Shop E Store Should you go for Sky Glass or Sky Stream? This is how the two options without satellite compare
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Perhaps you’re considering ditching Sky Q for one of Sky’s other offerings which, notably, don’t require a satellite dish? Or maybe you are thinking about changing providers? Either way, finding out the differences between Sky Glass and Sky Stream will help you choose the best Sky service for you.
Simply put, Sky Glass is a Smart TV offered by Sky that runs on Sky’s Entertainment OS and has Sky built in. Sky Stream, meanwhile, is a small streaming box that also runs on Entertainment OS, but plugs into the back of your existing TV. .
Here’s how Sky Glass and Sky Stream compare to help you determine which is the best option for your home.
Sky Glass vs. Sky Stream: Price
Sky Glass is more expensive than Sky Stream, but that’s because you’re not just paying for Sky’s services, but also for the TV.
A 43-inch Sky Glass starts at £14 a month in the UK for 48 months, and you’ll also pay an introductory fee of £20. That’s a total of £692 for the 43-inch Sky Glass TV. You can choose to purchase it in advance if you prefer.
As we mentioned, Sky Glass features Sky on the inside, so there’s no need for an extra disc or anything, but you’ll still have to pay for any Sky packages you want on top of it. These start from £19 a month, which is for Sky Entertainment and Netflix.
For Sky Stream, at the time of writing, you pay from £19 per month with a 24-month contract with no upfront fee, or from £22 per month with a 31-day rolling contract. That includes Sky Entertainment and Netflix Standard with ads like Sky Glass.
For both Sky Glass and Sky Stream, you’ll pay more for Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky Kids and TNT Sports. If you opt for Sky Glass and want Sky in additional rooms, it’s the Sky Stream disc that will allow this. You’ll have to pay a monthly fee for multiple rooms, but you’re not paying for two Sky subscriptions.
Sky Glass vs. Sky Stream: Design
Sky Glass and Sky Stream differ quite a bit in terms of design. The first reason is the fact that Sky Glass is a real 4K Smart TV, while Sky Stream is a small puck-shaped device like the Apple TV 4K, which, as we mentioned, connects to your current TV.
Sky Glass is available in five colors (Ceramic White, Anthracite Black, Dark Pink, Racing Green, and Ocean Blue) and three size options: 43, 55, and 65 inches. It features a 4K Quantum Dot display, supports HDR 10, HLG and Dolby Vision and also offers a built-in sound system with a six-speaker sound bar at the bottom of the TV panel.
On the right edge of the Sky Glass TV there is a power button and a microphone mute button. Each of the three models is 47.7mm thick and you can choose to mount them on the wall or use the stand. All three sizes also have three HDMI 2.1 ports that support eARC and CEC.
The Sky Stream box only comes in one color option: black, although it has the same remote control as the Sky Glass. It’s a plug and play device that literally just requires you to plug it in, connect the HDMI cable to your current TV and you can start watching Sky content over Wi-Fi straight away.
Sky Glass vs Sky Stream: Features
Sky Glass and Sky Stream run the same operating software, so the overall experience between the two devices is similar. You get the same interface and both work over Wi-Fi, streaming all of Sky’s content over the internet without the need for a satellite dish, plus allowing you to stream popular streaming apps too.
You get a couple of extra features on the Sky Glass, as the Smart TV offers additional accessories like Sky Live, which is a camera that attaches magnetically to the top of the Sky Glass, and there are also microphones built into the TV. Sky Stream still offers voice control via the Sky remote, but you can’t ask the Sky Stream box where your remote is like you can on the Sky Glass.
With Sky Glass, you also get additional features like the ability to use the Night Mode feature and speech enhancement features when using the built-in soundbar instead of an external soundbar like the Sonos Arc or Arc Ultra, and you can also benefit from of the various display functions. modes also with Sky Glass changing the picture settings depending on what you’re watching.
We have a separate feature on tips and tricks for Sky Glass and Sky Stream, where you will find that they both offer features like playlist, voice search and easy navigation, along with the ability to access popular streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon. Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
You can’t record to Sky Glass or Sky Stream like you can to Sky Q, but the Playlist feature offers a similar feature where you can add shows and movies you want to watch to the Playlist and they’re then ready for you to watch. can see. start watching as soon as you want.
Sky Glass vs Sky Stream: Performance
It’s a little unfair to compare the performance of Sky Glass and Sky Stream on a head-to-head basis because they are different propositions and will appeal to different users.
Sky Glass’s picture quality isn’t the best in the 4K TV market, with options from brands like LG and Samsung being brighter and more powerful.
However, Sky Glass is great for those replacing an old TV and, as long as you have a decent internet connection, offers smooth performance and quick, easy access to Sky’s wealth of content.
Depending on the TV you have and have connected Sky Stream to, the entertainment operating system interface may look better than if you opt for Sky Glass.
However, you will again get smooth and consistent performance as long as you have a good internet connection. If your Wi-Fi goes out, both Sky Glass and Sky Stream won’t work, so keep that in mind.
Sky Glass vs. Sky Stream: Which one is right for you?
The decision between Sky Glass and Sky Stream really comes down to what you need in your home. If you need to replace an old TV and want to do so on a monthly contract, Sky Glass is a great solution, offering a 4K Smart TV with good color options and access to Sky content as well as non-satellite streaming apps. The interface is easy to use, quick to set up, and will look better than an old TV.
If you already have a perfectly good TV at home, it is better to opt for Sky Stream. It will give you the same interface and operating system, as well as access to Sky content and popular streaming apps, but on a TV you already know and love.
If you buy Sky Glass and have other TVs in your house that you want to turn Sky on, Sky Stream discs are what you’ll need for multiple rooms, as we mentioned, so there’s a chance you’ll end up with both Sky Glasses. and Sky Stream in your home.
Frequently asked questions
No, neither Sky Glass nor Sky Stream offer the ability to record shows or movies like Sky Q. However, both have the Playlist feature, which allows you to add shows and movies to your list so you can easily find them whenever you want. look at them. There is no need to make recordings as all content is available to view and stream immediately.
Yes, both Sky Glass and Sky Stream offer access to the same wide range of TV shows, movies and sports channels. You can enjoy live TV, on-demand content, and catch-up services on both devices.
