Tv set top box with wifi

Best set-top boxes for your TV in 2023

Viewing habits may be shifting towards internet content like the best music streaming services, but we think you’ll agree that public service broadcasters are important for society. A recent survey found that 90% of Brits want to see continued support for Freeview and broadcast radio.

And for those of us who prefer recordings to catch up or just want to cut back on subscription direct debits, free-to-air digital channels on Freeview or Freesat are essential. We think you can’t beat the convenience of pausing, rewinding and recording your favourite live TV, and you’ll need one of the best set-top boxes to store those programmes.

Good quality TV set-top boxes give you access to a wide range of free-to-air digital channels – or to subscription channels through Sky or Virgin – and will let you record them to catch up later. That’s helpful if you’re a Wimbledon fan but the kids want to watch something else.

Here’s our pick of the best TV set-top boxes for your TV in 2023:

Best set-top boxes

Best basic set-top box for Freeview

Humax FVP-5000T

Best set-top box for Sky

Sky Q UHD

Best affordable Freeview box for 4K

Manhattan T3-R

Best set-top box for Freeview

Humax Aura

Best budget Freeview box

Manhattan T2-R

Best set-top box for Freesat

Freesat 4K Recordable TV Box

Best Sky alternative set-top box

Virgin TV 360

Best Sky alternative for BT customers

BT TV Box Pro

What is a set-top box?

Once you’ve connected them to an aerial or satellite dish, all of today’s TVs pick up one or both of the UK’s free-to-air digital TV services (Freeview and Freesat). But, you can only pause and rewind live TV if you have a set-top box. There are benefits to getting a pay TV subscription box from the likes of Sky or Virgin too, as these have more premium channels for extra movies and shows. We’ve included Freeview, Freesat and subscription boxes in our roundup.

They all connect to your TV via an HDMI cable and deliver hundreds of channels (if not more) through either your aerial or dish. They come with built-in storage for recording your programmes, and many of the best set-top boxes connect to the internet to bring your streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video straight to your TV.

How the GH Tech Team tests set-top boxes

We try out the best set-top boxes and test out all the functions, including pausing and rewinding live TV, using them just like you would at home. We experiment with recording programmes, checking how many you can record and watch at once, and we look at how quickly you can navigate around the interface to find your recordings, so you can get on with watching The Repair Shop as soon as possible. We also check how easy it is to access catch-up and streaming services from the box.

Humax FVP-5000T

Humax FVP-5000T

This Freeview box is our runner-up pick as it’s a great option for all the basics you need from a set-top box. It’s available with 500GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage, and the highest storage option would give you a massive 500 hours of HD recording space. You can watch and record live TV and the box is capable of recording four different shows at the same time. It allows you to access all the major catch-up services (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5) and a Netflix app (unlike the Aura). But it doesn’t include apps for other paid-for streaming services like Amazon Prime or Disney+.

• Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cable, ethernet cable
• Hard drive size: 500GB, 1TB or 2TB
• Internet connection: Ethernet and wifi
• Number of USB ports: 2
• TV service: Freeview

Sky Q UHD

Sky Q UHD

If you’re looking for the best home entertainment setup and you aren’t too worried about the price, we’re sure you’re already looking at Sky. With the Sky Q box, the service brings you its massive library of channels and TV shows and movies from its TV package (you can add Cinema and Sports too – if you like). You can get all these premium channels (including its exclusive ​​Sky Atlantic that’s not on Virgin) in addition to streaming apps from Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and more, all integrated into a simple home screen. With the default 1TB capacity, there’s enough space to record 500 hours of standard definition TV and 150 hours of HD TV, and the box is capable of recording from six channels while you’re watching a seventh live channel.

This is Sky’s most premium product to date, and it’s often updated with new streaming apps and features. If you want, you can set up four Sky Q Mini boxes to connect to your central box for a multiroom experience too. This enables you to pause a broadcast or recording in your living room and then continue it from the bedroom, for example. While Virgin Media and BT offer rival boxes that we’ve included below, we think it’s hard to match the specs that Sky Q offers and this is the best set-top box overall for a subscription. The only downside is that these costs add up – you’ll be paying at least £26 with a setup fee (up to £49), and this goes up depending on the add-ons and extras you pick.

• Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cable
• Hard drive size: 1TB or 2TB
• Internet connection: Ethernet and wifi
• Number of USB ports: 1
• TV service: Sky

Manhattan T3-R

Manhattan T3-R

If watching shows and movies in the highest possible quality is important, this set-top box offers some content in 4K resolution (if you have a compatible TV). This 4K quality is only available on the YouTube app and iPlayer catch-up, although more services may be added. The model we tested had 500GB of storage but you can get 1TB if you pay a bit more. When it comes to streaming, it doesn’t include support for subscription online services, such as Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video, but does have catchup services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5. As with other models, it lets you watch and record Freeview channels, and you can record two channels at the same time.

• Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cable
• Hard drive size: 500GB or 1TB
• Internet connection: Ethernet and wifi
• Number of USB ports: 1
• TV service: Freeview

Humax Aura

Humax Aura

This is our top pick as the best set-top box for Freeview. It’s available with either 1TB or 2TB of storage, and its interface allows you to watch and record live TV as well scroll backwards in the guide to access previously broadcast shows on catch-up. It can play programmes and films in 4K if they’re available (and you have a compatible 4K TV). You can record four different shows at one time (while watching a fifth one), and the Android Play Store is built-in. That means you can download thousands of apps including most major streaming services, but we’re disappointed to see that there are notable exceptions like Netflix and Now.

Google Assistant is built in, so you can play and pause some streaming services, get the weather, or control your smart home devices with your voice. On test, we found it quick to navigate around the interface, the programme guides and menus. We were impressed that you can use the Humax Aura app to stream recordings on your smartphone or tablet when you’re in the house but also download them to watch when you’re on the go. Until now, this has only been available through paid-for TV services.

• Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cable, ethernet cable, aerial cable
• Hard drive size: 1TB or 2TB
• Internet connection: Ethernet and wifi
• Number of USB ports: 2
• TV service: Freeview

Manhattan T2-R

Manhattan T2-R

Suppose the ability to record TV programmes is more of a priority for you than access to online catch-up services (or you already have a separate streaming device). In that case, this budget Freeview box that’s more affordable than the three options above may be ideal. It gives you the ability to record two channels at the same time and it’s straightforward to navigate through the interface and the programme guide. It’s only available with a 500GB hard drive, but that’s enough for up to 300 hours of standard definition recordings. We also like how the box alerts you if there’s a high-definition version of any programme you’re trying to record.

• Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cable
• Hard drive size: 500GB
• Internet connection: Wifi
• Number of USB ports: 1
• TV service: Freeview

Freesat 4K Recordable TV Box

Freesat 4K Recordable TV Box

Want subscription-free TV and the ability to record through your satellite dish? This is the best set-top box you can buy for Freesat and we found it was quick to load programme guides, menus and on-demand players. Most of the UK’s major catch-up and streaming services (with some exceptions like Apple TV+, Disney+ and Channel 4) are available through the box too. They’re also integrated into the programme guide, so you can scroll backwards and forwards to launch previously broadcast shows or set up recordings in a couple of clicks. The entry-level 500GB size has enough room for up to 250 hours of programming and it can also record up to four broadcasts at once.

• Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cable
• Hard drive size: 500GB or 1TB
• Internet connection: Ethernet and wifi
• Number of USB ports: 0
• TV service: Freesat

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