Sky Q, a beloved TV device in the UK for over a decade, continues to be a popular choice due to its built-in hard drive for content recording. However, Manhattan’s TV Team has introduced the S4-R Freesat 4K TV Recorder as a new competitor with a key advantage.
Similar to Sky Q, the S4-R utilizes a dish to transmit shows and movies while providing internal storage for recordings. Users can access a full interactive TV guide and the ability to pause live TV. Notably, the Manhattan S4-R does not require any subscription fees post-purchase, offering over 100 free TV and radio channels, excluding premium content like Sky Sports and Sky Cinema.
The S4-R, like Sky Q, can record multiple channels simultaneously and debuts with a 500GB hard drive, expandable to larger 1TB and 2TB versions for increased storage. It also features live TV controls akin to Sky’s capabilities, enabling users to pause and rewind broadcasts.
Manhattan assures a user-friendly interface, search functionality, and access to over 60,000 hours of on-demand content through various apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and My5. The company’s COO, Alex Arbab-Zadeh, highlighted the S4-R’s enhanced recording capabilities, allowing up to four simultaneous recordings, double the previous capacity.
Described as a compelling alternative to subscription TV, the Manhattan S4-R offers flexibility, variety, and cost-saving benefits. The S4-R is set to launch this month and will be available at retailers like Currys, John Lewis, Argos, and Richer Sounds, with pricing starting at £219.99 for the 500GB model, increasing to £249.99 for the 1TB version in May, and £279.99 for the 2TB model in June.
