it movies, sports, TV shows or games – plays through your hi-fi system.

Otherwise, it's the same product as the CXN100, with Cambridge Audio claiming the "same sound, streaming performance and design". Not that we're complaining. Just read our Cambridge Audio CXN100 review to see why.

Like the CXN100, the SE version is built around Cambridge Audio's fourth generation of its StreamMagic platform. That gives it a stacked skillset, including the Connect forms of Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz, along with support for Amazon Music, Roon Ready, Deezer and internet radio, plus Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Bluetooth.

It also boasts the same ESS ES9028Q2M SABRE32 Reference DAC, which was chosen for its "low distortion, wide dynamic range and natural presentation." And it supports 32-bit/192kHz hi-res audio over wi-fi or Ethernet.

Its other physical connections are USB, coaxial and optical digital inputs, while balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue outputs give the CXN100 SE extra flexibility.

The CXN100 SE is out in April in a limited edition black finish, and in June in lunar grey. Its launch price is the same as the standard CXN100 (in the UK, that is): £899 / $1099 / AU$1899.

It's not the only Cambridge Audio product getting the black finish treatment. The brand also announced a limited black run of its CXA81 Mk II integrated amplifier (above) and CXC CD transport. These are all part of the firm's CX Black range.

These devices are otherwise identical to their non-black versions, and sell for the same prices: £999 / $1199 / AU$1999 for the CXA81 Mk II, and £499 / $599 / AU$1099 for the CXC. Both models are out in April.

MORE:

Read our Cambridge Audio CXN100 review

And our Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II review

Our pick of the best stereo amplifiers money can buy

Apple has clearly been hard at work on a new range of products, as highlighted by its week of exciting launches, which included the iPhone 17e and iPad Air M4, alongside an extensive upgrade to its Mac range.

While computers aren’t necessarily our thing, even I can’t resist the charm of the MacBook Neo, which is the shining, affordable star in Apple's new lineup. I have been gazing longingly at the MacBook Neo on Apple’s website, and so smitten by it am I that I can almost forgive Apple for not launching a new streamer during its week of new releases… almost.

Truthfully, though, I still feel a tad bitter about getting excited for a new Apple TV 4K after more than three years of waiting, only for my hopes and dreams to be quashed.

What’s frustrating is that Apple’s new strategy of appealing to those who want the high-quality hardware and access to the iOS/iPadOS/MacOS ecosystem without spending an inordinate amount of money made me think about how it could apply this ethos to its AV products. And, of course, I mean specifically the Apple TV 4K.

Maybe, though, I have been wishing for the wrong Apple TV…

Redefine the entry level…

Apple is clearly strengthening its entry-level product portfolio. A cheap, fun and plenty powerful new MacBook, and an upgrade to the affordable and talented iPhone 16e prove this. So how about it introduces an affordable new Apple TV 4K?

In this instance, I feel as though Apple should look towards Amazon for inspiration in the affordable streaming space. While Amazon offers a flagship streamer in the form of the Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation, there are plenty of streaming options that cost far less.

Take the Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd Generation, which snatched the Product of the Year Award away from Apple last year, and continues to be a brilliant, affordable 4K streamer. We reviewed it at £70 / $60 / AU$120, but it is often on sale for well below that.

That’s a much easier price to swallow than the Apple TV 4K’s £149 / $130 / AU$219 asking price – and it is, of course, Amazon’s most expensive streaming stick.

If Apple were looking to apply its five-star streaming tech into a device that would appeal to entry-level markets, including students or those looking for a streaming stick for their bedroom or kitchen TV, a cheaper Apple TV 4K stick could be just the ticket.

A hypothetical Apple TV 4Ke or Apple TV 4K Neo would unquestionably capture the hearts of iPhone users who want the Apple ecosystem to extend to their TVs – and any way to get Apple’s excellent picture and sound into a cheaper device would be a dream come true for me.

It would fit right in to the new affordable ecosystem that Apple is building. The brand is also injecting some fun and colour into these budget ranges – take the vibrant Citrus or Blush pink MacBook Neo – and I wouldn't be opposed to a more fun streamer.

The Google Chromecast with Google TV (may it rest in peace) also came in a selection of colours, including pink, blue, and white; so a colourful Apple TV streamer wouldn't be remarkably left-field.

Of course, Apple is still keeping tight-lipped about anything to do with its AV products, so we'll have to wait and see what the next Apple TV 4K will look like… if it ever arrives.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K review

As well as our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

Apple's latest launch event has left me feeling blue, which, coincidentally, is one of the colours that the adorable-looking new MacBook Neo comes in.

While the reveals, which included the iPhone 17e, an upgraded iPad Air, and a slew of new MacBooks, all delivered some sort of appeal to me on a personal level, I really had my hopes high for at least one new AV-focused announcement.

Rumours of a new Apple TV 4K have been bubbling for months now, with speculation that a new Apple Intelligence-supporting model with an upgraded processor could be arriving towards the end of 2025.

2025, as we know, ended without a new Apple TV 4K to show for it, so you can imagine my excitement when Apple announced a barrage of launches to kick off 2026.

I've been refreshing the Apple Newsroom for days on end, hoping to see a new Apple TV 4K break cover; alas, it looks as though Apple has ended its first batch of product launches of 2026 with the (admittedly quite cool-looking) MacBook Neo.

That means no new Apple TV 4K, or any new HomePods, for that matter, will be launching this time around.

And Apple's AV lineup really could do with an update. The Apple TV 4K 2022 uses the same processor as the iPhone 13 (we've just reviewed the iPhone 17, by the way), and the HomePod Mini has dropped off our Awards list due to its age.

Speaking of which, it's been 1217 days since Apple launched the last TV 4K, 1126 days since the HomePod 2 launched, and an excruciating 1935 days since Apple revealed the HomePod Mini.

We're still waiting for new versions for all of these, and in truth, we're starting to think that we're going to be waiting for a long while to come.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best wireless speakers

And read our full iPad Air 13-inch (M3) review

iFi has unveiled its next generation of streamers and DACs. The Neo Stream 3 and Zen Stream 3 are both hi-res streamers that can free digital files from external hard drives and NAS drives, the former of which has a built-in DAC/amp. The Neo iDSD 3 is a standalone DAC/amp.

All three promise a host of improvements over what came before. In fact, iFi claims these models represent "a true generational leap in their capabilities."

We'll start with the Stream models. Both have upgraded polymer capacitors for cleaner low-noise power, while their ELNA Silmic II capacitors should make for a smoother treble and more refined listening experience.

Also onboard is iFi's new IoT hardware, which makes them easier to set up and update either through the web-based interface or the iFi Nexis app.

Like their predecessors, they have iFi's Exclusive Modes, which disable system processes that aren't in use while streaming to improve efficiency and reduce the potential for signal noise.

The S/PDIF outputs feature iPurifier2 tech, while the USB ports have active noise cancellation, to eliminate signal noise from external sources. The Neo Stream 3 takes this on a step with its OptiBox, which aims to eliminate noise from the wired network before it enters the system.

We're promised greater stability and a more intuitive interface from the latest version of iFi's streaming engine, which supports Qobuz Connect along with the Connect forms of Tidal and Spotify, plus AirPlay 2 and more.

The Neo Stream 3 serves as a one-stop shop modernisation upgrade for a hi-fi setup, thanks to its native 768kHz PCM and DSD512 support, plus its DAC stage which is built around a Burr-Brown chipset and is "guaranteed to extract the maximum performance from those formats."

The Zen Stream 3 brings native 384kHZ PCM and DSD256 support to a setup that already contains a DAC – handy if you don't want to swap yours out.

Both also feature JVCKenwood's K2 tech, which aims to restore harmonic content lost during the digitisation process to make digital music warmer, more nuanced and more musical. While the Zen Stream 3's standard K2 preserves the file's original resolution, the Neo Stream 3's more advanced K2HD tech upscales it to 192kHz/24-bit.

For the Neo iDSD 3 DAC/amp, iFi claims to have refocused the critical hardware at a component level to create greater musicality and playback accuracy. Its new amplifiers offer around 50 per cent less distortion, while upgraded polymer capacitors reduce power supply ripple. Higher frequencies should be smoothed out by the WIMA MKS2 caps.

It features the same K2HD tech as the Neo Stream 3 to add musicality to digital files.

The Neo iDSD 3 draws on the headphone amplification design of iFi's Diablo 2, with up to 2532mW RMS and over 5550mW max at 32 ohms. That's more than five times the maximum output of the first-generation Neo iDSD and 18 times that of the Zen DAC 3. It should be enough to drive a wide array of demanding headphones.

Wireless support comes in the form of Bluetooth 5.4, enabling codecs like aptX Lossless, LDAC and LHDC, among others.

Its DAC stage is built around a Burr-Brown chipset, and handles both PCM and DSD via dedicated paths. Customised code within the chipset should unlock ultra-resolution, PCM768kHz/DSD512 playback, while data handling is managed in such a way to ensure "natural dynamics and exceptional low-level linearity."

You can also personalise the sound using iFi's analogue processing tools, for example by emphasising the bass or midrange. The XSpace setting will create a more spacious soundstage, making your headphones sound more like a pair of speakers.

The 3.5mm headphone input has been replaced by an RCA line-in for hooking up a turntable with built-in phono stage or an external phono preamp. You can adjust the brightness of the power LED to better suit your living space, and you can control the iDSD 3 using iFi's Nexis mobile app.

The Zen Stream 3 is the cheapest of the bunch, costing £399 (around $540 / AU$760). The Neo Stream 3 and Neo iDSD 3 both cost £999 (around $1300 / AU$1900).

MORE:

Read our iFi Zen DAC V2 review

Here are all our favourite music streamers you can buy

Which music streaming service is best for you?

It's been 1219 days since Apple announced the current version of the Apple TV 4K.

Since then, the five-star streamer has won four What Hi-Fi? Awards (including three coveted Product of the Year Awards), and it fended off competition from the likes of the Amazon Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation and Google TV Streamer.

On a personal level, the Apple TV 4K (2022) is one of my favourite AV products on the market, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to get the very best streaming picture from their 4K TV. The same can be said for audio, in which the Apple TV 4K is best in class based on our testing.

The slick user interface that ditches ads is, of course, the cherry on top. So what could a next-generation model bring to ensure a meaningful upgrade over the highly coveted existing model?

There are three things on my wishlist, and while they're not huge asks, they would take my excitement for this upcoming streamer to a whole new level.

More processing power

The most prominent rumour surrounding the supposed 2026 Apple TV 4K is that it will feature a much newer processor compared to the chipset found in the current model.

The Apple TV 4K (2022) features the A15 Bionic processor, which can also be found in the iPhone 14; however, insiders and rumours seem to be mostly pointing towards this being replaced by the A17 Pro from iPhone 15 Pro Max.

That might not sound like a huge upgrade, but considering that the A17 Pro chip gave the iPhone 15 Pro the ability to play console-quality games and access Apple Intelligence, it could be the perfect fit for the new Apple TV 4K.

Furthermore, this processor has recently found a home in the latest iPad Mini, meaning Apple clearly deems it to be powerful and future-proof enough to feature it in newer products.

HDMI passthrough

The Amazon Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation is far from a perfect streamer, but it does have one feature that I think every streaming box should accommodate; that being an HDMI passthrough socket.

Considering many will choose a streaming box to completely bypass their TV's built-in operating system, it would be nice for Apple to add a passthrough socket so users can select another input device – a games console or 4K Blu-ray player, for example – directly from the rather lovely, ad-free tvOS home page.

This will, of course, require Apple to tweak the chassis of the TV 4K, though we should remember that it has done this before. Despite looking similar, the latest and previous generation boxes sport different dimensions, with the newer model removing the fan and shrinking the casework slightly.

As for the port-selection, Apple already offers two different options for the TV 4K. The 64GB version only includes power and HDMI connections, whereas the 128GB model adds an Ethernet socket.

An additional HDMI socket may be a bridge too far, and could result in a bulkier box, but considering the current model is already fairly petite and non-obtrusive in my media unit, I'd take a bigger box for added functionality.

A new (but still premium) remote

If there's one thing I truly do love about the Apple TV 4K, it’s the premium aluminium remote. Compared to the plastic handsets found on the Google TV Streamer or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd Generation, the Siri Remote blows them clean out of the water thanks to its luxurious feel and satisfyingly clicky buttons.

And I couldn't forget about the capacitive swipe-enabled touchpad at the top of the remote. If you're a fan of the old iPod click wheels, then this interface should feel right at home, and it works a treat to scroll through the tvOS interface.

That all being said, I'd love for Apple to take things up a notch with the next-generation TV 4K. A motion-activated backlight would be a nice touch, and a customisable shortcut button that I could assign to a streaming app of my choice would be a bonus, too.

Currently, the TV button on the Siri Remote can only be customised to either take you to the Apple TV app or the home screen.

Only time will tell if Apple decides to finally launch a new streamer at its "special Apple Experience" on the 4th of March. While my hopes are high, I've been let down by many Apple Events before.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

And here are the best OLED TVs

Hands up if you're sick of receiving emails from streaming services with a subject line referencing "pricing updates".

I've lost track of how many times I've reported on or read about subscription prices creeping up, and I fear that I'll be doing the same throughout 2026. Frustration from viewers is mounting, too, so what's the solution?

According to Manhattan's COO, Alex Arbab-Zadeh, it's the company's latest streaming box; well, more specifically, it's what the streaming box can do.

The Aero 4K TV Streamer was officially revealed last week, and I had the chance to attend the launch and get a better understanding of what it offers.

Streaming hardware is a crowded market after all, and there are huge international players such as Apple, Google and Amazon all vying for a place in your media unit. So how does this plucky British streamer stack up?

Well, I was sold on the concept by a single quote from Alex Arbab-Zadeh. Upon revealing the Aero 4K, he stated that "you can buy the box and never pay a penny for content again".

This is because the Aero 4K not only offers access to the free TV streaming platform Freely but also uses the TiVo operating system, which features an abundance of free shows and movies via the TiVo+ service.

In fact, Manhattan claims that TiVo+ offers over 400 streaming channels and on-demand content options, while Freely offers 70 of its own channels, plus the range of content available on the existing terrestrial streaming apps.

That's a lot of content for not a lot of money; well, no money if we're being pedantic. Now, if we're being realistic, the volume of high-quality productions may not be as high as the likes of Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video, but TiVo+ highlights that it does stream content from some major franchises.

You do, of course, have to put up with ads, but that's to be expected, and the TiVo OS platform does support plenty of paid streaming apps such as Netflix and Disney Plus if needed.

In fact, I think that's where the Aero 4K will hit its stride as a streamer. It's all about options; there is the free content on board that can supplement the paid services, and it might inspire those who are tired of pricey monthly subscriptions to cut back now that they can supplement the services they wish to keep with an abundance of free content.

We've not really seen a streaming box like this; the Award-winning Apple TV 4K expects you to cough up if you want to stream anything other than the free-to-access apps mentioned above, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)'s FreeVee free streaming platform is a bit of a mess right now, as it's in the process of being integrated into Amazon Prime Video.

With interest growing around free, ad-supported streaming, just look at Samsung's commitment to its expansive TV Plus platform; it's easy to see the appeal of the Aero 4K. However, only time will tell whether it will be equally impressive when it comes to picture and sound quality.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best streaming services for movies and TV shows

And here are the best TVs

British manufacturer Manhattan TV has announced the Aero 4K TV, and it's swapping aerial-based Freeview for a more modern live TV solution.

As the name suggests, it will allow users to watch content from their favourite services in 4K, and the company has confirmed that it also supports HDR10, HLG and HDR10+. Dolby Vision is, unfortunately, not supported, but Dolby Atmos passthrough thankfully is.

The Aero 4K's main draw is that it supports Freely, which lets you stream over 60 live TV channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 over wi-fi.

While Freely is already supported on TVs from a handful of manufacturers, including Panasonic and Hisense, Manhattan cites research from YouGov, which claims that "over 70% of Samsung and LG users want Freely on their next TV" (from a sample size of 2,149 participants)

The Aero 4K hopes to step in, allowing users to access the internet broadcasting service without having to fully replace their TV.

Furthermore, the TiVo operating system allows users to access a wide range of international streaming apps, including Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video.

On top of that, TiVo is offering its own internet streaming channels via TiVo+, which features over 400 streaming channels and a selection of on-demand shows and movies, all of which are free to watch.

All of this can be navigated using TiVo's voice control system (as well as the included remote), and Manhattan claims that the Aero 4K is "simple to set up and easy to use".

It's rare to see a streamer offer users a free content library this extensive, and this is where Manhattan likely hopes to edge out competitors such as the Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation) and the aforementioned Apple TV 4K.

The Aero 4K undercuts both of those options when it comes to pricing, too. It's set to launch at a wide number of UK retailers in February for £69.99.

MORE:

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Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) review

Here are our picks for the best TV streaming devices

TEAC's Reference 500 Series continues to grow. The Japanese brand added the PD-507T CD transport only last month, but already it has been joined by the NT-507T network transport (a streamer without a built-in DAC). The new NT-507T is intended as a companion to the brand's UD-507 DAC/preamp, though it will work with other digital-to-analogue converters equipped with USB ports.

Inside is TEAC's proprietary Network Engine G4, which is a “high-end processing platform developed specifically for audio streaming applications.” Because it's designed from the ground up rather than using off-the-shelf components, TEAC claims it will prioritise signal integrity and timing accuracy. That, coupled with the large linear power-supply in place of switching circuits, should result in less noise and a more dynamic, natural and fluid sound that more closely resembles that of vinyl.

The high-fidelity USB output has its own power supply, providing “bit-perfect audio streaming” to an external DAC. This port also supports the DSD 22.5 MHz and PCM 768 kHz / 32 bit formats.

It plays nice with OpenHome-compatible apps such as TEAC HR Streamer, letting you control the volume of connected USB DACs or preamplifiers straight from your smart device. And it supports the usual streaming suspects such as Qobuz, Spotify, Tidal (including Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect) and TuneIn. It's also Roon Ready for integrating advanced multi-room systems and hi-res playback. And it doubles as a NAS server thanks to its two USB ports.

As well as the USB ports, you get plenty of network connectivity options, including Ethernet RJ45, SFP optical input and Wi-Fi 6.

The build is also engineered for sound quality. The semi-floating 2.8mm aluminium top panel suppresses vibrations and enhances tonal clarity, while the stressless isolation feet provide a clear focus, a natural timbre, and refined musical texture, according to TEAC.

The NT-507T comes in silver or black, and is out in December for £1799 / $2500 / €1799 (around AU$3800). One for the Christmas list.

MORE:

Check out the best music streamers

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The best video streamers category has ballooned from a single winner last year to a whopping three this year. All jokes aside, we're pleased to see a budget pick return to this category, as the Apple TV 4K (2022) spent a year on its own after the discontinuation of the Google Chromecast with Google TV.

Now, with company from Amazon and Sky by its side, the Apple TV 4K is once again amidst some Award-winning company. Despite being over three years old at this point, it remains on the list as Apple is yet to unveil a successor despite the escalating rumours of a new model launching this year.

That being said, it's still a great streamer for all-round picture and sound performance, offering a crisp, rich and sharp picture which supports both Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+. It's stood the test of time and fended off competitors such as the Google TV Streamer to remain as our best video streamer over £100.

A superb streaming stick for half the price

For those who are looking for a top-notch streaming experience under £100, we direct you towards the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation). The name is a mouthful, but the performance speaks for itself, as the picture is nicely balanced and it supports all of the same HDR formats as the Apple TV 4K.

It's feature-packed, too, with a superb selection of apps that covers the mainstream and niche options for all kinds of movie and TV fans. And while Fire OS is a bit ad-heavy for our liking, we can't deny that it's come on leaps and bounds over the years to become a pretty intuitive system to use.

This plug-and-play solution is an easy and cheap way to upgrade your 4K streaming experience, whether you're replacing your TV's built-in operating system or breathing new life into an ageing 4K TV.

Sky Stream dethrones a long-running favourite

Here's a new contender in the video streamers category. We finally felt that it was time to let Sky Q go, as the service nears its 10th anniversary and with Sky Stream now being the company's main focus when it comes to delivering Sky TV to the masses.

This plucky little puck has been moved to the video streamers category, as it's an internet-enabled streaming device that allows users to stream live TV without the need for a dish to be affixed to their house. It also features a wide array of streaming apps built in, including Netflix, which is included in the monthly subscription price; nifty.

Much like the Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV 4K Max, it also supports Disney Plus, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and many, many more apps and services. This is bolstered by Sky's huge content library, which includes a wide array of blockbuster movies, TV shows and sports programming depending on your subscription level.

Picture and sound quality are on par with Sky Q from our experience and testing, with a sharp 4K experience on the various TVs we tested with it. HD content, in fact, often looks better on Sky Glass, as it forgoes the relatively higher amount of compression that's present on Sky Q.

A more versatile streaming box that's virtually plug-and-play seals the deal for us; henceforth, we bestow Sky Stream with the best TV subscription title.

Of course, only one member of this trio of streamers will take home to coveted Product of the Year title, but which one will it be?

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Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as our full Google TV Streamer review

It has hardly been a month since Apple launched its flashy new iPhone 17 line of smartphones, and yet its website is now littered with new products all sporting a new M5 chipset.

That includes a new edition of the Tandem OLED-touting iPad Pro. And that's certainly a cause for celebration even if the new Vision Pro and MacBook Pro are less of interest to us AV enthusiasts.

Either way, I'm disappointed by the announcements Apple didn't make. You see, the company's final launch window of the year tends to be in October, where it has, in previous years, launched fresh Macs and iPads.

Curiously, it opted not to live-stream this announcement and instead quietly unloaded the new products onto its website with fairly minimal fanfare.

With that in mind, I've had to face a difficult truth: I probably won't be getting a new Apple TV 4K this year, will I?

After an onslaught of rumours that claim that Apple is ready to launch a new version at any moment, and with the current Award-winning model hitting its third anniversary in three days, I really thought that the Apple TV 4K 2025 would break cover this month.

Apple even updated its streaming service recently, changing its name and giving it a "vibrant new identity" – convincing me it was primed to launch a new contender for our best streaming devices list.

While I'm about ready to throw the towel in, it turns out not all might be lost. According to reputable Apple insider and Bloomberg Editor Mark Gurman (via 9to5Mac), Apple may be doing a double-drop of new products this week.

He successfully predicted that the M5 MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and Vision Pro would launch this week, and he also referenced a new Apple TV 4K, HomePod Mini and AirTag 2 on that list.

Therefore, with half of that list being announced today, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Apple could drop another bunch of devices later this month, or even later this year.

Ultimately, I'm where I started – waiting in Apple TV 4K limbo, though I do have a pinch of hope that my waiting will be rewarded soon.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

As well as our Google TV Streamer review

And our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) review

• We rank the best TV streamers

Prime Day might be over, but there's a great deal to be had on Amazon's 4K streamer. The Fire TV Stick 4K is down to just £25 at Amazon – a discount of 57 per cent (or £34). That's its lowest price ever.

But you'd better be quick. This deal ends at 11.59pm tonight.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 2nd gen best ever price

This model boasts a quicker 1.7GHz processor than its predecessor, making it 30 per cent faster. And it supports Wi-Fi 6 for smoother streaming (though you will need a compatible router to see the benefit). Like its predecessor, it supports all four formats of HDR (Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10 and HDR10 Plus) as well as Dolby Atmos for more immersive audio with virtual height channels.

As the name suggests, it's equipped for 4K visuals.

The Alexa Voice Remote lets you control it by speaking, and it can control your TV, soundbar and AV receiver too.

The Fire TV operating system gives you access to all the major streaming apps, including Prime Video (but of course), Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, BBC iPlayer and Paramount+.

The Xbox app lets you play console-quality games without a dedicated games machine. Plus you can control your other smart home devices using the Alexa voice control.

We haven't reviewed this model yet, but the previous model picked up a five-star review along with a What Hi-Fi? Award to boot. Considering the similarities to the old model, we would bet this model performs very well indeed.

It's up against some tough competition in the form of the Google TV Streamer, which earned four stars from us. But given that the Fire TV Stick 4K is a quarter of the price, this will be an easy decision for many.

You can pick it up for £25 at Amazon until 11.59pm tonight, so don't delay.

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Which Amazon Fire TV Stick should you buy in 2025?

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs Google Chromecast with Google TV: which is better?

Forget Spotify Lossless vs Tidal vs Qobuz vs Apple Music vs every man and his dog. If you’re as old as I am, you’ll remember a time when the big fight for music fans’ attention was Apple iPod vs Zune. Sure it was a short-lived fight and very one sided, but I was there, man – it happened.

And in that fight, early on Zune had the technical advantage, with its players being the first to have colour screens, offer higher storage capacities and the ability to “squirt” (wireless share) music between devices. But, longer term, we all know who ultimately won the war.

For many of us, the silver bullet that won us over wasn’t a fancy big iPod, it was the tiny, colourful iPod Nano – a device many of us back in the day went so far as to describe as “totes fetch”. Google / ChatGPT it kids, some people (idiots) actually spoke like that back in the noughties.

Editor’s note: There’s a reason everyone hates my generation. I also want to take the time to apologise personally for low-rise jeans and Indie sleaze.

Smaller, made with flash memory to improve its durability, and offering good at the time audio quality, the tiny player was a staple sight wherever you went. We gave later models, including the iPod Nano 8GB and iPod Nano (7th Gen) five-star ratings – which we didn’t bestow upon a lot of players at the time.

But since smartphones dethroned portable players as the most common way most people play music, times have changed and streaming has become the norm.

This, of course, has its advantages. The subscription model means you have a huge library of music a mere tap away and don’t have to hoard pile upon pile of physical media. I still have two boxes full of Mini Discs in my attic and God knows how many crates of CDs and vinyl stashed away at my parents' place.

But it has also brought one unintended consequence I have gradually come to hate as I’ve walked further down the road into cantankerous old man territory: that, in most instances, I need to be “online” and have my phone with me when listening to music.

Yes you can locally download music on most services, but unless you’re in a black zone with zero signal, most of the time you still have your phone with you.

That means, if you’re like me, you are contactable and will engage with your favourite apps (I’ve got a really good thing going with TikTok right now where I have trained it to show me just red-panda and cat related content) or respond to that out of hours Slack message from work.

I know I shouldn’t but, if my phone is in the immediate vicinity, I will, even if I have snoozed notifications – I just can’t help myself.

And that’s a problem as I love listening to music as a way to chill out and traditionally use it as a way to switch off.

Which is why for many moons I have secretly yearned for a very specific portable player from Apple that would serve the same purpose as the iPod Nano I loved so much as a sprog: an Apple Watch capable of hi-res music playback.

Yes, I know that sounds weird. But stay with me and I’m hoping the idea will make more sense.

I love music, but I like it to sound good and retain decent levels of detail, offer solid dynamics and generally sound as the artist recorded it. You don't get that with a low-quality source.

That’s why I have always used Tidal, even when streaming, and am very specific about which recordings I listen to, especially with jazz, classical and post rock – the three genres I generally like to chill out to.

But, I also hate having loads of different devices to lug around. I like my pockets to be a barren landscape free of any superfluous items. Which is why a large dedicated portable player, from the likes of Astell & Kern, iFi or Sony has never appealed.

So my big three criteria for a portable music player are that it must work offline, offer hi-res, good quality file / codec support and be something I have to hand all the time without thinking about it.

The current-generation Apple Watches don’t have hi-res support, with all the ones I have tested or seen limiting you to lower-quality local downloads and streams due to the device’s storage and processing limitations.

If you added hi-res support to its specifications, though, an Apple Watch would tick all of those boxes.

I wear a watch all the time, so it would be with me wherever I went. But the non LTE versions require a connection to a phone to let any of the apps distract me. So if I went offline and took a “switch off” trip to my local pub or park minus my phone to enjoy some uninterrupted music listening, I wouldn't be contactable or have access to TikTok (God help me I love the red pandas).

And, with Tidal offering local playback and the ability to download music at the service’s High, or ideally Max (24-bit, 192 kHz) tier, I could still enjoy good music at a suitably hi-res quality for me to enjoy the experience with a decent set of wireless cans (I’m currently rocking the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my daily drivers) when I want a “switch off” listening session away from the noise.

Yes there would still be compression as I'm using wireless headphones and yes the quality and volume of local storage, alongside other hardware upgrades, required would ramp up the price.

But I can't help but want a hi-res-ready Apple Watch; it makes so much sense for my very specific needs. Sadly though, given Apple’s recent focus on AI during its latest launch event, where we saw the iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra S3 and SE3 appear, I don’t think I’ll be getting my wish any time soon.

Still, here's hoping…

Let me know if you agree the Apple Watch would be better with hi-res playback in the comments or our social media channels and forums!

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Why do I keep doing this to myself? An Apple Event approaches, I get swept up in the rumours that a new Apple TV 4K could be making its long-awaited appearance, and then I'm left bitterly disappointed when CEO, Tim Cook, draws the event to a close with not so much as a mention of one.

That has, of course, happened yet again with tonight's "Awe Dropping" Apple Event, which saw the announcement of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air and AirPods Pro 3, but no new Apple TV.

While I am undoubtedly disappointed, the truth is that I had prepared myself for this let down, though my patience is beginning to run dry. It's been three years since we've seen a new Apple TV 4K, and I'm shocked that Apple hasn't found the incentive to update the streamer.

First of all, the Apple TV 4K (2022) features the same processor as the iPhone 13, meaning it's getting a bit long in the tooth. It's too old to support Apple Intelligence, which is something that Apple is really pushing on all of its iPhones, iPads and Macs. So I'm surprised to see that the company has made no effort to incorporate the AI suite into its Apple TV 4K streaming box.

AI content suggestions and recognition are rampant across the AV landscape, with Samsung imbuing its TVs with Vision AI, while Google has added Gemini to its Google TV platform and Google TV Streamer.

With Apple playing catch-up in the AI race, it's possible that it's not ready to add Apple Intelligence to its new streamer, but a processor upgrade for snappier performance feels like a no-brainer either way.

Picture and sound performance are, of course, paramount, and that's what I want to see upgraded most in a new model. I reviewed the last generation of the Award-winning streamer, testing it side-by-side with the last generation, finding that while Apple didn't advertise it, the newer generation model was noticeably better in this regard.

Therefore, it's only natural to assume that a newer generation Apple TV 4K should take a further step up in picture and sound fidelity. That's why I'm most disappointed that Apple hasn't released an improved version of the streamer.

Maybe I'm asking for too much, the current model is a serial Award-winner and still our top choice for the best streaming devices after all. But the concept of a more powerful streamer with better picture and sound credentials is taunting me, and I just don't know when, or if, Apple will deliver it any time soon.

MORE:

Read our full Google TV Streamer review

And our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

Here are our picks for the best OLED TVs

If you are a subscriber to any of the major streaming services out there, you will most likely have noticed that there has been a crackdown on password sharing outside of households.

Disney Plus, for example, automatically sets up a 'Household' for your account based on the devices you use and your 'primary residence'. So if you try to login from a different place, it will ask you to verify your account using a one-time passcode.

That makes it much trickier to share your account with multiple people, especially when you have family members not living in the same place.

And, with the new university year starting back up again very soon, you might be wondering how to get your child access without having to create a brand-new account.

Luckily, we have spotted a nifty solution that could save you a few bucks as well.

Some streaming services offer an Extra Member feature where you can add another user for a lower price than creating a separate profile, all with access to the same video and audio quality as you.

With Disney Plus, adding this extra will cost £4 / $7 per month if you have the Standard with Ads account (note that this tier is not available in Australia) , and £5 / $10 / AU$8 for both Standard and Premium subscription. This is quite the saving when you consider that the Premium account subscription will set you back £13 / $16 / AU$18 per month.

There are some caveats to be aware of, as there always is with these things. You can only have one Extra Member, and they must live in the same country as the account holder.

Netflix offers a similar feature and if you have the Premium subscription you can add up to two extra members costing £5 / $9 / AU$8 each per month.

So, if you are looking for a way to give your kid the best streaming experience possible while away from home without forking out a load of extra cash, this could be the way to go.

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Google might have killed the Chromecast, but you can now buy a very similar alternative with a lot of the same features, and for about £20 less than the Chromecast's original asking price.

The Thomson Go Cast 150 has just gone on sale. It runs the Google TV operating system and plugs into your TV's HDMI socket, both like the Chromecast. It also looks very similar to the Chromecast, with its white pebble-style design.

It too offers 4K HDR visuals (though only in HDR10, not Dolby Vision, which the Chromecast supports). But Dolby Atmos audio is supported.

Because it has Google TV onboard, it's fully stocked with apps, including Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+.

Inside is 2GB RAM and 8GB of storage. It supports wi-fi and Bluetooth as standard.

The Go Cast 150 also costs €50 (about £43 / $58 / AU$90). Which is a lot cheaper than the Google TV Streamer, which is Google's replacement for the Chromecast with Google TV.

Obviously its performance likely won't match Google's pricier model. But if you're missing the Chromecast, and want a cheap streamer with Google TV and a lot of the same features, this Thomson model could be worth a look.

MORE:

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Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: which is better?

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but the Apple TV 4K really is a great streamer. Sure, it's geared more towards those already within the Apple ecosystem, but we can't deny its sensational picture and sound credentials.

On top of that, we think it has the best operating system out of all the streaming platforms. Advertisements are practically nonexistent, and the clean, simple home screen isn't bogged down with clutter such as 'suggested content' that, in reality, all too often has nothing to do with your interests or viewing habits.

The only issue I have is that it's been three years since we've seen a new model, despite countless rumours hinting that Apple is indeed working on one. I'm getting tired of waiting.

Thankfully, we're getting closer and closer to Apple's huge annual hardware (iPhone) event, which usually takes place in September. This is where we expect to see the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro break cover, and potentially even the heavily rumoured iPhone 17 Air.

Furthermore, Apple often takes this opportunity to launch iPhone-adjacent products, such as new Apple Watches and AirPods. That's why I have my hopes set high for a new Apple TV 4K announcement this year.

Reliable Apple-focused publication MacRumours seems to think I could be in luck, as it has just reported on some leaked Apple code that mentions a new Apple TV 4K with an A17 Pro processor.

This processor was first featured on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and has recently found a new home in the refreshed iPad Mini 7th Generation. Interestingly, that chipset supports Apple Intelligence, so we could see Apple introduce AI on the latest edition of the streamer.

Google recently took this approach by infusing the Google TV Streamer with the power of its Gemini AI platform, so we could see Apple take a similar approach. But that's about all we've heard about the rumoured streamer for now.

So, what would I like to see in a brand new Apple TV for 2025?

Here's what I want to see on the next-gen Apple TV 4K...

First and foremost, I'd like to see another step up in picture and sound quality.

The difference between the 2nd Generation and 3rd Generation Apple TV 4Ks wasn't night and day, but as is often the case, there were a handful of subtle changes that made the newer version of the streamer even better than before.

A big issue with the current generation model, and one I wasn't aware of until FlatpanelsHD brought it to my attention, is the lack of HDR10+ support on Netflix.

This is a recent change, as the streamer has only adopted the format in the last couple of months, but a hardware limitation prevents the current Apple TV 4K from decoding the dynamic HDR format on content from the popular streaming service.

This is due to Netflix attaching HDR10+ to its programming via the AV1 codec, which was created by the AOMedia alliance, of which Apple is a member.

Despite the Apple TV 4K being able to decode the AV1 codec at a software level, it doesn't have the capability to do it at a hardware level, preventing it from displaying Netflix content in HDR10+.

This, of course, only affects a small subset of Apple TV 4K users that have the streamer connected to a Samsung TV, as they don't support Dolby Vision. Got all that?

That being said, it feels like an easy upgrade for the next version of the streamer, and well worth doing, as I'm sure we'll see more upgrades come via the AV1 codec in the future.

My other wish would be for Apple to bundle an improved remote control in the box.

Now, I'm already a fan of the premium metal-clad handset with its clicky buttons and capacitive touch pad for touch controls, but it's not entirely perfect.

Backlit buttons would be a fantastic addition and while I do like the touch pad, I find that it can be a bit fiddly for media controls, which is why I'd appreciate some dedicated fast-forward and rewind buttons.

We still don't know if we're getting a new Apple TV 4K this year, but if we do, I hope it comes with these small but significant upgrades. I've got my fingers tightly crossed for a reveal next month.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best streaming services for movies and TV shows

Freely is expanding its streaming offerings with a “simple and affordable” puck that gives you access to live and on-demand TV on televisions that do not have the platform built-in.

The free streaming platform gives you access to a range of different streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and PBS America.

It was launched on a variety of next-generation smart TVs in April last year, providing access to over 40 channels without the need for an aerial dish or wires. That includes models from the likes of Hisense, Panasonic, and TCL.

This should allow audiences to ‘plug-in and stream’ live and on-demand TV all in one place.

Freely has teamed up with French entertainment technology company Netgem as its device partner. It says the puck is a “small and modern device” that will provide a “seamless and intuitive user experience.”

The device will include the same interface as seen on Freely Smart TVs, including a TV Guide with seven-day forward and backwards functionality, plus the ability to bookmark your favourite shows.

CEO at Everyone TV, Jonathan Thompson, said, “Freely was created to make free TV work for everyone. Expanding to ‘plug-in and stream’ devices is an important and natural next step to ensure even more homes can enjoy the full Freely experience without the need for a TV upgrade or paid subscription.”

We don’t yet know how much the puck will cost, but we are expecting to get more information in the coming months.

With more pricey competitors such as Sky Stream and Apple TV 4K also on the market, Freely’s first streaming puck could be a great alternative for those on a budget looking for a simple, straightforward offering.

It’s set to come out later this year, and we’ll keep you updated.

MORE:

Here are the best streaming devices

This is our review of Apple TV 4K

I’ve tried Freely: here are five things I like and three things that could be improved

US hi-fi manufacturer Cary Audio has unveiled its latest streaming amplifier, the DMS-300A. Adding to the brand's established DMS range, the high-end streaming amp promises to "bring the best of both worlds together" – streaming and amplification – in a "sleek, powerful package".

The DMS-300A offers 75 watts per channel of Class A/B amplification into 8 ohms. Designed and manufactured in the United States, the new unit promises to deliver a "rich, dynamic sound" with plenty of musical realism.

In terms of its streaming capabilities, the DMS-300A is capable of handling hi-res PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz, as well as DSD512.

It is also compatible with a wide variety of streaming services and platforms. Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect are all supported, along with Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth with aptX codec support.

The high-end streaming amp has UPnP and DLNA compatibility, meaning it will be able to access your digital music files stored on NAS drives or laptops on the same network.

It also has Roon Ready certification.

In terms of physical connectivity options, the new streaming amp offers coaxial and optical digital outputs, as well as coaxial and optical inputs and three USB-A ports. Three line-level inputs and a 3.5mm stereo jack are also available.

The Cary Audio DMS-300A is available now in either black or silver finishes, priced at $5995 (further prices and availability pending).

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For more than a decade, video streamers have done the AV gods’ work, giving TV watchers and movie fans an easy and affordable way to bless their TV with access to the latest video streaming services and technologies.

In doing so, they’ve made ‘dumb’ TVs (those without network connectivity) smart, and filled the gaps in the streaming service app offerings of smart TVs.

But in 2025, are even the best streaming devices still relevant?

After all, almost all of the TVs launched in recent years are powered by a smart streaming platform – Samsung uses Tizen, LG developed its own webOS, and Google TV is found in Sony, Philips and TCL sets.

And nowadays these platforms tend to be increasingly sophisticated with few (if any!) gaps. So why would you want to buy a separate, dedicated streamer?

Well, they still do have their uses, hence why Amazon, Apple, Google and Roku – the major players in the game – are still pumping out new models.

Indeed, Google went as far as rebranding its device, moving away from the iconic Chromecast label, when it released the Google TV Streamer earlier this year; Apple is expected to launch a new TV 4K streamer by the end of the year; and Amazon and Roku have as many as four streaming players in each of their current lineups.

Streaming devices > smart TVs

Firstly, while holes in TV offerings are generally closing, app and technology support isn’t consistent across them all, and some do remain.

Not every platform has the Apple TV+ app and AirPlay functionality, for one – a bit of a bummer for users of iOS devices and Apple’s video service, perhaps. And while the premium models from the bigger TV manufacturers nowadays pretty much tick every expected box, it isn’t unusual to come across a TV elsewhere that misses something.

For example, we noted in our 2025 TCL C855K review that “UK catch-up services are limited and the TV doesn’t have Freely or dedicated apps for BBC iPlayer and the like,” while, more bizarrely, the Netflix app on the ​​Sony Bravia 8 II we reviewed last month appeared to top out at 5.1 audio rather than Dolby Atmos.

Secondly, older smart TVs that still have many years of servicing their owners left may not support the latest technologies – the version of the Netlflix app supporting Dolby Atmos, say – or could have even lost app support due to a manufacturer simply ending support or losing a partnership with a service provider. A new streamer with all the modern-day bells and whistles could plug that gap.

Thirdly and finally, you have the boost in picture and sound performance that a video streamer generally brings over a TV’s built-in apps, although differences naturally depend on the quality of the streaming device as well as the TV you own.

That makes sense when you consider that the processing is done in a dedicated device that, unlike a TV, doesn’t have to juggle a multitude of other tasks.

It also tends to be the case that video streamer manufacturers will put more effort into ensuring the audio and video quality is sound.

The premium Apple TV 4K, for example, delivers a clear improvement, with Apple having tuned the sound to be notably rich and detailed. The Apple box can also detect the frame rate and dynamic range of the content you’re watching on it – HDR10 in 60Hz, say – and force your TV into the best mode to deliver that.

Is it enough to secure their future?

OK, so you have generally better picture and sound than you would get via a TV’s app integration – marginal in some cases, more significant in others. And then a hole-plugging role for certain TVs. Is that it?

In a word, yes. Today, streamers are clearly still relevant for the right – arguably niche – consumer and set-up. But for how long?

TV manufacturers are increasingly partnering with specialist streaming platforms to power their smart user experience for comprehensive and consistent offerings. Amazon’s Fire OS, for example, is now baked into the company’s Omni-series QLED and Mini LED TVs, as well as (from 2024) Panasonic’s OLED TVs.

And, in line with the natural evolution of progress, you would hope that any remaining gaps on such platforms, and those in other smart TV operating systems, will close in the near future, shunting streaming devices even closer to the sidelines.

The Apple TV 4K box is a bit of an outlier with its unique performance gains, access to iTunes Movies and support of spatial audio – all things you pay a premium for, of course, with the box costing £149 / $130 / AU$219.

But the sell for Roku, Amazon and Google may become tougher, despite their kinder price tags. Google perhaps recognises this, hence why it has positioned its latest streamer as a more premium proposition.

Indeed, it has hiked up the price to £99 / $100 / AU$160 and attempted to justify that by transitioning it from a dongle to a box and expanding its traditional streaming duties with ever-advancing AI functionality, plus a whole lot of smart home features thanks to the inclusion of both Matter and Thread – which, as we note in our review, is “a boon for those who have invested in smart plugs, lightbulbs and doorbells”.

Again, handy for the right customer – but for the mainstream market, who probably has all or most of what they need in their TV, or can get it more affordably elsewhere?

As the popularity of single-bar soundbars and one-box speakers shows, the consumer electronics world is riding the ‘less (fewer) is more’ approach when it comes to device count, and the expected continued evolution of smart TV integration could seriously threaten their future relevancy and, consequently, existence.

MORE:

Best streaming devices 2025: smart TV sticks and boxes chosen by our experts

Welcome to What Hi-Fi?’s Home Cinema Week! Read our AV-tastic news, features and reviews

After hours of measuring, I have come to the conclusion that full-fat Dolby Atmos doesn't work in normal homes

Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon, and there's one deal at the top of my wish list.

The savings event will officially kick off on the 8th of July, with deals on a range of hi-fi, AV and home cinema gear expected. However, it's one of Amazon's own products that I'm keeping my eye on.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which sits at the top of Amazon's incredibly popular streaming stick range, just scored five stars in our recent review. For the money, it's our top pick for those looking for an upgrade over their TV's built-in streaming apps, or for anyone with an older 4K TV that features outdated software.

At £70, it undercuts rivals such as the Apple TV 4K and Google TV Streamer, but I reckon we'll see an even better price very soon.

Amazon tends to ruthlessly discount its products, slashing serious percentages off price tags during its own sales event. Therefore, I will eat my proverbial hat if the Fire TV Stick 4K Max doesn't see a major discount in two weeks.

During the period in which we tested the Fire TV Stick, it was priced at just £50 in a sporadic Amazon sale that didn't appear to be linked to any specific savings event.

If it can randomly drop by £20, I expect to see a deal that matches or beats that on Amazon Prime Day. The previous generation model dropped from £65 to just £38 back in 2023, so I'm gearing up for a similar saving.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max would be a no-brainer at £50 (in fact, we called it a no-brainer at its full asking price), as its picture performance is well worth that money. We appreciated its crisp and detailed image, rich colours and considered handling of motion.

Furthermore, the Fire OS streaming platform includes a wealth of apps – with everything from Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV+ and BBC iPlayer, to niche services like Mubi and Shudder included – and the support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR is the icing on the cake.

I'll be keeping a close eye on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max this Prime Day, so check back often to see if my dream deal ends up becoming a reality.

MORE:

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review

As well as our picks for the best streaming devices

And read our full Google TV Streamer review

If you're using an Apple TV 4K and are wondering what you could possibly do to make the picture experience any better, then this setting is the one you're looking for.

The best streaming device on the market already delivers an excellent streaming experience; we especially approve of its 4K HDR image, and the fact that it supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ is the icing on the cake.

However, if you desire an even more dynamic picture, you'll want to find the Colour Balance calibration setting. You'll need an iPhone with Face ID running iOS 14.5 or later to complete this step, and it takes less than two minutes to complete.

To find this feature, simply navigate to settings, click on video and audio, then click calibration, and here is where you'll find the Colour Balance setting.

You'll need to position your iPhone in front of your TV screen; don't worry, your Apple TV 4K will walk you through the process. A series of colours will flash, and then you're done – simple.

From here, you should notice richer and more accurate colours, and Apple even includes a handy side-by-side test so you can decide if the difference is right for you.

It's worth noting that this system doesn't change your TV's settings directly, so any settings you've tweaked with other inputs in mind won't be affected.

I should also mention that the setting will not apply when Dolby Vision content is played, as the dynamic HDR format overwrites it for the duration of whatever you're watching.

I won't use my Apple TV 4K without this feature applied, and on the several TVs I've used in tandem with my streamer – including a Samsung Mini LED model and OLEDs from Sony and Philips – I've noticed the benefit every time.

Your mileage may vary, as I haven't tried it with every single TV brand on the market (that would take quite a while), but that two minutes to set Colour Balance up could unlock a serious picture upgrade; so it's definitely worth checking out.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best OLED TVs

As well as our full Apple TV 4K review

And our Google TV Streamer review

I've tested my fair share of streaming devices in my time at What Hi-Fi?, including heavy hitters from Amazon, Google and Apple.

But while that trifecta of tech titans comprises the biggest players, it would be remiss of me to neglect the likes of Roku and Nvidia, both of which have loyal fan bases for their respective streamers.

With our latest streaming review, that being the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation), I noticed a pattern that nearly every streaming stick and box seems to follow: they're not that great at streaming music.

Now, it's worth remembering that the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a five-star option for movie fans, as we approved of its "detailed and rich picture" and it's got a solid feature set too. But when it comes to testing audio, we always ensure to try music alongside movie dialogue and sound effects.

We do this because you can tell a lot from a product's sound performance using a reference track, and need I remind you that soundtracks are a huge part of the film watching experience.

On a more personal level, I use the streaming device currently hooked up to my TV at home to play music through my soundbar. Not the ideal audio set-up, I'm well aware, but it suits my needs, and space isn't exactly abundant in my modest London abode.

I will upgrade to a full hi-fi arrangement in due course, but it's better than nothing, and I'm willing to bet that a lot of people use their streaming device to play music through their TVs at home too.

So, with that in mind, how did the Fire TV Stick 4K fare? It's not bad, in fact in our review I described it as "solid", complimenting its warmth and cohesion even if timing was notably lacklustre. Most importantly, however, it sounded much better than the Google TV Streamer.

Google's streaming offering didn't excel with music or movie audio, serving up a flat and uninteresting sound, lacking warmth and dynamic prowess in the process. The Amazon, comparatively, had no issue achieving the upper hand during my side-by-side testing, though the bar wasn't exactly high.

So, with Amazon sort of getting it right, but by no means reaching for the stars, and Google missing the mark entirely, is there anyone out there who can deliver a genuinely excellent musical experience via a streamer?

Of course there is, and it should come as no surprise that I'm about to recommend the Apple TV 4K yet again. Yes, I'm well aware that I've banged on about this streamer enough at this point, but it's the truth; Apple just gets sound so right with the TV 4K.

It's a warm, textured, and rich performance with excellent timing and dynamics. It handles the indie, pop, and R&B tracks that I most commonly listen to without breaking a sweat.

It has me wondering this: why can't other manufacturers compete? I suppose it comes down to priorities; Google is all-in on Gemini AI with the Google TV Streamer, while Amazon's goal with the Fire TV Stick range is to balance performance and affordability.

Also, I presume that movies and TV shows outrank music when it comes to developing and tuning their products. The predominant use case for streaming devices is, at the end of the day, to access services like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

That being said, Apple's success with music replay shows that you can strike a balance and get both right.

Ultimately, Apple's streamer is the most expensive of the models mentioned here, so I'd honestly expect nothing less than the best performance possible. But still, it would be nice to see other streaming devices close the gap.

MORE:

Read our full Amazon Fire TV 4K Max (2nd Generation) review

As well as our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices for movies and TV

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick range of streaming devices may not be the most glamorous or technically impressive products that we see in our AV testing room, but they serve a specific purpose and perform said purpose well.

Case in point is the first-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which offered affordable plug-and-play 4K HDR streaming, with a solid picture performance and feature set that was hard to argue with, especially for the price.

The only thing holding that streamer back was the existence of the then-Award-winning Google Chromecast with Google TV, which just edged out the first-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max when it came to picture and sound performance.

Luckily for Amazon, Google has since discontinued that device and replaced it with a streamer that’s nearly double the price, and not quite as good. So, it would make total sense for Amazon to strike while the iron is hot, and deliver an upgraded streaming stick that undercuts the Google TV Streamer; and that’s exactly what it has done.

Today, we have the second-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and with upgraded performance, a significant lack of competition and a tempting price tag, it might just be the easiest no-brainer buy in the AV world.

Price

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) officially costs £70 / $60 / AU$120; a smidge more than its predecessor’s £65 / $55 / AU$99 starting price. While a price rise – albeit minor – isn’t necessarily a welcome sight, what will be more enticing are the discounts that this streamer will inevitably receive throughout the year.

During its own sales events – Big Deal Days, Prime Day and Black Friday – Amazon almost always heavily discounts its own products. You can expect to pay closer to £50 / $40 / AU$89 if you time your purchase right.

Better yet, Amazon’s new streamer benefits from a major player exiting the market. Google’s Chromecast with Google TV was the roadblock preventing the previous generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max from achieving the full five-star commendation; however, that Award-winning streamer has been discontinued.

Google has replaced it with the four-star Google TV Streamer, which costs £99 / $100 / AU$160; considerably more than the Chromecast’s £60 / $50 / AU$99 launch price and, more importantly, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

As for other rivals, Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K undercuts the Amazon streamer at £50 / $50 / AU$110, though it’s yet to land in our AV testing room.

Build

The new Fire TV Stick isn’t a radical departure from its predecessors, though there are some identifying features to distinguish this newer model.

It’s still an all-plastic cuboid with an HDMI connector sticking out of one end, akin to an oversized USB thumb drive with the corners rounded off.

Unfortunately, this means that the last generation’s tendency to hog the area surrounding the HDMI socket it's lodged into is once again prevalent, meaning you may struggle to plug a cable into the adjacent HDMI port unless you use the included adapter.

A further design oversight relates to the power socket, which bafflingly uses Micro USB rather than the widely accepted USB-C standard. While we appreciate Amazon including a power adapter in the box, the decision to stick with the older, less convenient and less widely used connection is an odd choice indeed.

Moving away from the stick itself and onto the remote, Amazon has bundled in the same Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced model that can be found with the Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation). It’s functional, comfortable to hold, and features shortcuts to streaming services, which will differ depending on which region you purchase it in.

We would have liked to see the “find my remote” function included here, as it comes as standard on the Google TV Streamer; however, you’ll need to purchase the optional Fire TV Remote Pro for that, which also includes backlit buttons.

Features

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max’s only mission is to bring 4K streaming smarts to your TV, and it does so with a decent list of appreciated features.

HDR, for example, is supported in all of the major formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, meaning this streaming stick will play nicely with your TV regardless of whether you own a Dolby Vision-sporting LG TV or an HDR10+ only Samsung.

Furthermore, it supports Dolby Atmos audio, as well as up to 7.1 surround sound.

Inside the Fire TV Stick is a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor, and Amazon has been kind enough to double the storage from 8GB to 16GB, though RAM stays at 2GB.

Wi-Fi 6E is also supported, which should offer “smoother 4K streaming”, according to Amazon – though you’ll need a compatible router to access this.

At the heart of the Fire TV Stick experience is Fire OS, which you’ll also find on the company’s Omni-series QLED and Mini LED TVs, as well as (from 2024) Panasonic’s OLED TVs.

It’s a robust, well-supported and versatile operating system, which might not look quite as clean as Apple’s tvOS or be brimming with AI features like Google TV, but it's good for the straightforward streaming tasks that we require of a Fire TV Stick.

One area where Fire OS frustrates is with its ad-heavy nature. Amazon’s services are also pushed to the forefront, which shouldn’t be too surprising considering it manufactured the device, and the ads can be somewhat forgiven thanks to the device’s relatively low price tag.

App support is, unsurprisingly, excellent, with a full range of global streaming apps – including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and, of course, Amazon Prime Video – and domestic services such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more.

Fire OS is also home to some niche services, including Mubi, Shudder, BFI Player and others, making this a solid choice for mainstream and indie movie fans.

Something to note with the Apple TV app is that it's exclusively used as a hub for Apple TV+ content and a way to access your existing Apple TV library. The store cannot be accessed directly through this app, so you’ll need to purchase your desired movie or TV series on a smartphone or tablet to watch it on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

Music and gaming apps are also well supported, with the likes of Spotify, Tidal and Deezer on board, though Apple Music is unfortunately sidelined. Thankfully, that can be circumvented with the inclusion of AirPlay 2.

Gaming-wise, Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service and Xbox are the two major players, while casual games that can be controlled via the included remote are also accessible.

Picture

Much like its predecessor, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max provides plenty of positive picture attributes, which makes it a rather compelling streamer for the money. Better yet, it doesn’t have the Chromecast with Google TV to contend with, and instead now has the four-star Google TV Streamer as its major adversary.

We plug the Fire TV Stick into our reference Sony OLED TV and load up a range of streaming apps onto the device to deduce how it handles picture performance.

Firing up Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning on Netflix, the Fire TV Stick delivers a sharp and engaging picture, with plenty of detail in the suits worn by Ethan Hunt and his well-dressed gang as they plan out their mission in Abu Dhabi Airport.

There is ample detail to skin textures, and aside from a few instances of skin tones looking a tad on the warm side, the Fire TV Stick generally impresses.

We also take no issue with how motion is handled, as the MV-22 Osprey military aircraft carrying a troop of elite agents tasked with hunting down the hero glides smoothly into frame, with the whirring propellers showing no signs of awkward juddering or stuttering.

Switching to Challengers in HDR10+ on Amazon Prime Video, we’re once again impressed with the detail levels, colours, and motion, deducing that the Stick 4K Max provides a balanced and enjoyable image overall.

Furthermore, the film grain that can sometimes be presented as overbearing image noise on the Google streamer seems cleaner and looks more intentional on the Fire TV Stick.

Feeding the Fire TV Stick some HD content, namely Gladiator II, once again on Prime Video, we do notice that the edges of subjects get slightly softer. That being said, clothing and skin remain detailed enough, and the streamer certainly doesn’t make a big deal of presenting the comparatively lower resolution content.

We compare it directly to the Google TV Streamer with these aforementioned movies, alongside Mad Max: Fury Road and Babylon on the Apple TV app, and this is where things get interesting.

Despite costing a fair bit more than the Fire TV Stick 4K, the Google TV Streamer’s picture looks nearly identical. We can pick out a touch more detail on the Google TV, and colours are slightly punchier (if anything, we could accuse the Google of overdoing skin tones here), but otherwise, we struggle to see the point in shelling out for the pricier Google TV Streamer when it comes to picture performance.

Sound

While the picture performance is practically identical to the Google TV Streamer (albeit for less money), where we see the biggest difference between these two streamers is in sound quality. Make no mistake, the Fire TV Stick 4K is no maestro, but it's a darn sight better than the Google TV Streamer.

Loading up Tidal to stream tracks including Gasoline by HAIM and Taylor Swift, Luther by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, and From by Bon Iver, we’re met with sound that can best be described as solid. It won’t blow your socks off, and timing is one aspect where the Fire TV Stick does falter, but it’s a warmer, more cohesive and dynamic performance compared with the poor-sounding Google TV Streamer.

This is true for movies and TV shows as well, as we return to Mission: Impossible to find clear and detailed vocals that have been prioritised within the greater audio mix. That being said, they don’t sound detached, and the tense soundtrack still has its chance to build suspense effectively.

Verdict

Amazon’s flagship streaming stick is a solid option for anyone whose TV’s built-in streaming apps just aren’t cutting it. Its sharp and colourful picture, paired with its easy plug-and-play usability, should appease those who want to squeeze a bit more life out of their ageing 4K TV, or sidestep their TV’s built-in operating system.

Unless you’re considering stepping up to the Apple TV 4K, which costs double the price, the Fire TV Stick 4K is the go-to 4K streaming device at this level.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 4
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Google TV Streamer

Also consider the Apple TV 4K

These are the best video streamers you can buy

Apple has announced the latest version of tvOS, the operating system that powers its five-star Apple TV 4K streaming box. The latest edition brings new features and a fresh look to the streamer's home menu and Apple TV app.

Liquid Glass is Apple's new ethos, with a focus on fluidity and translucency; and it's a design scheme that's being applied across iOS, macOS and iPadOS too.

It's perhaps not quite as much of a radical redesign that was hinted at ahead of WWDC, but a more modern and consistent design will certainly be appreciated by Apple fans who are already equipped with the full ecosystem.

The visual upgrades represent most of the changes with tvOS 26, with translucent elements such as the control centre and dock at the top of the home page now featured in the name of enhanced immersion, according to Apple.

Content is now easier to access, too, with larger poster-style artwork for shows and movies within the Apple TV app.

You'll also find a new profiles system, which will work similarly to how the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus implement their user profiles. Users will be able to toggle a setting that brings the user profile selection page up automatically when the Apple TV 4K wakes.

Personalised content recommendations will apply to each user, alongside user-specific watchlists in the Apple TV app and playlists in the Apple Music app. This new version of tvOS will also include a karaoke mode with Apple Music, which allows you to use your iPhone as a microphone; if that's your sort of thing.

One useful upgrade coming to tvOS that Apple didn't mention in its WWDC livestream is related to AirPlay speakers. With this forthcoming update, users will be able to designate AirPlay-enabled speakers as the permanent audio output option for their Apple TV.

Currently, the Apple TV 4K will default back to your TV's speakers after it's switched off, with HomePods being the only AirPlay-enabled speakers that can be set as your default audio output. With tvOS 26, you shouldn't need to manually select your wireless speakers, which is a nice touch.

There are also new aerial wallpapers and an upgraded FaceTime app coming with this update. tvOS 26 is set to arrive later this year, though Apple has not shared a specific release date.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

As well as our list of the best streaming devices

And read our full Google TV Streamer review

A damning report by Enders Analysis has called on big tech companies to crack down on piracy issues.

The research, written by Gareth Sutcliffe and Ollie Meir, says that Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft are all enabling “industry scale theft” of video services.

According to the report, the sports broadcasting industry is the biggest contributor to this issue. That’s because it is becoming more and more expensive to access legally.

Much of the piracy can be attributed to users buying illegal Amazon Fire TV Sticks sold via Meta’s platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

According to data for the first quarter of this year, provided to Enders by Sky, 59 per cent of people in the UK who admitted to watching pirated material in the last year while using a physical device said they had used a Amazon Fire product.

But illegal streaming sticks are not the only problem here.

Fire TV Sticks can run sideloaded Android apps, as the Fire TV operating system is based on Android; so users can install apps not found in the official app stores.

This is also possible on Android TV and Google TV devices.

The research adds: “Big tech is both friend and foe in solving the piracy problem. Conflicting incentives harm consumer safety by providing easy discovery of illegal pirated services, and reduced friction through low-cost hardware such as the Amazon Firestick.”

An Amazon spokesperson told the BBC: "Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights, and compromises the security and privacy of our customers."

The company has made changes to its Fire devices to make it harder for people to stream pirated content, they added.

Another development that could improve the problem is Amazon's promise to switch to its in-house Vega OS for Fire TV Sticks. This transition will require developers to rebuild all apps and would stop the ability to sideload Android apps.

Google and Microsoft are also in the firing line of the report, which says that the Digital Rights Management solutions provided by the companies “are in steep decline”.

MORE:

Here are the best streaming devices we recommend

This is our review of the Amazon Fire Stick 4K

Check out our review of Apple TV 4K

US brand Roku has announced two new streaming sticks to join its lineup: the Roku Streaming Stick and the Streaming Stick Plus.

The updated streaming sticks will replace the Roku Express and Roku Express 4K, with the brand boasting “more features at the same affordable price points.”

The Streaming Stick is being pushed as the entry-level option to boost the features of any smart TV. It's a full HD model that only supports standard dynamic range content, meaning there's no HDR.

For those looking for something extra, the slightly more expensive Streaming Stick Plus offers 4K picture and HDR colour.

Both streaming sticks can fit behind your TV, with Roku calling the new range “compact without compromise.” Unlike their predecessors, the new devices can be powered directly by the TV, too.

You can also use the voice-enabled remote control to change the volume, turn the TV on and off, and search for what you want to watch.

All the same streaming services as the previous range should be available, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

Both of the new devices will be available starting in June, with the Streaming Stick priced at £30 and the Streaming Stick Plus at £40.

At that price point, Roku is up against Amazon’s line of streaming sticks, such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick (3rd Generation) and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K.

We are yet to get Roku’s new streaming sticks into the testing room to see how they compare, but its set of features and reasonable pricing sure looks promising.

MORE:

Which Roku stick or streamer should you buy?

Here's our in-depth review of the Roku Streambar

Check out the best streaming devices on offer right now

Streaming is no longer a dirty habit. While some manufacturers would still prefer you hide your streaming device out of sight around the back of your TV, Google has joined Apple in making its latest streamer one to display proudly.

The Google TV Streamer replaces the Chromecast with Google TV. It's bigger, more powerful, and has more features.

But how does it fare against our Product of the Year, the Apple TV 4K?

Let's find out.

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: price

At £99 / $100 / AU$160, the Google TV Streamer is more expensive than its predecessor, the Chromecast with Google TV, but cheaper than its Apple rival.

The third-gen Apple TV 4K costs £149 / $130 / AU$219 for the 64GB model, or £169 / $149 / AU$249 for the 128GB version which also gains an ethernet port for a wired internet connection.

Apple kit rarely goes on sale, whereas Google devices often feature in the sales, so look out for further price cuts.

The Google TV Streamer only has 32GB storage, which is half the capacity of the entry-level Apple TV 4K.

** Winner: Google TV Streamer **

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: build

But not only does the Google TV Streamer have a higher price than its predecessor, it has a new design, too.

Instead of hiding around the back of your TV out of sight, it's designed to sit proudly on your TV unit in full view. So Google is very much going after the Apple TV market here.

Its look is sleeker and more curvaceous than the rather boxy Apple TV 4K, if a bit bland. But then you don't want something that draws attention away from what's on the TV screen.

The control is similarly sleek, with a slightly rejigged button layout to the Chromecast with Google TV's. And the 'find my remote' and Google Assistant features come in very handy.

The Apple TV's look hasn't changed in recent models, but it's perfectly functional. It's actually slightly smaller than its predecessor, thanks to its fanless design.

Its remote is a little more streamlined than Google's, but again, it ticks all the boxes. There is a feature to help you find the remote, but you'll need an iPhone to make it work, which is a bit more fiddly.

** Winner: Google TV Streamer **

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: features

These two streamers have a lot of features in common, but there are quite a few differences between them too.

They each use their own operating systems: tvOS and Google TV.

Both are image-heavy and easy to navigate, though Google TV has more of a smart home focus at the moment (Apple is rumoured to be bringing more of these features to tvOS).

But despite being more powerful than the Chromecast with Google TV, and having the same 4GB of RAM as the Apple TV 4K, the Google TV Streamer freezes all too often. And that's just when using the main menu.

By contrast, the Apple TV 4K flies through its menus with nary a stutter in sight.

Both platforms offer the main streaming apps, as well as content suggestions, ratings and more.

Though Google's AI-generated three-word summaries could use some work. Amandaland? Gritty? Really?

4K HDR comes as standard on both devices, and both support all four formats of HDR (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG). So whatever you watch, it should look its best.

They both support Dolby Atmos too, for audio with added height channels.

So what are the differences between them?

The Apple TV 4K supports Apple's Spatial Audio format for movies, TV and music.

But the Google TV Streamer has an ethernet port – this is exclusive to the pricier variant of Apple TV 4K (which has more storage). Google's streamer only comes in a 32GB capacity, whereas Apple's gives you a choice.

** Winner: Apple TV 4K **

• What is HDR? How do you get it?
• Dolby Atmos: what is it? How do you get it?
• Apple's Spatial Audio explained

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: picture

Of course it all comes down to how the picture looks. The Google TV Streamer's predecessor won multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards, and it's up against our Product of the Year in the form of the Apple TV 4K. So how does Google's latest fare?

Well, just not well enough.

The good news is it does look better than the Chromecast with Google TV. The greater contrast gives the picture more depth, with deeper blacks and brighter highlights making for a more impactful image.

In terms of colours, it makes a decent fist of balancing punch and naturalness, with realistic skin tones and vibrant foliage.

Motion poses no problems either. So where does it fall down?

The problem comes when you compare it to the Apple TV 4K. Apple's device tops it in practically every area.

"Apple’s streamer is punchier, richer, more three-dimensional and crisper," we wrote in our review.

Apple's device manages to be bold yet balanced, as we found when watching Babylon.

"The deep red hue of Nellie’s dress and the pinkish-orange sunrise over 1920s California both pop off the screen with impressive vibrancy, without looking overblown," we wrote in our review.

"Skin tones are nicely balanced too, with a warm and lively appearance that doesn't verge on overly ruddy territory."

Dark detail is very good, while sharp edges make for a nicely three dimensional image.

** Winner: Apple TV 4K **

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: sound

So, the Google TV Streamer's picture is good, just not great. But the same can't be said of its audio.

Its sound is clear and detailed, with clear voices. But it doesn't offer much in terms of low-level dynamics.

"Dialogue sounds flat and uninteresting, with a one-note feel to voices, robbing the performances of emotion in the process," we wrote in our review.

The timing needs work – something that's thrown into sharp relief when listening to music through the streamer.

Tracks lack warmth, and the sound needs more detail to really bring out the textures.

Sonically, the Google TV Streamer is serviceable. But it's thrashed by the Apple TV 4K.

Apple's streamer has a warm and expressive sound – voices and instruments are rich and dripping in texture. It's much stronger than its Google rival in terms of dynamics, and the timing is superb.

** Winner: Apple TV 4K **

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: verdict

It might be cheaper and a little sleeker looking, but the Google TV Streamer can't compete when it comes to performance.

The Apple TV 4K wins hands down for picture and sound quality, which makes it worth the extra outlay.

But if your budget is lower, or you're a 'never Apple' kind of person, the Google TV Streamer still has a lot going for it.

** Winner: Apple TV 4K **

MORE:

Read our Apple TV 4K review

And our Google TV Streamer review

These are the best media streamers around

Chromecast is dead; long live the Google TV Streamer. When Google revealed that it was putting its Chromecast brand out to pasture late last year, many eyebrows were raised amongst the AV-minded folk of the What Hi-Fi? team. After all, the Chromecast with Google TV was a three-time Award winner, so what could replace it?

Google’s answer? A bigger and more feature-rich streaming box that’s designed to sit proudly on your media unit rather than dangle from an HDMI socket behind your TV. While a more powerful streamer from Google is exactly what we’ve been asking for, it also comes with a higher price tag and, as we’ve come to find out, not a lot in the way of improvements.

Price

The Google TV Streamer is a pretty significant step up in price compared to the outgoing Chromecast with Google TV. It officially costs £99 / $100 / AU$160, which is a tough pill to swallow when we recall that the Chromecast was priced just £60 / $50 / AU$99.

This price increase also puts the Google TV Streamer closer to the Product of the Year-winning Apple TV 4K (£149 / $130 / AU$219) and the not-quite-as-impressive Amazon Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation (£140 / $140 / AU$219).

Ultimately, a price increase this substantial – literally double for the US market, for instance – needs to be justified, so our expectations for the Google TV Streamer are understandably high.

Build

Google’s new streamer sports an all-new look that’s designed to take centre stage on your media unit. This is a streaming box much like the Apple TV 4K and Fire TV Cube, rather than a dongle or stick, and Google has taken design into account to help you accept the Streamer’s new place in your set-up.

It sports a low-profile, pebble-like appearance that’s no bigger in width than an average smartphone in landscape orientation. With its rounded corners and off-white Porcelain finish (the US also gets a grey-toned Hazel colourway), the Streamer looks clean, simplistic and, if we’re being honest, a bit bland. That’s no great shame, however, as it is designed to seamlessly integrate into your TV set-up, not draw your eye away from the screen.

Google keeps things simple on the rear of the body too, with a USB-C socket for power (cable and mains block are both included in the box), an ethernet socket (which is a major perk of this new form factor), an HDMI 2.1 socket, and a button that helps you locate your remote if you misplace it.

Speaking of which, bundled with the Streamer is Google’s Voice Remote, which looks very similar to the one included with the Chromecast. This smooth, rounded handset is slightly longer, making it feel a bit more comfortable in the hand. Some controls have been rearranged too – the volume buttons have migrated from the side of the handset to a more conventional place on the top edge with the rest of the buttons, while the home and Google Assistant buttons have swapped places.

Overall, we have very few complaints about the remote, aside from the fact that it is missing any sort of dedicated media controls. It does score points for having a “find my remote” feature, which is a godsend when the slippery handset slides between the couch cushions.

Features

If it wasn’t clear from the name, this streamer uses the Google TV operating system, which is also featured on a number of TVs from the likes of Sony, Philips and TCL. This Android-based software is fairly easy to navigate, includes a wide selection of streaming apps, and boasts a lot of smart home features (thanks to the inclusion of both Matter and Thread) – a boon for those who have invested in smart plugs, lightbulbs and doorbells.

It encompasses a wide range of international and domestic streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, alongside the likes of ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and, since a recent update, BBC iPlayer. There is also a wide range of lifestyle and gaming apps, including fitness and yoga, as well as a variety of Android games that can be played with the included remote.

Considering the Google TV boasts 4GB of RAM (the same amount found in the Apple TV) and an unnamed processor that is reportedly more powerful than the one found in the Chromecast, we’re slightly frustrated by how often this operating system freezes.

Clicking through menus too quickly can cause the Streamer to stick, requiring it to take a moment to compose itself and move on; if we were pushing the hardware to the limit with a graphically intensive game, we’d understand – but we’re just browsing the home menu.

Software irks aside, the Google TV Streamer does include a host of new AI-based features courtesy of its Gemini platform. This includes more accurate content suggestions, AI-generated synopsis labels for movies and TV shows, display reviews for content, and even season-by-season breakdowns of TV shows if you need to catch up. On the whole, these mostly work well, however, we did find the three-word content descriptions to hiccup on occasion.

While Blade Runner 2049 is accurately described as “existential, atmospheric and bleak”, we’re not sure we’d describe BBC satirical comedy Amandaland as “gritty”. The best description is for Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk, which the streamer labelled as “incredible” – technically correct, we suppose.

Moving away from AI and back to AV, the Google TV Streamer ticks pretty much all of the boxes here. It can stream 4K HDR video (providing you have the correct subscription tier for your chosen service and a capable TV or projector), with all major HDR formats supported, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG. It also supports the expected set of Dolby audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital. Unfortunately, DTS:X is not catered for.

Finally, the HDMI 2.1 socket doesn’t seem to support the usual gaming features we associate with the connection, but that’s forgivable as it doesn’t support console-quality titles. Interestingly, the LG C5 OLED TV that we’re using for testing recognises that it supports Quick Media Switching (QMS), which minimises the frequency of black screens flashing up when switching to different frame rates or HDR formats.

Picture

Considering the Chromecast with Google TV earned multiple Awards based on its five-star picture performance, our expectations are, naturally, fairly high. So, is the Google TV Streamer better than the Chromecast? We’re pleased to announce that it is. Is it good enough to justify the increased price and fend off the Apple TV 4K? Unfortunately, it is not.

We have both the streamers mentioned above on hand as reference devices to compare the Google TV with, and while there are plenty of positive aspects regarding the Streamer, it’s in an awkward spot as an upgrade that falls short of the competition. We use a range of streaming services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as some content purchased on Apple TV.

Starting with John Wick: Chapter 4 on Netflix in 4K Dolby Vision, we can see a clear improvement over the previous Google streamer in terms of contrast. The picture features enhanced depth and deeper blacks, which help to make the image a bit more impactful. The opulent Parisian palace interior looks crisp and detailed, and the Google TV Streamer does the dramatic lighting justice with bright highlights that ensure details aren’t lost on Caine’s face as he is recruited by the Marquis to hunt down Wick.

We then switch to A Quiet Place: Day One in HDR10 on Amazon Prime Video, to assess how the Streamer approaches colours. It’s good news, as it balances punch and naturalness well; Samira’s yellow coat and orange hat have a nice sense of vibrancy while also looking measured and authentic. Likewise, the vibrant foliage and tennis court found in Challengers appear both rich and eye-catching without looking overdone.

Sticking with the steamy tennis-themed flick, we find that motion isn’t an issue on the Google TV Streamer, as the tennis ball darts from one side of the court to the other without any awkward stuttering or flickering. However, this film features a fairly pronounced film grain effect, which can look a tad fuzzy and distracting on the Google Streamer.

We also refer to some lower resolution content, Peep Show on Netflix to be exact, and find that the Streamer does a solid job of presenting the older show. The natural characteristics are still present, but its tendency to emphasise some visual fuzziness is also apparent.

We conclude testing with the opening of Blade Runner 2049 on the Apple TV app, and while we’re generally positive about the picture, it’s pipped by the Apple TV 4K in practically every sense. Apple’s streamer is punchier, richer, more three-dimensional and crisper, leading us to prefer its picture over that of the Google. Admittedly, it is more expensive, but we deem the additional outlay to be worth the picture upgrade if your budget can stretch.

Sound

While we can be fairly complimentary towards the Google TV Streamer’s picture performance, we can’t really say the same about its sound. It suffices for movies and TV shows in most ways, which we admit is the most important factor, with a clear and detailed sound that emphasises vocal clarity. As bullets and arrows start flying in a battle at the Osaka Continental Hotel in John Wick: Chapter 4, the streamer does a solid job of delivering weighty thuds as bodies drop, and the slashes of katanas sound clean and sharp.

That being said, it doesn’t deliver much in the way of low-level dynamics. Dialogue sounds flat and uninteresting, with a one-note feel to voices, robbing the performances of emotion in the process. That dull characteristic can also be felt at the start of Challengers, as the electronic score that bursts to life in the opening match feels misjudged and doesn’t have the intended impact due to its weak timing.

These deficiencies are felt heavily when listening to music through the Google TV Streamer. There is an absence of warmth, and instruments lack texture, which we find is the case with Tool’s Invincible and Taylor Swift’s Willow. Pair that with a lackadaisical sense of timing and the aforementioned poor low-level dynamics, and we’re left with an uninspiring musical performance that is easily bested by the rich and natural-sounding Apple TV 4K.

Ultimately, the Google’s sound will be serviceable for many, but for those with keen ears who want a streamer that delivers a cinematic and musical sound, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Verdict

The Google TV Streamer is in an awkward position. It’s a good streamer that will likely meet most people’s needs; however, it is a good streamer that replaces a great one. It does so at a premium, too, with a higher price tag attached for a picture and sound performance that isn’t far detached from its predecessor.

Furthermore, this inflated price puts it uncomfortably close to the exceptional Apple TV 4K, which betters the Google TV in the most important areas.

Admittedly, the Apple TV 4K might not be a tempting proposition for staunch Android users who refuse to touch Apple products with a ten-foot barge pole, but if picture and sound are top priorities for you (and we’re not sure why they wouldn’t be), then the Apple TV is a better choice.

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Sound 3
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Apple TV 4K (2022)

Also consider the Amazon Fire TV Cube

Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

These are the best video streamers you can buy

Following more than a year of speculation that Sonos would release a video streamer to rival Apple, Amazon, Google and Roku’s popular offerings sometime this year, a new report from The Verge states that those plans are now being shelved.

The highly rumoured and anticipated Sonos set-top streaming box was expected to launch the company into the video space, with rumours from the same The Verge author stating that the player, codenamed Pinewood, would use the Android operating system, serve as a HDMI switch and accommodate other video sources, offer the means to configure a proper Sonos surround speaker system, and cost between £200 / $200 and £400 / $400. Only last month was there word of this Sonos streamer launching in the coming months, following a period of beta testing. But those hopes appear to have now been dashed, with the latest report stating that the product abandonment was ‘announced by the company’s leadership during an all-hands call’.

Sonos’s venture into video streaming is being kicked down the road, with Interim CEO Tom Conrad reportedly telling employees it is being shelved “for now”. Presumably the company’s primary focus will be on rebuilding its reputation after a tumultuous 2024 in which it launched disappointing wireless headphone debuts (the Sonos Ace) and disastrously botched its app relaunch, angering customers and resulting in Patrick Spence standing down as CEO in January after eight years. The company’s board of directors recently said it was concentrating on “improving the quality of the app experience and rebuilding customer trust”.

While the delay is disappointing – not least as it was the only major new hardware launch we really expected from Sonos in 2025 – the last thing it can afford to do is run the risk of rushing out another brand-new product that doesn’t trouble its established competitors in that field. After all, if its rumoured price – significantly higher than that of its rivals – is to be believed, the Sonos video streamer would have to be a much more complete, and probably innovative, package for it not to sink.

So where does this leave Sonos? Likely in a state of evolution as opposed to revolution this year, although we can keep our fingers crossed for the materialisation of a Sonos Beam Gen 3 soundbar in the hopefully near future. The arrival of the Arc Ultra late last year was certainly one footstep in the right direction, with our expert reviews team calling the company’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar “a hit” and “worth the wait” – “a huge upgrade on the still-very-good original Arc”.

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Our expert pick of the best video streamers you can buy

Best streaming services for movies and TV shows 2025

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The Google TV Streamer is the search giant's more premium successor to the Chromecast with Google TV, but it launched without one key app. Now, six months after launch, that wrong has finally been righted: BBC iPlayer is now available on the Google TV Streamer, 9to5Google reports.

For UK readers, iPlayer needs no introduction. It brings together all kinds of BBC programming in one place, available to watch live, on-demand or on catch-up.

It also pioneered features like the ability to download shows to watch offline. And its accessibility is unparalleled, working across pretty much any connected device with a screen.

And best of all, it's free (for BBC licence fee payers, that is).

So its omission was a rather massive black mark against the Google TV Streamer. Especially in the face of competition like the Award-winning Apple TV 4K, and cheaper Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (both of which have iPlayer).

What's more puzzling is that iPlayer has been available on Google TV for years, just not on Google's latest streamer.

That has changed within the last day or two. You can now download the iPlayer app from within the on-device Google Play Store, or watch BBC One and Two live in the Channels section.

Which should certainly help Google's device compete with its rivals in the UK.

The Channels tab only launched around the end of last year. Google is rumoured to be readying some new streaming hardware too, according to an update to the Google TV OS.

MORE:

Controversial? Why Netflix viewers should pay the BBC licence fee

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Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: should you upgrade?

There is some potentially exciting news for Sonos fans, as the company would seem to be one step closer to releasing its first streaming player.

It is with some anticipation that we wait to see Sonos’s first venture into the video world. The Sonos app has had a truly rocky journey of late, with a botched update in 2024 that removed key functionality and introduced a fair few problems. Even by the end of last year it wasn't completely fixed, and there is still ongoing work to get it properly running. The whole torrid affair was so serious, indeed, that it led to the resignation of CEO Patrick Spence.

Sources have told Chris Welch from The Verge that the streaming player, codenamed Pinewood, could cost between £200 / $200 and £400 / $400. That’s an enormous amount considering other products at this price.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K sells for just £60 / $50 / AU$79. And if you opt for a non-4K model, they are even cheaper. The Google Chromecast with Google TV, for example, costs just £35 / $30 / AU$59 for the HD version.

Even our favourite video streamer, the Apple TV 4K, comes in at £149 / $129 / AU$219; so this new mooted price range for the Sonos player looks very expensive indeed.

We don’t have an exact sale date, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman released a report last year suggesting it will come out in early 2025.

But what will Pinewood actually offer? Sonos is yet to offer any official specification, but The Verge reports that it plans to combine content from numerous platforms including Netflix, (HBO) Max and Disney Plus under a “single, unified software experience”. To us, that sounds very much like what the Apple TV 4K already does.

Welch also said that Sonos Voice Control will be integrated, and Pinewood will also ship with a physical remote control that includes shortcuts for popular streaming apps. The Verge reporter got a chance to see unreleased images of the device, and said that “viewed from the top, the device is a flattened black square and slightly thicker than a deck of trading cards.”

The Verge reports that Pinewood is supposed to serve “as an HDMI switch and has several HDMI ports with passthrough functionality.” You will be able to plug external devices such as gaming consoles or 4K Blu-ray players into it, apparently – and that would be something that no other video streaming device offers.

Pinewood is rumoured to be able to transmit lag-free TV audio wirelessly to Sonos’s own soundbars and more of its own products. It could also include gigabit ethernet and Wi-Fi 7, which would be a first for the company.

Of course, this all comes from rumours and leaks, and we wait with bated breath for something official from Sonos. As soon as we get that, you will be able to read all about it on whathifi.com.

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And these are the best streamers for music

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Just when you thought there were enough TV operating systems on the market, a new one gets announced. Ventura OS, backed by The Trade Desk which happens to be a technology marketing conglomerate and one of the largest publicly traded companies in the industry, has officially been announced with a few major partners already signing on.

This operating system is supposedly built around ads; we know how that sounds, but advertising is also prevalent in other TV software platforms including webOS and Fire TV OS. The Trade Desk emphasises a user experience that delivers "better cross-platform content discovery, personalization, subscription management, and potentially fewer (more relevant) ads," so we hope that the importance of ads doesn't detract from the user experience.

It has already attracted high-profile partners such as Paramount, Disney and Tubi, who are reportedly exploring the potential of the new platform. However, there is one particular partner that has caught our eye.

Home audio and AV brand Sonos has signed on as a partner for this new TV OS, hinting towards the much-rumoured Sonos media streamer. Speculation of Sonos developing its own Apple TV 4K rival began circulating in 2023, though we are presuming that issues surrounding the Sonos app – which the company has recognised itself – might have pushed production back slightly.

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence says that Sonos is looking forward "to exploring the integration of premium audio and video with The Trade Desk and the Ventura OS.” While the audio aspect shouldn't come as a surprise, it's the mention of video that has caught our eye.

Only time will tell if this supposed Sonos set-top box will become a reality, however, we can't think of many other reasons why Sonos would be looking to partner with a TV operating system.

MORE:

Read our full Sonos Arc Ultra review

As well as our Apple TV 4K review

And check out our list of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

My Apple TV 4K is practically my prized possession. While I've harped on plenty about my obsession with physical media, I have to admit there are some things that 4K Blu-ray discs can't do.

Countless shows on streaming platforms simply don't have wide physical releases (Andor, The Bear, and Silo to name a few), and I'm not willing to hang around and have these incredible shows spoiled while waiting for a potentially non-existent disc version to appear. In the same vein, I'm not willing to compromise on picture and sound quality; yes, I'm aware of how snobby that sounds, but my time at What Hi-Fi? has exposed me to the finer AV equipment in life.

That's why only the best will do, and when it comes to media streamers, the Apple TV 4K really is the best. Everything about it, from the exceptional tvOS interface that wipes the floor with the Android TV system that my Philips OLED uses, to the Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio compatibility, and even the lovely metal remote with the touch wheel controls; I don't know what I'd do without it.

Unfortunately, it's rarely discounted, meaning those in the market for a streamer can expect to pay the full £149. However, thanks to scrolling through endless Cyber Monday deals, we have finally spotted a saving; albeit a modest one, but a saving nonetheless.

It's down to £139 at Currys, making for a saving of £10. It's not a lot, but considering a month of Apple TV+ or Disney Plus costs around a tenner, you can always put that saving into a subscription service to take your new Apple TV for a spin.

The latest generation Apple TV 4K is a couple of years old at this point, but it's still my favourite streamer on the market by far. Upgrades over the second generation model include the removal of the fan thanks to its super-efficient internal components, USB-C replacing the lightning port on the remote, and HDR10+ support – all welcome additions to an already excellent streamer.

Features-wise, the Apple TV 4K is stacked; offering support for HDR in all of the major formats, Dolby Atmos audio, and even HDMI 2.1 connectivity for QMS and responsive gaming (not that I do much gaming on mine).

As for performance, the Apple TV 4K is a marvel, offering a rich, dynamic and thoroughly engaging picture. Apple's expert approach to contrast delivers an image with oodles of three-dimensional depth, adding to the immersion, while its prowess with dark details shouldn't be understated.

It sounds fantastic too, with a warm, detailed and expressive sound that makes any movie or TV show simply sing. Team Hi-Fi will cringe, but this streamer paired with my Sennheiser soundbar is one of my favourite ways to fill my flat with music; it's simple to use and sounds great, what more could I ask for?

I can't think of a day in recent memory that I haven't used my Apple TV 4K, and honestly, I don't know if I could ever go back to streaming on anything other than this five-star bit of kit. Discounts truly are rare, so while this £10 discount at Currys won't take the medal for the biggest Cyber Monday saving, it's still a saving nonetheless.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

As well as the best Cyber Monday deals: TVs, headphones and hi-fi

And the best Cyber Monday OLED TV deals

This is another small amplifier designed to power a room of music, the type we’ve called ‘zone players’ ever since Sonos made the first of the breed. They are designed to be unobtrusive boxes combining an app-controlled streamer plus amplifier, so that all you need really add is a pair of speakers.

Invariably such zone players have an unpowered sibling, and that is the case here, with the equally shiny but half-height S1 being the streamer-only equivalent. So if you’ve already got a hi-fi system in need of streaming, plug in the S1. If you’ve got nothing yet, the SA2 plus a pair of speakers will do the lot, or you can plug in a few external sources to expand the system.

There are a good many examples of such streamer-amps available, with three key differentiators governing your choice. Firstly, do its streaming services and inputs match your needs? Secondly, are you creating an ecosystem of products that need to work together? And lastly a crucial factor: what’s the quality of the amplifier?

Electrocompaniet has chips in all three stacks. The streaming here and the control app were developed for the Norwegian company’s higher-end streamers, so not only ‘tried and tested’ but also offering an ecosystem connecting with other EC streamers and wireless speakers in the home. Both the AU$2599 SA2 and its S2 sister streamer (AU$2199) can connect to EC’s TANA L1 and L2 speakers; there’s also a wireless subwoofer, the SIRA L1 (pictured near the end of this review).

As for that amplifier quality, well, Electrocompaniet is a Norwegian hi-fi company of renown, with 50 years making world-class hi-fi products, and with particular skills in amplifier design. Inside this little box is Class-D power of 2 × 75W, and while that’s not going to blow away a massive power amplifier circuit from the company’s Classic Line, you can be sure that the Norwegians aren’t going to embarrass themselves with a half-hearted amp section just because this SA2 resides within the company’s ‘EC Living’ range. Convenience, certainly, but not compromise.

Build & streaming

We say above that zone players are often ‘unobtrusive’; they are commonly dull black boxes with nothing much in the way of visual feedback, the idea being that they may be hidden away, controlled over the network or using a Bluetooth remote control which doesn’t require line of sight.

However Electrocompaniet is clearly rather prouder to have its Rena range out on display; it would be a shame to hide away its “solid metal enclosure” (it’s not actually solid, of course; it’s hollow with stuff inside) with three stripes of curved and textured “shining silver finish” across its 18cm width, bookended above and below by sturdy top pieces in shiny black, the top one covered with protective plastic on delivery.

It’s a lovely design, though it doesn’t really declare itself to be an audio system, other than the brand name on the front – even the three top touch buttons disappear when not being used. It might be a luxury hard drive from the last century.

Of course the socketry at the back of the SA-2 reveals its nature. But let’s check the streaming abilities first, since these are to the fore. And it’s the same superior experience you’ll get from the company’s premium ECM 1 MKII streamer, we gather.

This streaming is governed by the ‘EC One’ app, which opens past its lovely golden 50th anniversary splashscreen to reveal the main services to which you have easy access: Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz. These will each stream direct to the unit itself, whereas users of Apple Music will have to forward their stream from an Apple device via Apple AirPlay 2. Android users on other services can play via Bluetooth, although the available codecs for that are limited to SBC and AAC.

There is also a ‘Library’ option, through which you can see any files shared on your network available via SMB or NFS or DLNA/UPnP, as well as sticks or drives plugged into the rear USB-A slot.

There is also internet radio, though this was “currently unavailable” during our review (other than by direct input of a URL, which we did, and which worked well). And finally if you have purchased Roon (the music organisation and delivery software), the SA2 (and S2) are Roon Ready and will appear as end points in the software (screenshot below).

Connections

As for physical connections, the black top overhangs the socketry at the back, making access slightly fiddly, but better protected from dust. Here there are two optical inputs, one coaxial input, that USB-A slot for sticks or drives, and an Ethernet socket for cabled networking instead of the dual-band Wi-Fi within.

The optical inputs make the SA-2 suitable for use as a TV entertainment system as well as being a music machine, and on the remote control the first optical input is labelled with a ‘TV’ icon. (There’s some muddled nomenclature here: on the back panel it is marked Optical 1; in the app it becomes Toslink 1, and on the remote it’s ‘TV in’. The remote also calls the coaxial input ‘CD in’, with a CD symbol.)

There are two obvious omissions to the connectivity. There is no HDMI socket, to allow ARC/eARC replay from a TV via HDMI. Although optical does the job almost as well for stereo purposes, it will lack the passthrough of volume control from your TV’s remote. You will instead have to use the rather lightweight little remote supplied with the SA2, or the sliding volume control in the app. We were going to recommend the latter, since the physical remote control puts an irritating click through the audio channel for every notch of adjustment, except that thankfully you can turn that off under the Bluetooth options menu in the app. The volume slider in the app reacted well, just occasionally with a little latency, but definitely no clicks!

If you use the app on a tablet, the ‘Now Playing’ screen (below) is beautifully presented, extending the album artwork under the surrounding information, making this method of control still more attractive when listening to music. For watching TV via optical, you’re more likely to be using the physical remote control.

Have you spotted the other omission? There’s no analogue input at all. There is a logic to this: the processing inside the unit is all digital. So this will limit the SA2’s use for some people, such as vinyl lovers, though for others not at all.

The only outputs at the back are a combination minijack/mini-optical output, and then the speaker outputs from the amplifier section. These are not proper binding posts, nor (thankfully) the spring-clip connections that were used on the previous SA-1. Instead there is now a small green socket with four pins pointing outward – a Euroblock-style connection, also known as a Phoenix connector.

This may be inconvenient if you have speaker cables with banana plugs or spades, which won’t fit here. You need bare wire for Euroblocks; also a connecting plug, into which the bare cables are screwed down tight, which wasn’t in our package. This solid connection can be an advantage; the downside is the somewhat fiddly procedure and the limitation on cable diameter.

Of course if you’re planning on using Electrocompaniet’s wireless speakers, there’s neither fiddling nor cable! But if you do plan to use wireless speakers, you’re wasting the SA2’s amplifiers, so you’d be better off buying the S2. Unless of course it’s Electrocompaniet’s wireless subwoofer, which will only add to the SA2’s party. All these speakers use not standard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for their wireless connection but the well-regarded WiSA standard, which allows a full-quality lossless 24-bit/96kHz wireless connection to the speakers.

Setting up & listening

Once networked by either Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the EC One app passed a key test with flying colours. Most control apps take a fair moment to find your networked player/s each time you open the app. The EC One app just splashed its anniversary logo then opened straight to the player. There was no wait time required to find or reconnect, any time we subsequently used it. That’s great if you’re hunting the volume when the phone rings.

Further logical thought is evident in its input prioritisation. If we were playing from Tidal Direct, but then turned on our TV, the new signal at the optical input would override and autoswitch over to the TV, as you would hope. But can we then override that with the Tidal Connect should we wish to, say, play a live Yes recording, nice and loud while watching Olympics BMXers in the background? Yes we can! Each ‘new’ signal seems to override the one before, but you can use either the remote control or the app to manually force an input.

Even better, in the app settings you can adjust how this works, and which inputs (optical or coax) it works for. We don’t recall ever seeing this before; brilliantly versatile.

The live Yes recording (‘Topographic Drama’, one of several million live Yes albums released over their career, this coming from Tidal at 24/48) was one of our first proper bonding sessions with the SA2’s performance. Before this it had provided mainly solid TV sound and plenty of streaming background music during a week of warm-up duties. Now we slid the app’s volume slider firmly to the right and enjoyed a pumping presentation which was especially impressive as the SA2 was driving a not-particularly-friendly pair of German standmounts. On the opening of And You and I a remarkably realistic kick drum – solid and deep – thudded behind every pulse of Billy Sherwood’s bass (this 2017 release being sadly post-Squire); Jon Davison’s creamy take on Anderson’s vocals emerged strong and smooth. This is by no means the best Yes live recording out there (go to ‘Progeny’ for those, as we did later) but the SA2 certainly wrapped it as a clean and powerful bundle, with no shortage of power compressing the size of the music or the dynamics of its light and shade.

One cannot live by progressive rock alone, sadly; we set up a Tidal queue and sat back to enjoy it. The SA2 didn’t put a foot wrong. It could power out U2’s fizzy Last Night On Earth at some level while still delivering all the little acoustic details within Flood’s razor-sharp production. It could thrill with the edge given to the Hammond organ back left two minutes into Santana’s Samba Pa Ti while keeping the whole mix supremely smooth.

And it’s certainly tight in its timing: the opening beat of ZZ Top’s classic Gimme all Your Loving should have clear air behind it, with the bass line arriving as separate pulses, not a continuous bumpy blur, and the SA2 gave the song the correct space and scale to do just that.

Of course your final sound will be governed largely by the speakers you attach, but with the SA2 you can be pretty sure they will never be shortchanged in what they receive, and so will deliver to their best.

This is further assisted in the deep app menus, under Speakers & Outputs, where you can invoke very useful post-processing for your particular size of speakers: it dramatically lifts bass if you select small speakers, and for our standmounts the ‘bookshelf’ setting was on the money, filling out the sound without bloating the bass. The resonant depth on the deep drum in Janis Ian’s The Light At The End Of The Line was one of the best deliveries any amplifier has pulled from these high-quality German standmounts.

This is the key difference between Electrocompaniet’s SA2 and lesser ‘zone players’: the quality and quantity of power. Yes it’s a Class-D implementation, and we just know that Electrocompaniet’s larger Class-AB amps would go higher and stronger. But the SA2 is certainly hi-fi; it handled our big music-room speakers with just as much control as it did our TV system standmounts, and we’d think that anyone filling their home with a set of connected EC Living Line products would end up very happy indeed.

We connected a hard drive of high-res files to the USB-A slot, directed the app to add it to the library and, after a cuppa’s worth of indexing, we could enjoy some delightful separation and soundstaging as we played Antonio Forcione’s Night Train at 24-bit/192kHz, and Laurence Juber’s Guitar Noir at 24/96, turning it up (click, click) to enjoy the scraped-metal percussion to the right behind Juber’s delicious transient plucks and edgy slides. There’s a ‘Brightness’ slider in amongst those processing settings: this might be useful to tame a bright recordings or to lift soft speakers, but a neutral system with a good recording shouldn’t need any tweaking to reveal all these delightful details.

The Library listing doesn’t populate in a particularly easy way to navigate: no alphabetical jumps, no folder navigation even, and we were further hampered by the Album list starting with several thousand .AppleDouble files, so the search bar in the Library section is perhaps the best way to find something.. This works especially well if you use the web interface that you can access by typing the SA2’s IP address on your network into a browser.

Which makes us think increasingly that things here are best kept simple. Yes you can plug in a CD player if you like, and the TV if you’re in a video zone, but otherwise just plug up your speakers and stream from Spotify, Tidal or Qobuz.

Any issues? That clicking on volume changes drove us mad until Electrocompaniet pointed us to the option to turn it off. We also had initial grief with the remote itself: it wouldn’t pair or wouldn’t work if it had. Eventually we replaced its RS232 cell, reset the player to factory settings, and set up from scratch. That fixed it (we don’t know which bit).

Verdict

So, let’s revisit that three-strong checklist for the perfect zone player. Does it provide the streaming services and inputs you need? That’s up to you; remember the lack of analogue inputs here, but the SA2’s preference for Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz streaming should satisfy most customers.

Is there an ecosystem to fill the home? Yes there is, and wireless speakers too. And how’s the amp? The amp is great, as is the control app, and you might easily add the wireless subwoofer should you want to beef up an SA2 zone in size, strength and depth.

This is streaming hi-fi made easy, while retaining high-quality hi-fi performance. Well done the Norwegians.

• See all our Australian reviews from Australian Hi-fi & Sound+Image magazines

• Latest news on the April 2025 Australian Hi-fi Show

The Apple TV 4K is finally getting a long-awaited update for enhanced projector performance in an upcoming software update for tvOS. After a fairly lacklustre initial release of the software that included new screensaver options and the InSight feature for Apple TV+ Original programming, we're finally seeing an upgrade that will appease AV enthusiasts who have the streamer in their home cinema setups.

The option to adjust aspect ratios will be implemented with the release of tvOS 18.2, which is set to be released in early December. It will include native support for seven different aspect ratios and an automatic mode that will adapt the aspect ratio based on information received over HDMI. This update was first promised back in June with the announcement of tvOS 18; however, it was absent in the previous 18.1 update, which was released in September.

The included ratios are 16:9, 21:9, 2.37:1, 2.39:1, 2.40:1, DCI 4K, and 32:9 – all of which can be set manually to best suit your home cinema equipment. As FlatpanelsHD mentions, these ratios suit a wide range of projectors and displays. 2.39:1, for example, is an aspect ratio most commonly associated with cinema projectors, while 32:9 is found mostly on ultrawide gaming monitors.

Aside from the new aspect ratio options, this upcoming update will also add new screensaver options from Apple TV+ TV shows and movies, as well as screensavers based on the adorable cartoon dog Snoopy.

The update is expected to be released early next month, and it should automatically update providing you have the setting switched on in your system menu. If you need to install the update manually, simply follow these steps: navigate to the Settings app > click System > then click Software Updates > then select download and install.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

And check out our list of the best projectors

As well as the best media streamers

Google's latest streamer has had a big features update in the UK. The new Channels section adds UK terrestrial apps all in one place – click one and you'll be taken to the live feed of what it's currently broadcasting, so it's like watching channels on linear TV. At least it should be...

Because there are a couple of caveats. The first time you set it up, you'll need to download each app before you use it – clicking on BBC One, for example, takes you to the download link for the iPlayer app. Which brings us to the second caveat... BBC iPlayer isn't currently available on the Google TV Streamer.

But it is on the Google Chromecast with Google TV, which we used to test the new Channels section.

There's more good news – Channel 4 is now available on Android TV. 9to5Google reports that the app has been quietly added to the app libraries of both Android TV and Google TV in recent days. It didn't appear during on our road test of the Channels section, but it should do soon.

Once iPlayer comes to the Google TV Streamer, you'll have full broadcast channels at your fingertips, alongside all the streamers like Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video.

The Google TV Streamer launched over the summer to replace the Award-winning Chromecast with Google TV. We haven't reviewed it yet, but the signs are certainly promising...

MORE:

Everything you need to know about the Google TV Streamer

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: should you upgrade?

Google TV Streamer vs Amazon Fire TV Cube: which is the best streaming device?

Amazon has a new streamer. The Fire TV Stick HD is the new entry-level model in the Fire TV family, and replaces both the standard Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite.

It's more of a rebadged standard Fire TV Stick than a fully new model, but it comes with a voice remote for controlling Alexa just by speaking (the previous model's remote lacked voice controls). The new model's remote also has TV volume and power controls.

Less welcome is that the device features a microUSB port for plugging into the mains. That seems wildly anachronistic for 2024, but at least Amazon provides a cable and plug in the box so you won't have to go rooting through drawers full of old wires.

In terms of specs, it's business as usual, with HDR, full HD, HDMI ARC compatibility and a 1.7GHz processor. It doesn't support Dolby Vision or Atmos – for those, you'll need the Fire TV Stick 4K.

Still, for £39 / $34 / AU$69, it takes care of all the basics, and supports all the big streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+ and – of course – Prime Video (though you'll need subscriptions to be able to watch these). It's available now, and who knows? It could even see a discount come Black Friday...

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Wondering which Amazon Fire TV Stick should you buy?

Check out the best streaming devices around

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs Google Chromecast with Google TV: which is better?

Having the latest streaming apps baked into your television's operating system is a fairly recent phenomenon – but it has quickly become something we take for granted. We rarely see a "dumb TV", as practically every model includes smart features; and that goes beyond streaming apps now, as many models incorporate smart home controls, social apps and even AI features such as generating images for ambient art modes.

If you're still looking to squeeze a few more years out of your TV, but would like to dip your toes into the vast world of 'smart', a media streamer is your best bet. This can also be a solution if you have an older smart TV that has lost support for streaming services – Netflix, for example, has recently dropped support for older Sony and Samsung models.

If you fit those descriptions but don't want to shell out for an Apple TV 4K, then this streamer could be the best fit for you. Amazon's Big Deal Days has officially ended, but the Fire TV Stick 4K is remaining at its Prime Day price for a further five days, meaning it is just £40 instead of £60 right now.

Amazon's plug-and-play streaming sticks are popular for a reason: they add instant streaming convenience to your television. With this stick, you can stream in 4K HDR, and all of the major formats are supported, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG.

The Fire TV Stick 4K has recently been updated with a refreshed design, though not much looks to have changed upon first inspection. While we haven't tested this latest model yet, we did review the Fire TV Stick 4K step-up model and found plenty to like – so much so that we gave it an Award. Specifically, we find the app compatibility to be stellar; with all the services you might expect to find present and working correctly. That's a key part of any good streamer, and it has only improved throughout the Fire TV Stick's lifespan.

Furthermore, the Fire TV Stick gets a premium audio function in the form of Dolby Atmos, meaning you can play immersive audio when streaming content on a compatible Dolby Atmos soundbar or AVR.

The Fire TV Stick also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote bundled in the box, which you can use to interface with the streamer purely by voice commands. Alexa has become much more competent in recent years, meaning you will be met with fewer rogue misheard requests when asking for a specific app, movie or song.

If you have an older 4K TV that is losing app support, or even if you aren't a fan of your TV's built-in operating system perhaps, then this media streamer is the way to go. For only £40, its certainly cheaper than paying big bucks for a brand new 4K set.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best media streamers

As well as the best TVs

And the best TV deals

• We rate the best video streamers

• Our team's picks of the best video streamers for every budget

Having the latest streaming apps baked into your television's operating system is a fairly recent phenomenon – but it has quickly become something we take for granted. We rarely see a "dumb TV", as practically every model includes smart features; and that goes beyond streaming apps now, as many models incorporate smart home controls, social apps and even AI features such as generating images for ambient art modes.

If you're still looking to squeeze a few more years out of your TV, but would like to dip your toes into the vast world of streaming, a media streamer is your best bet. This can also be a solution if you have an older smart TV that has lost support for streaming services – Netflix, for example, has recently dropped support for older Sony and Samsung models. 

If you fit either of these descriptions, now is the perfect time to pick up a new streamer, as Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are happening as we speak. Amazon's own streamer, the Fire TV Stick, has been thoroughly discounted as a result, meaning you can now snag one for just £17 – half the price of the entry-level Fire TV Stick Lite. 

Simply put, this is likely the best Amazon Fire TV Stick for most people, as it strikes a solid balance between performance and value. You will be able to stream in 1080p HD with HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG supported; and while we tend to gravitate towards streamers with 4K Dolby Vision compatibility, we are willing to bet that, if you are in the market for this sort of streamer, your TV doesn't support this resolution or HDR format.

Originally released in 2021, the standard Fire TV Stick isn't one we have reviewed; but we did review the Fire TV Stick 4K step-up model and found plenty to like – so much so that we gave it an Award. Specifically, we find the app compatibility to be stellar; with all the services you might expect to find present and working correctly. That's a key part of any good streamer, and it has only improved throughout the Fire TV Stick's lifespan.

Furthermore, the Fire TV Stick gets a premium audio function in the form of Dolby Atmos, meaning you can play immersive audio when streaming content on a compatible Dolby Atmos soundbar or AVR.

The Fire TV Stick also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote bundled in the box, which you can use to interface with the streamer purely by voice commands. Alexa has become much more competent in recent years, meaning you will be met with fewer rogue misheard requests when asking for a specific app, movie or song.

At just £17, this deal is ideal for anyone looking to squeeze a bit more life out of their old TV. Smart features might not be for everyone, but at this price, you can test the waters without putting too much of your hard-earned cash on the line.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best media streamers

As well as the best TVs

And the best TV deals

Sky's streaming services have suffered two issues in a week. Last night, the Sky Help Team tweeted that some customers were unable to watch certain channels, while last week, hundreds of Sky Glass and Stream customers reported technical issues, with some unable to even turn on their Sky Glass TVs.

Last night's issue saw customers see a message that read, "To watch this, you need to upgrade your subscription," on certain channels. Sky's service status page has confirmed that "our engineers have resolved this". Sky's satellite TV, broadband and mobile services and TV apps were all unaffected.

Last week saw a similar issue render Sky's streaming services unusable. It started last Thursday night, and carried on into Friday morning, with hundreds of customers affected. Customers whose devices wouldn't switch on were told to restart them by following this guide.

While the issue seemed to predominantly affect Sky Glass, some users reported a similar problem with their Sky Stream pucks. Both devices use the same Entertainment OS operating system.

MORE:

Read our Sky Glass review

And our Sky Stream review

Sky has fixed my main bugbear with Sky Glass

Apple's latest iteration of tvOS isn't anything to write home about if I'm being totally honest. There's more here than tvOS 17, which seemed to be focused more on using your Apple TV 4K for FaceTime calls rather than watching movies, but it's still fairly slim pickings for those who crave substantial new picture and sound features. 

The main new features of note are a dialogue-enhancing sound mode, a system that shows you information on actors and music when you pause an Apple Original show, and new screensaver customisation. So, not any Earth-shattering AV upgrades to be seen then. That might not be the end of the world though, as the Apple TV 4K is still the best media streamer on the market, so I wasn't expecting any sort of revolutionary performance upgrade in the latest OS update. 

However, while I was trawling through the settings of my streamer to identify any new features that took my fancy, I stumbled across a setting I wish I had known about sooner.  Remapping the TV button to bring up the home screen instead of the Apple TV app is something I've wanted for quite some time – in fact I'm confused why it's not the default setting – but it turns out I've just not been looking hard enough.

I don't want to question the quality or functionality of the Apple TV app, as it's a useful tool that collates my content and houses an underrated collection of Apple Original content that supports Dolby Vision and Atmos. However, the fact it didn't have a dedicated button to reach the home menu on the Apple TV remote was always a peculiar choice in my mind; thankfully that's been rectified now. Before this, you'd need to either double-click the TV button and scroll back to the home screen via the app switcher, or press and hold the button to reach the home menu.

Will this change your life? Probably not. But it will save you a few precious seconds when swapping between streaming services, and in my experience, the press-and-hold gesture was somewhat temperamental. It's made navigating my Apple TV 4K easier, and the frequency with which I accidentally open the Apple TV app is already greatly reduced. 

If you want to remap your TV button, simply navigate to the settings app, scroll down to "Remotes and Devices" and then select "TV Button" to toggle between opening the Apple TV app and opening the home menu.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

Check out the best media streamers

The Apple TV 4K is comfortably the best streamer, but only if you change this setting