Television is evolving, and so is how we watch it. Forget dusty aerials or satellite dishes; you can now stream mainstream channels like BBC and ITV via Freely, alongside premium services like Sky Atlantic, over Wi-Fi, without breaking the bank.
Why Go Wireless?
Freely, from the creators of Freeview and Freesat, is backed by the UK's main public service broadcasters. A wireless TV box and Wi-Fi are all you need to access channels like Dave, Yesterday, and W. Similarly, Sky Stream offers a plug-and-play streaming box with packages for entertainment, sports, or movies. Wireless TV expands viewing options and lets you watch anywhere in your home.
At a Glance
- Best Freely TV streamer: Manhattan Aero (from £89.99 at Argos)
- Best budget wireless TV stick: Amazon Fire 4K Max (from £69.99 at Amazon)
- Best Freely streamer for families: Netgem Pleio (£99 at Amazon)
- Best premium TV streamer: Sky Stream (from £15/month at Sky)
Why Trust Me?
I've reviewed home entertainment technology for decades, from Blu-ray players to big-screen TVs and home cinema systems. I created and edited the UK's longest-running home cinema magazine, Home Cinema Choice, and now review living room gadgets for various publications.
How I Tested
All five wireless streamers were tested straight out of the box, documenting installation, ease of use, and features. I watched extensive TV: HD Freely streams, 4K UHD, premium pay TV, and more. Boxes were connected to an OLED TV and a high-end home cinema amplifier to evaluate picture and audio performance.
Best Freely TV Streamer: Manhattan Aero
Price: from £89.99 at Argos and Currys
What we love: A hassle-free way to access Freely
What we don't love: Not ideal if you only use subscription services
The Manhattan Aero is the most affordable way to add Freely to any standard TV. This compact box streams live and on-demand TV over Wi-Fi, with no aerial needed. It's perfect for rooms without conventional connections, like a bedroom or conservatory. It has a single HDMI output and ethernet for wired connections. Freely is integrated with the TiVo smart TV platform, offering access to streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube, plus TiVo's free ad-supported channels. Installation is quick; I was watching within minutes. Picture quality is excellent, with Ultra HD content available on Netflix and Disney+. Audio is very good, supporting Dolby Atmos surround sound. The Freely channel selection doesn't match regular Freeview yet, but more broadcasters are signing on.
Best Budget Wireless TV Stick: Amazon Fire 4K Max
Price: from £69.99 at Argos and Amazon
What we love: Fully featured and reliable
What we don't love: Inextricably linked to Amazon Prime
This latest-generation 4K Max edition is Amazon's most powerful Fire TV Stick to date, with upgraded processing and Wi-Fi 6E, plus 16GB storage. It's fast and responsive, with room for many apps. The Fire TV platform offers virtually every major service, plus niche apps. Usability is slick: plug into HDMI, connect to your Amazon account. The interface is full of curated content, but there's no built-in Freely. Gaming support comes via Xbox Game Pass cloud, and there's Bluetooth for headphones. The downside is heavy advertising and deep Amazon integration. 4K streaming and Atmos sound are impressive, with HDR and frame rate settings. For value, this stick is hard to beat. However, Amazon charges extra (£2.99/month) for Prime Video without ads and Dolby Vision/Atmos; basic plan streams Prime Video at 1080p.
Best Freely Streamer for Families: Netgem Pleio
Price: £99 at Amazon
What we love: A great upgrade for your TV, with access to casual gaming
What we don't love: Pointless if you already have a games console
The Pleio is a Freely streaming device with a twist: it's also a gaming platform with about 250 cloud gaming titles, including a wireless gamepad. It's a small puck with HDMI, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth (no ethernet). Besides Freely channels, it offers premium apps like Netflix, Now, Paramount+, Discovery+, Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, and YouTube. Cloud gaming performance is title-dependent; simple puzzlers work well, but demanding games lag. You need at least 25-35Mbps. The first year of gaming is free, then £9.99/month. Picture and sound quality are excellent, with sharp 4K and Dolby Atmos. The subscription charge and variable gameplay are drawbacks.
Best Premium TV Streamer: Sky Stream
Price: from £15/month at Sky
What we love: Sky's vast library of shows, movies and sports
What we don't love: Expensive monthly contract
Sky Stream offers premium pay TV packages as an alternative to Freely. It's compact, with HDMI and ethernet, and runs on Sky OS (same as Sky Glass). No satellite dish or Sky broadband needed. Content is excellent, with sharp 4K and Dolby Atmos (additional £6/month). Instead of a hard drive, it uses a cloud PVR; shows are added to a playlist and streamed from Sky or catchup services. The Sky Essentials package starts at £15/month, but Sky Ultimate TV at £24/month includes Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, and Hayu. Programs recorded from BBC or ITV play via their catchup apps, which can be clunky.
Best of the Rest: Humax Aura EZ 4K Recorder
Price: from £249 at Argos and Currys
What we love: Great alternative to Sky Q; ability to record TV
What we don't love: You need a TV aerial; no access to big-name streaming apps
The Humax Aura EZ combines streaming apps with a built-in 3.5in hard drive for local recordings. It features Freely and Freeview via an aerial. When recording, it switches to a Freeview guide; recordings are stored on the 2TB hard drive. It has three Freeview tuners for up to four recordings at once. The unit is well-made with connections including aerial loop-through, HDMI, and ethernet. Picture quality is good, but there's no Netflix, Prime Video, or Disney+. It includes Freely catchup services. Operational temperament due to firmware updates is a downside.
What You Need to Know
Wireless TV streamers deliver content via broadband, requiring a robust internet connection. Freely offers benefits like no tethering and access from anywhere. Minimum recommended speed is 10Mbps, but 20-25Mbps is better for 4K. Consider Wi-Fi signal strength; models with ethernet can be hard-wired or use powerline adapters.
Should You Buy a Wireless TV Streamer?
A wireless TV streamer is a great investment to prolong the life of existing TVs, improve reception, or consolidate channels and apps. If cutting the cord from a premium provider, you can still buy discs for new movies.
