UK viewers could soon find something strange happening to their smart TVs, with new regulations potentially arriving to slow down start-up speeds.

The British government is considering plans to bring the UK in line with the EU when it comes to standby and off mode technologies. It could impose a cap on how much power a TV can use when in standby mode, which will affect how quickly you can turn on your set and start watching.

According to The Independent, the measures are in the consultation phase, meaning the government is assessing whether to introduce them. If so, it will not only affect televisions but other devices that use a standby mode, such as games consoles, air fryers, security cameras, and other smart home products.

The aim is to reduce household power consumption and potentially reduce energy bills. The EU has already implemented its own regulations, which the UK is looking at closely.

The consultation document (which can be found on the official gov.uk website) claims that the current regulations on smart devices and energy usage are outdated: "GB's current minimum standards for standby, off mode and networked standby have not kept pace with technological progress – meaning new types of products and more complex features often fall outside our rules or exploit outdated definitions, leading to avoidable energy waste," it says.

"We are therefore proposing to repeal and replace the two current GB regulations covering standby, off mode, networked standby and simple set-top boxes."

Any changes are unlikely to affect your existing tech. They will more likely be imposed on future TVs and other devices, with manufacturers having to adhere to new standards.

How this will also affect the likes of HDMI CEC – which autoswitches between devices – is unclear. However, if the UK does follow the EU in enforcing similar regulations and requirements, at least it would make it easier for manufacturers to synchronise its product lines for the two regions.

The consultation period is set to end on 24 December this year. We should find out more soon after.

We've been waiting four years for a new Apple TV 4K and it was finally announced yesterday – even becoming available to pre-order minutes after. However, is it really worth upgrading?

As well as being considerably more expensive than the 2022 variants it replaces, the main new feature of the new streamer is that it will add Siri AI to your TV viewing. But we've also learned that an update for existing Apple TV 4K boxes will too.

Lurking in the footnotes in the press release for the new device is the sentence: "Access to Siri AI is also available on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later". That means it will also work on the version released five years ago.

Some of you might be able to access it now in fact, as it's part of the tvOS 27.2 beta that's rolling out. However, there are a few hoops to jump through to get Siri AI working, so it might be worth waiting until the full release arrives.

That could be the middle of November, as that's when the new Apple TV 4K is due to ship (from 13 November).

Of course, your existing Apple TV box won't feature remote-free voice interactivity. The new version contains three far-field microphones to listen out for wake words – such as "Hey Siri". And you won't get the new remote with Find My and a speaker built in in case you lose it.

Most importantly, you won't get the bump up to the A19 processor, which isn't just there to ensure Siri AI runs better locally, but will greatly improve the speed and fluidity of operation. Oh, and the new version also adds AV1 support for higher quality streaming while using less bandwidth.

So there's still plenty to help justify that £299 / $299 outlay, especially for those who use their Apple TV 4K daily. But it's good to know that there's absolutely no need to bin the current model quite yet.

After four years of rumours and finger-crossing Apple has finally upgraded its Apple TV 4K streamer, bringing a boost in processing and a few new features.

Available to pre-order now for release on 13 November 2026, the new Apple TV 4K looks incredible similar to the last, but it's the tech inside that counts.

The new version has been "supercharged" to work with Siri AI, which includes a new brain in the A19 chip. This is the same CPU used in the iPhone 17 and delivers, what the company claims, "50% faster" processing speeds. It is also capable of twice the speed when it comes to the GPU.

There's a new AV1 decoder included too, which enables higher quality video streaming for less bandwidth. That will ensure images (and audio) remain at their best, especially when using Wi-Fi.

Another new hardware feature is the inclusion of far-field microphones. There are three built into the box so you can use your voice to control it without needing to press the dedicated button on the remote.

Indeed, the remote itself has also been updated to include Find My support for the first time. It comes with a speaker built-in so you can make it play a sound when hidden.

What else is now?

Also new with the Apple TV 4K (4th Gen) is the ability to pair it with up to four HomePod and HomePod mini 2 speakers for a surround sound experience. They automatically calibrate based on their position in your room, so you can get a simple, effective home cinema experience.

Finally, thanks to the increased power, the new model also works better as a smart home hub. It will give you control over multiple, compatible devices, including video doorbells and security cameras. You can see the video feed on your TV and talk to visitors directly.

There is one caveat to all the new features though – the price.

The new Apple TV 4K costs £299 / $299 – a £50 mark up on the higher-end model it replaces. It's £100 more than the entry-level 2022 version, which doesn't seem to have been retained.

Still, considering it is more than a mere TV streaming device this time, that might be a price you're willing to pay.

Google is reportedly working on a new version of the Google TV Streamer, looking to reduce any advantage that Apple gains through its own expected update on 13 October.

According to rumours, the Apple TV 4K is in line for a refresh, partly so that it can play its part in Apple's new smart home line-up, but it's also going to incorporate microphones so users can access Siri AI without using the remote.

Now according to details from 9to5Google, the new Google TV Streamer will have microphones for Gemini access directly, again bypassing the button on the remote.

That will bring voice control to the fore for both devices, along with more powerful processors for a snappier experience.

It's said that the Google TV Streamer will have much the same design, but it will be slightly narrower than the existing version, so it's more compact overall.

Both devices also seem to be in line for a new remote, with Apple adding a speaker to help you find it when lost. Google on the other hand is said to be planning more shortcut buttons. Currently, Google's remote offers YouTube and Netflix shortcuts, but with two more buttons, there's potential for Google to license these to other streaming services, like Disney+ or Prime Video.

Improved performance is always welcomed, but while the focus seems to be on adding voice support to make navigation or programme finding easier, we don't know if there will be any technical changes to the devices and the formats they support.

We could see Apple adding hardware support for AV1 and AV9 (used on YouTube) and it might also add support or passthrough for DTS sound formats. Equally, Google could add support for DTS.

Beyond that, the only real evolution visually is Dolby Vision 2, which requires specific hardware that's appearing in some televisions in 2026. We're still in early days for Dolby Vision 2 and whether these streaming devices will be adapted for better Dolby Vision 2 handling (bearing in mind the TV will need to support it too) remains to be seen.

It might simply be that both Apple and Google want to make it easier for their TV devices to respond to voice interaction in this new age of AI-powered chat. As we've seen from devices using Alexa+, that can result in your TV giving you much more detailed results when responding to questions.

Apple will host its second launch event in just over a month tomorrow, 13 October, with smart home devices expected to be the focus – and that includes the long-awaited new Apple TV 4K.

Thought to come with a more powerful chipset, the new streamer will support Siri AI and operate more smoothly than the 2022 model it's replacing. And, according to one industry expert, it'll be available to pre-order as soon as the even is over.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who is rarely wrong about Apple's plans, the Apple TV 4K (2026) will be available to order from Tuesday 13 October and ship from Friday 30 October. You should also find it in stores from the end of the month, too.

It will come with at least two new features, he says, including built-in microphones to allow users to use voice commands without needing to press a button on the remote. The remote itself will also contain a speaker to make it easier to find when hidden.

Previous rumours have suggested that the new Apple TV 4K will run on the A19 chip – as found in the iPhone 17. This will give it compatibility with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence functionality.

That's also a darn sight more powerful than the A15 in the current set-top-box, so you can expect the new model to run better all-round. It could make a big difference to Apple Arcade gaming, for example, and when loading third-party apps.

Apple's Welcome Home event

Also said to be launching during the "Welcome Home" event tomorrow is the Apple HomeView – the much-rumoured HomePod with a display.

Targeting the likes of the Amazon Echo Show and Nest Home Hub, the new device will also support Siri AI and come in two versions, it's claimed. There will be one that sits on a tabletop, with another designed for mounting on a wall.

Perhaps surprisingly, Apple is also claimed to be working with LG on a range of other smart home products, including its own video doorbell.

We will be covering all of the major announcements in full as they happen, so join us for the coverage on T3.

I was very impressed by the Netgem Pleio when it first arrived a couple of Christmases ago. The world's first Freely box not only gives you free streaming access to more than 70 major UK TV channels – including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 – it is a fully-featured Android TV streamer, so can access 100s of apps too.

It's also been upgraded several times since then, so offers and even smoother, more content rich experience. And with its Amazon Prime Big Deal Days offer, the Pleio represents even better value for money than ever.

We've seen a few other Freely TV boxes since the Pleio launched, but it's still one of the very best. Indeed, the recently-released Vodafone TV uses the same Netgem platform, so you are getting a system that is rapidly growing and improving.

Capable of outputting 4K HDR (Dolby Vision) video over HDMI, as well as up to Dolby Atmos sound, the Pleio puck (as it's more accurately known), runs on the latest version of Android TV. That means you can download 100s of apps from the Google Play Store, including all of the major streaming services.

You also get 12-months of Pleio Extra – Netgem's subscription service that adds access to more than 300 cloud games and an extra 150+ channels to stream live.

The Freely front-end is the device's real star, though. It gives you more than 70 UK TV channels to stream, or you can scroll through the electronic programme guide and catch-up on shows and movies you might have missed by just clicking on them. The service opens the relevant streaming app, such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX.

The puck is also super small, so is easy to hide in an AV cabinet, so at just £84.14 with no extra enforced costs, it's a real bargain. Just note two things: the deal is exclusive to Prime members, although you can sign up for a 30-day trial for free; and the Prime Big Deal Days sale ends at midnight tonight (7 October 2026), so you need to be quick off the draw to get this price. Good luck.

Amazon had hinted that its October Prime Day sale would be littered with TV discounts and, sure enough, here we are with some great cut-price options.

I've been reviewing TVs for many years and will be scouring Amazon's listings during its two-day sale – it's the final day today, Wednesday 7 October, so these prices may change thereafter – to scout out the best buys.

Shop all Amazon Prime Big Deal Days offers

Whether you're after a big screen, or something smaller and more affordable, there's something here for everyone – as my 'Top 3' pick highlighted below.

T3's Top 3 TV deals:

I've said it before: much as I love the best streaming services, not one of them is a patch on the best physical media available – and it's 4K Blu-ray that's the ultimate solution, which I continue to purchase.

I've been buying an increasing number of discs lately, as it's part of my New Year's Resolution project to kick off a '4K Blu-ray Club', watching a new or classic piece of cinema on a monthly basis.

Shop all 4K Blu-ray Prime Day deals UK

Prime Deals 2026 – Our picks of all the best offers

It's turned out to be quite a pricey hobby, unsurprisingly, but then deals like these come along to help out the bank balance a little. Many in Amazon's October sale are even cheaper than in the retailer's June sale.

While I did have a brief fear that physical media would dry up entirely – as I penned in The End Of 4K Blu-ray Will Be A Major Loss For Us All – we're actually seeing an uptick in titles, old and new (indeed, I just watched the 4K remaster of Falling Down – which looks amazing).

5 Honourable mentions

• Lawrence of Arabia – largely considered the peak of remastering (as it's 8K scanned from the 65mm original negative), this epic can't be seen in a more epic way. It just doesn't have any discount right now.
• Flow – a digital animation that can push the limits of detail, brightness and colour as a result, this is also a zero-language beautiful masterpiece that the whole family can enjoy.
• Fight Club – finally, it arrived in 4K physical form, marking 25 years after the original cinematic masterpiece. It looks better than ever here, although the colour cast and visual FX have seen controversial alterations.
• Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die – this was hard to find initially, but is now available at a reasonable price; director Gore Verbinski's latest is a wild ride that's as funny as it is reflective
• Falling Down – no current deals on this 4K remaster (which doesn't exist on streaming), showcasing just how high-quality the capture of Michael Douglas' cult classic was – and remains to this day

Don't forget a decent player

Honestly, I could go on and on with this list. It's a sort of infinite possibility in a sense, as there are so many good movies I've not included – many of which you can see in my lead image on this very article.

Do ensure you have a decent source player to use for your watching experience, though, as while the PlayStation 5 is fine, a top-tier BR Player, such as Panasonic's DP-UB820 (or UB9000 if you've got the cash) will make all the difference.

Of the dozens of TVs we review a year here at T3, when it comes to Amazon's best sets there's a theme in those reviews that's my biggest problem with its own-brand TVs.

You already know what I'm going to say: the price. Savvily, however, Amazon has once again just cut the pricing of its Ember TV line – from budget basic to top-tier flagship – with almost half price off some of the sets.

Check out Amazon's Ember TV deals here

It's all part of Amazon Prime Day (technically Big Deals Days) – which runs today and tomorrow (Tuesday 6 to Wednesday 7 October 2026 – and echoes the pricing of the previous Prime Day sale once more.

So just what can you get? Here are my two picks: a 43-inch low-priced 4K model and a higher-end 65-inch model, that brings even greater brightness to the party.

There's a lot of choice when it comes to buying the best TVs of today, though. From Xiaomi to TCL, Hisense to Haier, there are a lot of big-scale budget options to consider.

While TCL's C7K is our go-to high-end yet affordable pick most of the time, this Amazon price drop on its Mini-LED set might make your purchase decision even more of a conundrum – as the Amazon model is more keenly priced.

All Amazon sets also run Fire TV, which is a great interface whether or not you watch much on Amazon Prime. It caters for the UK catch-up channels, Netflix, Disney+, the lot, all direct from the interface.

So if you've been looking for a TV but the biggest problem has been the price, then Amazon has now fixed that in this Prime deal. Whether it's a winter upgrade, a second room purchase, or a bigger screen blowout – there are many options across the range.

You might've heard: it's Amazon's Prime Day sale (well, 'Prime Big Deals Days' – but nobody calls it that). Which means one thing: lots of decent offers on lots of decent tech.

I've been keeping a close eye on the best TVs, as there were titters that Amazon's sale would be the ideal shopping opportunity for a new panel. And, sure enough, the deals have come flooding in – with this 75-inch mega-discount the first notable winner.

Check out Amazon's Xiaomi TV deal here | or direct from Xiaomi Store

We reviewed Xiaomi's first foray into the TV market earlier this year, praising the TV F Pro for being great value for money for a QLED. And that was at full price – this discount marks it out as a far better deal, with 37% cut from the price.

You might be wondering what QLED is at this stage, too? That's a layer within the TV panel that results in a wider, more vibrant colour range – really adding to the pizzazz of what you're watching.

The backlight is what's called 'direct LED', meaning illumination from behind for greater accuracy than edge-illumination. However, as it's a VA panel type, you don't get great viewing angles – you'll want to view this set front-on for best visuals.

UK customers benefit from integrated Freely TV, which is easy to use and has all your catch-up services – including BBC iPlayer and the full UK set – without the need for any other complex kit. You can stream direct over Wi-Fi, no cable or aerial required.

I notice that Xiaomi's own store is also selling the set at the same discount, so there's a chance that the deal could extend beyond Amazon's two-day time-frame – finishing at 23:59 on Wednesday 7 October – but I wouldn't wait around to gamble.

If you're in the market for a 75-inch TV bargin, then this whopper is a mega deal.

When it comes to high-end streaming devices, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro is right up there with the Apple TV 4K. Even though the current version was launched in 2019, the Android TV box is still extremely powerful for a video streamer.

But as Apple is set to refresh its own four-year-old device at last, Nvidia shows no signs of doing the same. What's more, it's now made the existing Shield TV Pro more difficult to get hold of – unless you want to pay a whole lot more.

Not only has the company scrapped the cheaper, less powerful Shield TV, it has raised the price of the Pro model by a whopping $100 in the US. That makes it $299.99 for the same seven-year-old technology.

The one good bit of news for those in the UK is that the price hike doesn't seem to have been implemented over here yet, but only because it is almost impossible to find on sale.

Nvidia itself no longer lists it on its own UK web store.

How much does the Nvidia Shield TV Pro cost now?

As for the new US pricing, Nvidia claimed to Ars Technica that this is because "the cost of components, including memory, has increased substantially across the industry" – a common excuse for most tech companies today.

What's perhaps odd is that the components costs would only apply to newly manufactured products, which suggests the brand is still making the Pro. If so, why is it out of sale in many regions?

And if Nvidia is still making the Shield TV Pro, it suggests it still sells – so why have we not seen a new, upgraded model?

It's a shame as I can't see consumers stomaching such a massive rise in the retail price, not when equally as powerful and useful streaming devices can be bought for half the new ticket.

Still, it's another thing we can chalk up to RAMageddon and the hunger to build more AI data centres – of which Nvidia is ironically as culpable as any.

Vodafone TV is now available in the UK and is set to give Sky a run for its money. That's because one of the packages comes with free Netflix and HBO Max, as well as everything Freely has to offer, and access to the Google Play Store for app downloads, all from £17 per month.

You can even get the new box and service from just £10 per month – and that includes Freely TV streaming.

The Vodafone TV box is similar to the Netgem Pleio released last year, which is no surprise as it's made by the same manufacturer. It's a full Android TV streaming device that also gives you access to the entire Freely TV service.

This includes live streaming of all of the UK's biggest TV channels, plus the ability to catch-up through their respective on demand services just by clicking on shows in the electronic programme guide. There are now more than 70 channels available through Freely.

On top of this, you also get access to the entire range of Android apps available through the Play Store, plus cloud gaming to play more than 300 titles over the internet (you just need a Bluetooth controller).

All of the major streaming services can be accessed through the box too, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, and HBO Max.

The £17 Vodafone TV Essential plan includes Netflix Standard with Ads and HBO Max Standard with Ads, which usually cost a combined £13.98 on their own.

There is also a third plan – Vodafone TV Ultimate, which is for mobile customers only. This costs £22.50 per month and offers a choice between Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video as an additional included service.

Vodafone TV picture and sound quality

The Vodafone TV box is capable of 4K HDR (Dolby Vision) video output and up to Dolby Atmos audio. We're not sure of the processor, but it runs with 3GB of RAM to ensure the user experience is speedy and smooth, and there's 32GB of storage for apps.

It is currently exclusive to Vodafone Broadband or Mobile customers, so you will need to sign up to a separate Vodafone tariff for either of those to get Vodafone TV.

However, that also includes SIM-only plans and Vodafone currently has some great deals on those too.

We only brought you news on the all-new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K yesterday and it's available with a massive discount already.

The new model replaces the 4K Select and 4K Plus variants in Amazon's lineup and promises to be faster in operation than ever before. It also comes with the new Fire TV Remote, which has been redesigned to be easier to hit buttons even when not looking directly at it.

There are launch deals available in both the UK and US, with up to 53% off the new streaming device.

The offer is available for a "limited time period", which Amazon US reveals to be until the end of the Prime Big Deal Days sale on 6 and 7 October.

The all-new Fire TV Stick 4K switches from the old Android-based operating system to Amazon's new Vega OS. This means you won't be able to sideload apps that aren't available through the built-in app store, but it can operated much more quickly than previous Sticks.

That's because all of the experience is cloud based, with apps stored on Amazon's servers rather than the device itself. For all intents and purposes, the streamer works exactly the same as you'd expect, but because it doesn't rely on its own on-board processing, loading times are much quicker – up to 40% quicker, in fact.

All of the same streaming services are available, including Prime Video (of course), Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV and Paramount+. There are plenty of games and other apps to be found too.

The new model comes with an all-new Fire TV Remote, which works similarly to previous versions but has been redesigned to be more comfortable to use. There is also a customisable button, which was only available on the higher-end remotes before.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale runs for 48-hours from 6 October 2026. There are plenty of other Fire TV deals available too.

I've been covering Sky's set-top-boxes, TVs and services for a long time and once or twice a year I get an early chance to check out the new features coming to customers. Most of the time that includes a handful of new features or capabilities coming to the company's devices.

Every so often though, there's something bigger than that – a chance to see a series of software enhancements that completely change the experience. Today was one of those times.

Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers are in for a treat "later this year", as a new Sky OS front end is on its way with a host of significant tweaks and new modes that not only resolve some of my own quibbles with the system, but answer questions I didn't even know I had.

Currently being trialled publicly by a select group of Sky Glass owners, the new software makes it easier to navigate around Sky's streaming devices, find relevant content more easily, and helps lessen the need to doomscroll your way down rails to find areas important to you.

This includes smarter, AI-powered voice control, an easier way to jump into live TV shows, and the return of recordings.

Here then are the biggest changes coming to your Sky Glass or Sky Stream soon.

A new menu bar

Perhaps the first thing you'll notice on the homescreen is an all-new menu bar at the top. Looking a bit like Apple's Liquid Glass iOS design (Liquid Sky Glass?), the transparent bar makes it much easier to quickly get to different sections of the Sky experience.

The menu hosts tabs for Home, TV Guide, My Library, Sport, My Account, plus easy access to text search and settings. And on the far left is a clock-style icon for what is currently termed "Recents" but could change in name.

Home is exactly what you expect, although there are some design tweaks to the main page too. The top of the screen no longer shows an image of the show or app you've clicked on, but a selection of curated content that rotates to help you discover something new.

In addition, if you tap up on the remote, it will transform into a large video trailer of that content.

TV Guide should be self-explanatory. By simply tapping right on the remote you can instantly access the electronic programme guide, which now uses channel icons rather than plain text to make things more recognisable.

You can jump straight into live TV from here, or set future programmes to record (more on that later). This reduces the number of clicks you've previously needed to use to get to live TV. Sky has even removed the picture-in-picture step, so you go straight into the full screen feed.

When you retreat from live TV, then you'll get the PIP feed in the bottom right-hand corner, but even then you just need to hit the back button to return to full screen.

My Library is the new name of the Playlist section. It will give you everything you have stored as part of your profile, all in an easier to find area. This will include programmes and series you have placed on your Watchlist as well as Recordings.

You can also add your favourite actors and sports teams to your profile, so related content for either will also appear here.

The Sports section is also now easier to find, all through the menu bar. As are My Account to check your details, text search and the Settings. I can't be the only one who found having to scroll down multiple rails just to change the video or audio modes frustrating.

Welcome to Recents and Recordings

The final main new tab can be found on the left of the new menu bar. Currently dubbed "Recents" it gives you a shortcut to everything you've been doing on your Glass or Stream box recently.

That includes the Continue Watching rail, which can now be found in its own section, recent channels you've visited, and recent apps you've opened. It makes it much quicker to find the content you care about most.

I particularly like that the apps rail can be found there and is just three rails down, so it's much quicker to find and open a specific app than it has been. Of course, as I was reminded during my demo, I could have just used the voice remote and say "YouTube", but I keep forgetting. Don't judge me.

On top of Recents, another welcome addition is Recordings. This is not new, of course, as you've had the ability to record shows to the cloud since Sky Glass first launched. But Sky hasn't made a big song and dance about it before, preferring to refer to cloud recordings and playlisting as one and the same.

It is now making the messaging more clear. Shows can either be put on your watchlist or set to record. And that includes individual programmes, not just entire series.

I've always had an issue with the Playlist function in that, if I just want to watch an F1 GP but not the practice sessions, I've still had to add the coverage in general to my Playlist and wade through the additional broadcasts. And the service would continue to add every subsequent event until I took it off the list.

Now though, I can select the forthcoming show in the EPG and be faced with new options – Record Show, Record Series or add to my Watchlist. This can be profile specific too. And even though the content will be recorded to Sky's cloud servers rather than a local HDD, those who like managing their recordings (a la Sky Q) can now do so.

What's more, you have 1,000 hours of recordings you can store before needing to delete some. This, Sky said, is the equivalent of 500 days worth of Peppa Pig, if you watch it day and night without sleep.

Basically, you are never going to run out of space.

One caveat is that not all channels allow you to record shows. The BBC, for example, will still only allow you to Watchlist shows and view them through iPlayer. But all of Sky's own channels, including Sky Sports, will.

Smart Voice

Also coming to Sky Glass and Sky Stream is a smarter, AI-powered voice assistant.

You can currently use keywords and simple phrases to control your Sky devices via the voice remote, but the next-gen service will enable a more contextual, natural way of interacting with the operating system.

Entirely centred on entertainment and content discovery, it will not only find shows and movies for you to enjoy, but information about them – gleaned from the likes of Wikipedia.

This also includes from within a show itself. You can ask a question about the film or programme and it'll pop up at the top of the screen, leaving your viewing uninterrupted.

For example, during my demo we asked, "Find me that movie where Tom Hanks is stranded on a desert island." The assistant pulled up the page for Castaway. We could then follow it up with a contextual question, such as, "Has it won any awards?"

Another good example was asking Smart Voice, "What time is Celebrity Traitors on this week?" Not only did it tell us, but it brought up the page so we could save it to the Watchlist.

The new assistant has also been tweaked graphically, to look more like it's listening to you and responding. And those worrying about privacy or AI tomfoolery needn't – Sky has guardrails in place and ensures it remains on message. You can only really ask it questions on entertainment or to control the service.

It'll be interesting to see where this goes too, as there's even more potential for greater interaction down the line – such as guides and information on the hardware.

When is the new Sky OS coming?

Many of these changes, new features and tweaks are already being tested in a closed public trial, along with quite a few others. Sadly, you cannot currently sign up to test them yourself.

However, T3 was told that the first software update will arrive "before the end of the year" – and is expected relatively soon.

I'll also be testing it more myself to bring you additional thoughts on the new Sky OS, so you bring you further updates in the coming days and weeks.

Until then, I like what I've seen so far and most of the enhancements are exactly that. And the best news is you won't have to pay a penny more to get them.

Amazon has announced a new version of its Fire TV Stick 4K, simplifying its streaming device range in the process.

The new model replaces the existing Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus streamers (which can be found on sale while stocks last), in order to simplify the offering. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max remains, however.

The new Fire TV Stick 4K runs on Vega OS – Amazon's own operating system that uses the cloud to stream the experience, not just individual apps. This controversially means that you can't sideload apps onto the device while streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney+ aren't installed locally. The upside though is that the new device is much quicker than predecessors – by up to 40%.

Apps also load more quickly (as they are doing so on remote servers rather than the device itself). Amazon claims they can start up 35% more quickly.

Another upgrade is that the new Stick can be powered directly from a USB port on your TV, so you don't have to worry about connecting it to a separate power supply. It also comes with Alexa+ support from the box.

A new Amazon Fire TV Remote

Amazon has also launched the new model with its latest Fire TV Remote included. This new version has been redesigned with more tactile controls, to make it easier to use without having to look for the buttons.

It also has the same customisable star button that usually comes on the higher-end remote Amazon sells. This can be set to open a favourite app, for example, or to change settings.

The all-new Fire TV Stick 4K will be available from today for £69.99 in the UK / $59.99 in the US. There will be deal on Amazon UK for a limited time, pricing it at just £32.99.

The new Fire TV Remote will soon be available to pre-order separately at £13.99.

The BBC is currently on a drive to save more than half a million pounds from its running costs, which is leading it to make some difficult decisions on your favourite shows, TV channels and radio stations in the UK.

On top of this, it is committed to shifting its broadcast model to a more digital-centric model, with the eventual aim of becoming a digital-first broadcaster. And this has lead its new director general, Matt Brittin, to admit that some terrestrial TV channels might soon close or switch to iPlayer only.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg on her BBC One show this Sunday, the former boss of Google Europe said the corporation "wouldn't guarantee any programme or channel will exist forever", and that decisions might be made "sooner than we might like".

Brittin also explained (via BBC.co.uk) that audiences are already switching to BBC iPlayer to watch the same content: "We might have some channels and services where maybe 100,000 people are watching the broadcast service, but 500,000 are getting those programmes on iPlayer," he said.

In that case, it might make logical sense to move them to online-only.

"We're locked into yesterday's model of how people consume content, and actually the audience is always already living in tomorrow's world," he added.

The BBC and AI

Worryingly, while the broadcaster contemplates staff losses and the closure of services, this might not be the end to the cuts. Brittin also has an eye on the ways AI could be used through the corporation: "We want to experiment with this technology and understand what it can and can't do," he explained.

However, the director general also believes it is no replacement for human creativity: "I don't think anything we do should be replaced by AI," he revealed.

"I think there are lots of places where AI can help us make the licence fee go further... but it's not a substitute for humans."

LG has been making consumer OLED TVs for a long while now – since 2013, in fact – and it shows no sign in slowing down. There's just one kink in the road – the ongoing RAM crisis.

As with just about every tech firm right now, LG is forced to navigate its way around the rising prices and scarcity of components due to AI data centres gobbling them up like Hungry Hippos. Anything that requires RAM or storage has been affected, and that includes TVs.

"That is a very big challenge," revealed the company's head of customer display experience, Baek Sun-pil, to T3 during IFA in Germany.

However, he also explained that LG is managing to counter some hardware barriers with software optimisation: "From our side, our homework was, 'how can you make our operating system more optimised?'

"We managed to get the same performance from lower memory. Higher performance, even."

LG has also been working further with its hardware partners to lessen the impact: "We are in free discussion with the memory guys," he added.

"We are in discussion for the next year and the years later. So we are well prepared."

But like everyone in the tech industry, Baek is looking forward to when the crisis finally abates. Something he told us could happen in a year or so: "I think it's not because of the TV industry, but because of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and other things.

"But end of next year or early 2028," he predicted as a possible timescale for the industry to start to normalise again.

Future OLED TV innovation

Thankfully, reducing the costs of components isn't LG's only drive to make OLED TVs more accessible.

The display executive also explained to us that he wants to see larger screen sizes reduce in price in the coming years: "How can we deliver a bigger screen size for a more affordable price?" he asked.

"I think that's also very challenging. For example, the 97-inch OLED is something like £20,000, while a normal OLED TV is just £1,000. That's too much of a gap."

Certainly, it could be the next bastion for OLED development, to help encourage existing OLED TV owners to upgrade: "When changing, we see them changing from 65 (inches) to 75, 75 changing to 80, so bigger screen sizes.

"And AI will help drive [upgrading] too, of course. We support AI functions and TVs will soon include more agentic AI features."

But what about 8K? The industry has largely gone quiet on the next-gen resolution: "4K is the major stream. Hollywood studios currently have greater interest in 4K than 8K, as content production and distribution remain largely centred on 4K."

The upshot of this is that, buy a new 4K HDR OLED TV today – such as the LG C6 or new Wallpaper TV for 2026 – and you shouldn't need to worry about an upgrade for half a decade or more.

There's no sign of 4K being superseded anytime soon, while LG is doing everything in its power to keep the impact of RAMageddon away from consumers. The only question you'll likely still have is, "Will my wall fit an 80-inch TV or above?" Especially when prices start to come down.

And that's not a bad quandary to face.

After a recent trial, Sky has launched a new version of its Sky Go app – this time for Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers exclusively.

Sky Go has long enabled Sky subscribers to download and stream programming remotely, on mobile devices or tablets, but the new version is better targeted at the TV giant's streaming customers. The regular Sky Go app is still available for those with Sky Q and legacy satellite boxes.

The new Sky Go – which is listed on app stores as Sky Go (Glass / Stream) – gives you a similar user experience to your Sky TV device. You can continue watching content started on your Sky Glass or Stream box, and you can see the shows you've stored in your shared watchlist.

There's also the option to switch watchlists to those stored under different profiles, so family members can each see their personally listed shows and movies on their own devices.

The new app also allows you to 'watchlist" content from your phone or tablet, which will then show under your profile on a Glass or Stream, too. And, you can stream TV channels and catch-up shows on any of your devices just by tapping on it.

Upgraded downloads – now Full HD

One other main upgrade is that Sky Go (Glass / Stream) now allows you to download and watch content at 1080p (Full HD). The legacy app is restricted to 720p.

That won't matter much on a smartphone, where the screen is much smaller, but will ensure the picture quality looks much sharper on a larger tablet, say. I watch a lot of content on my 11-inch iPad Pro, so this is very welcome in that case.

Also, sports fans now get a dedicated section of the app to find live matches and other broadcasts. That includes sports documentaries and live feeds of the Sky Sports channels if you subscribe to them.

The Sky Go (Glass / Stream) app is available to download on iOS and Android now, with the original Sky Go (Q / +) having also been recently refreshed and renamed. The latter has received a similar facelift, but retains some of the important features for satellite customers – such as the ability to set recordings on a Sky Q box remotely.

A lot has been made of Grand Theft Auto VI seemingly playing at a locked 30 frames per second on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but if you have a new Philips TV, you probably won't care.

That's because the brand's new flagship OLED model will be the first with a dedicated 30fps game mode. This uses advanced picture processing to ensure the lower frame rate runs smoothly, without visible stutter.

It is common knowledge that modern games run better at 60fps or above. They look smoother and, more importantly, reduce input lag when they do so. Most console games therefore offer multiple graphics modes, generally offering a choice between playing in a higher resolution and fidelity at the cost of frame rate, or higher frame rates at the sacrifice of clarity or graphics options (such as ray tracing).

GTA 6 is unlikely to do this, it seems. Like its predecessors, the game is said to be sticking to 30fps as standard – at launch, at least.

That shouldn't be an issue on the Philips OLED+951 though. The company claims that it is using its proprietary, powerful P5 AI Picture Engine to compensate: "We've adapted our AI engine – the P5 Engine – to add a low frame game mode," explained Dieter Verlinde to T3 during a demo at IFA 2026.

Verlinde is the team lead for picture quality innovation at TP Vision, which operates the Philips TV brand in the UK and Europe.

"If you don't use it, you have stutter. If you do, it's fluent again.

"We could have just adjusted our natural motion or motion system for gaming, but in this case it would add a lot of latency – up to 200 milliseconds, which you would feel. But we adapted that mode for gaming especially, to go to 10ms."

That's not applicable for games running at 60fps or higher – the Philips OLED+951 uses a 165Hz Meta OLED panel – but it should prove more effectively in running lower frame rate games than existing TVs.

Taking games seriously

Funny enough, while the new mode should benefit Rockstar's latest it was partly born through a partnership with Ubisoft and its Assassin Creed franchise instead. TP Vision has been closely working with the French software giant and, specifically, its latest release – Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.

There's even a dedicated picture mode for the game that comes preloaded, which ensures it looks its best on screen and around the frame thanks to Ambilight.

Indeed, one of the additional game centric features being added to Philips' latest TV range is the option to program different settings for different games, which will then switch on automatically when that game is detected by the television's AI-powered software.

"You can manually populate these profiles, and the moment the game starts it will detect what it is," Verlinde added.

Alternatively, for those who don't want to tinker too much, the TV comes with a reference mode that should offer the best out-of-the-box settings.

Certainly, TP Vision and its Philips brand is taking gaming seriously this year. And with the new Grand Theft Auto around the corner, who can blame it?

If I think of one soundbar to rule them all – in terms of being the best-suited option for many people's spaces and, indeed, their TV sizes – then it'd have to be the Sonos Beam.

After two successful previous Beam product launches, the third soundbar in the series – replete with new Beam Ultra moniker – is now available for pre-order, ahead of its 29 September on-sale date.

I was able to test out Sonos' latest soundbar ahead of that launch date, attending a dedicated event in Berlin, which ran adjacent to the IFA tech expo's calendar, to see what new audio upgrades and enhancements it offers.

1. Better Dolby Atmos for more immersive delivery

While the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) does offer Dolby Atmos surround decoding, it's achieved through psychoacoustic processing to 'trick' your brain into hearing sounds across a broader, taller soundstage.

While the Sonos Beam Ultra also deploys a lot of processing, this new soundbar's 7.1.2 channel arrangement dedicates two upfiring channels to its setup – which deliver more notable height and surround sensibility.

These use waveform guides to project their output upwards and forwards, giving a greater sense of sound that envelops you. Even in the large space at The Apartment in The Hoxton Hotel's Charlottenburg location, this small soundbar was able to project.

That's a massive and obvious step up for the Beam series, closing the gap between what it and its bigger brother, the Arc Ultra, can deliver. The latter option is much larger, louder, more enveloping and (of course) more expensive – and therefore not suitable for everyone.

2. Improved physical surround upgrade options

One of the Beam 2's most obviously successful features is the capacity to upgrade it with rear speakers for a true surround sound output – and it works really well with a pair of Sonos SL-100 speakers, which is precisely how a colleague has upgraded his setup.

While the Beam Ultra can also absolutely be setup in that way, with a pair of wired rears, it also launches in tandem with the Sonos 27 app and the ability to integrate wireless surrounds using a pair of Sonos Wi-Fi-capable speakers – either the Move 2 or Play.

I was able to experience the process of setting this up at my demo setting – and it's a total cinch. Introduce a pair of speakers, powered on, and Sonos' new system is able to detect them when there's an HDMI signal output to the soundbar, communicate without you pressing a button, and create a rear pair.

There are caveats to that, though. It can only be a pair of the same speaker – so two Move 2 or two Play units. It also can't be a singular unit to act as a sole rear – it has to be a pair. And that might be costly. In the same breath, if you already have one Play then it's a good reason to purchase a second one.

Whether you choose wired or wireless, there's no further Sonos TruePlay setup required for this integration. You can casually insert the speakers into a home cinema grouping and remove them for separate use as you wish.

3. Enhanced dialogue, improved customisation

This one is part of considerable consumer feedback and a new app-controlled feature that's key to the Sonos 27 app – and will make all of Sonos' soundbars better at dialogue delivery, thanks to a four-step system (Low, Medium, High, Max) to dynamically boost its output.

In the Beam Ultra, however, there's a big hardware change to the central driver, which is one of the nine inside this soundbar's shell. Its positioned front and centre, but integrates a mid-range driver with embedded tweeter, to ensure that mid-to-upper output can really push dialogue.

I joked with the Sonos team that it ought to have five settings, with 'Nolan' being the upper end of the setup, because modern movies are increasingly dependent on huge theatrical output that just becomes compressed and muddied on a home setup. This new feature, however, helps resolve it.

Interestingly, the 'Max' setting is aimed at those who have particular difficulty in hearing, so will sound excessive to your average listener – but is exactly what a significant section of hard-of-hearing users have long been requesting from Sonos. So here it is!

4. Bigger bass for smaller spaces

The Beam Ultra's nine drivers mean it's got an additional four compared to the earlier Beam 2. That gave Sonos the opportunity to spread the low-end share among more of those units for a bigger, broader bass delivery.

My initial demo just showed off what the soundbar can do, no subwoofer or surrounds added – that came later, showing off the ultimate Beam setup – and it's clear that there's a bigger articulation of bass from this new product.

That said, maintain your expectations. The Apartment space is large and, realistically, too big for a Beam product – an Arc Ultra would be happier in such an environment. I'm yet to try it, but I suspect my smaller living room will give that bass the physical space it requires to sound bigger.

However you look at it, though, the Beam Ultra is designed, arranged and tuned to deliver more low-end across its soundstage than the earlier Beam (Gen 2) model. Which is precisely what many people will be looking for – no separate subwoofer cost or loss of floor space to concern.

5. Maintains small footprint design

My last big positive about the Beam Ultra might seem kind of obvious, but is nonetheless worth pointing out: the product's size.

The Beam series' success has been hinged on its relatively small scale. That's critical for people's living room sizes, their TV sizes, and simply not wanting a huge soundbar eating up lots of their personal space.

While the Beam Ultra adds more drivers, more bass and better Atmos delivery, it doesn't add much more in terms of physical dimensions. Yes, it's a bigger soundbar – but we're talking in centimetres rather than greater equations.

I think that's integral to the ongoing success of the Beam series. The Ultra is clearly the ultimate addition to the range, without reinventing the wheel with regard to what made the first two models such great successes.

Should I buy the Sonos Beam Ultra?

While I've not yet lived with the Sonos Beam Ultra as my own – that's incoming, as the brand is set to deliver review samples imminently – and therefore can't give specific praise for how it'll function in an average home setup, what's clear to me is what a major upgrade this new soundbar will be for many people.

Even Beam (Gen 2) owners have a genuine reason to upgrade, thanks to my points made above, but particularly with regard to the upfiring channel output, broader soundstage, enhanced bass potential, and future-proof upgradeability.

Any downsides? The ongoing lack of an additional HDMI passthrough is going to be a nitpick for any Sonos soundbar. And the higher price for the Ultra might see some consider the Beam (Gen 2) as a bargainous alternative that makes more sense.

Sonos' Beam series has long been the soundbar for many. In the Beam Ultra, however, the audio brand has not only produced an obvious upgrade for its current users, it's also created an exquisite offering for those seeking a massive TV audio enhancement for the first time.

AWOL Vision has unveiled a new flagship ultra-short-throw projector at IFA 2026, and it's packing some serious home-cinema credentials.

The LuxVision delivers 4K resolution at 120Hz, with a claimed 6000 ISO lumens of brightness and a maximum image size of 200 inches. Its 0.18:1 throw ratio means you don't need to sit the projector particularly far from the wall or screen.

Most ultra-short-throw projectors rely heavily on digital keystone correction to get the picture properly aligned. LuxVision instead offers one-touch vertical optical lens shift, allowing you to reposition the image while retaining native 4K detail.

For gamers, the 4K/120Hz performance is backed by 1ms input lag, VRR and ALLM, plus Dolby Vision Gaming. There are three HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort and four-channel HDMI Multiview for multiple sources.

AWOL is also promising impressive picture quality from its RGB triple-laser system, with 110% Rec. 2020 coverage, Dynamic Tone Mapping and a seven-level dynamic iris. Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, Filmmaker Mode and 3D are supported too.

The company says its second-generation Anti-RBE technology is designed to reduce the rainbow artefacts that can affect some laser projectors, particularly during fast-moving, high-contrast scenes.

There's plenty of flexibility beyond the picture, too. A motorised lens cover helps protect the optics when the projector isn't being used, while AWOL says its zero-light-leakage lens is designed to minimise unwanted light.

The LuxVision is due to launch around October, priced at $6,499 / €5,999 / £4,999.

That's premium territory, but if you're after a huge home-cinema picture without installing a conventional long-throw projector, the combination of 4K/120Hz and optical lens shift could make this one worth keeping an eye on.

Vodafone is finally offering its own TV streamer and service, to take on the likes of Sky, Virgin Media and EE/BT. However, it is really hitting the group running with a number of key inclusions that make it worth more than a second glance.

For starters, the new Vodafone TV runs Freely – the UK's fastest-growing free TV service with all the major channels and catch-up services. It also takes on Sky directly with included Netflix and HBO Max as part of the package.

That's something Sky has offered on Sky Glass and Sky Stream for a while, as part of its Sky Ultimate TV package. However, Vodafone is coming into the marketplace strong with a similar offer of Netflix Standard with Ads and HBO Max Standard with Ads subscriptions also thrown in.

On top of this, the Vodafone TV hub runs Android TV, so you can install just about every other streaming service you can imagine, plus games and other apps from the Google Play Store. And there will be more than 300 cloud streamed games available to play without a console at launch, using a smartphone as a controller or a Bluetooth gamepad linked to the box.

Additional streaming services available

Vodafone customers will also have the opportunity to add extra streaming memberships to their plan on a Vodafone Subscription+. That includes Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube Premium.

We're still awaiting full specs for the streaming box, but it has been revealed that it sports 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage for the apps and games. It supports 4K HDR, Dolby Vision and up to Dolby Atmos sound.

There's no word yet on pricing. but Vodafone TV will be available to both Vodafone mobile and broadband customers from October. We'll bring you further details as soon we have them.

Fancy a golf simulator at home, but don't want to sacrifice an entire room to one? BenQ's latest projectors might offer a rather more practical solution.

The company has announced the AK900ST and AK800ST, which it claims are the world's first AI golf projectors. They're designed primarily for indoor golf simulation, with BenQ's new AI Sim Sense technology automatically adjusting the picture to suit the simulated course, room lighting and projection screen.

But the clever bit is that they're not exclusively golf machines. Both projectors can switch between different picture modes for golf, movies, gaming and sports, meaning your expensive golf setup can potentially double as a home cinema or giant gaming screen when you're not working on your handicap.

The main feature is BenQ's AI Sim Sense, which is powered by a dedicated built-in AI processing unit.

Instead of a picture preset, BenQ says the system analyses the golf simulation content, ambient lighting and impact screen before automatically adjusting things such as colour, contrast, resolution and image clarity.

The idea is to make virtual fairways, greens and surrounding scenery look more natural and detailed. Important when you're projecting an image several feet wide onto a golf impact screen.

BenQ has also attempted to make setting up the projectors less of a faff. Auto Screen Fit 2.0 can detect curved or flat impact screens and automatically adjust the projected image, while motorised Auto Focus takes care of focus without requiring manual adjustment.

There's also an Ambient Visual Enhancer, which adjusts the image according to the room's lighting conditions. That could be useful if your simulator is in a garage, spare room or other space where lighting conditions aren't always consistent.

When you've finished your round, the AK900ST and AK800ST can be switched to other entertainment modes using Scene Memory, with settings optimised for movies, gaming and sports.

There's also dual-source Picture-in-Picture, allowing you to display a golf simulation alongside something like a YouTube tutorial. That could be particularly handy for beginners trying to copy a professional's technique while playing.

BenQ hasn't announced UK pricing in the supplied release, so we'll need to wait for that before knowing whether these are a realistic alternative to a conventional home-cinema projector plus dedicated golf hardware.

Apple will soon host its iPhone launch event, with the presentation due next week on 9 September. And while it will likely focus mainly on its first foldable – the iPhone Ultra – plus the iPhone 18 Pro, there might be one or two other products announced at the same time.

One of them could be a new Apple TV 4K streaming box. It's been four years since the current version was introduced and with Siri AI likely to be at the heart of all Apple's devices, it will need an upgrade to run it effectively.

It also couldn't really be better timed, as one of the biggest rival devices has just suffered a mighty price hike.

As originally spotted by 9to5Google, the Google TV Streamer has risen by 50% in the US, from $99 to $149.99, and that dramatically reduces one of the advantages it has over Apple's equivalent.

The current Apple TV 4K starts at $199 and is still arguably one of the best media streamers on the market. It's beautifully built, offers exceptional image and audio quality, and the operating system is more simple than the Google TV experience, in my opinion.

The only issue I've ever really had with it is price. But with a major rival bumping up its own ticket by so much, that's far less of a concern.

Indeed, if Apple can release the Apple TV upgrade at the same price as the existing units, it becomes a complete no-brainer – especially if you are more picky about AV performance.

The one caveat is that the new Google TV Streamer prices seem to have hit the US only for now. It is still available for £99 in the UK, although there's no telling how long that could last.

It still makes sense for under £100 and you might want to capitalise while you still can.

Otherwise, it might be worth holding off for the expected Siri AI-powered Apple TV 4K, which could arrive in a matter of weeks. It'll also likely be the most powerful streaming device available at launch.

We'll bring you all the news as it happens, of course.

Amazon and Roku could be preparing to launch updated streaming devices after new remotes were spotted at the FCC in the US.

We don't have specific details about what these new streamers might be at the moment, because it's the remote controls that have given them away. In this case, thanks to the filings, we see a new Amazon remote and four new Roku remotes.

The details, uncovered by Lowpass, point to the future launch of new streaming devices, likely coming in the next couple of months, but currently there are few clues as to what either company plans.

The listings at the FCC (here and here) don't have any photos and lack complete details, but give us enough to make some discoveries.

What could Amazon and Roku launch?

First, the Amazon remote is likely for a Fire TV device and appears to be the same size as the existing Alexa Voice remote. However, it appears that this is a Bluetooth Low Energy remote only, suggesting no IR support for older devices.

Little else can be determined about the remote at this time, but Amazon has many controllers across its devices, offering varying features – some have numbers, some include external device controls, and some are more basic.

With Amazon updating the Fire TV Stick line recently, the oldest models are the flagship Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the Fire TV Cube. Other devices have been recently replaced, moving over to Vega OS, its Linux-based software that's designed to reduce piracy amongst other things.

But, we also know that Amazon is aiming to shift from buying its processors from the likes of MediaTek and Amlogic, to using its own silicon. The timeline for that shift was predicted to be around 2027, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, which might fit with the next launch that Amazon makes.

Amazon traditionally hosts a fall hardware event around September or October each year – and the registration of this remote could point to that.

The second set of remotes are for Roku. Again, we have very little information about the devices these will control, but in this case there are four remotes. They include one that's specified as not having Roku's signature cloth tag.

That suggests that it's going to control hardware that's launched in partnership with another brand – perhaps a retailer like Walmart with its Onn devices.

Other details highlight buzzers to help find the lost remote, while they all use replaceable batteries rather than an internal rechargeable battery, like the Voice Remote Pro. That might indicate that these are regular bundled remotes for updated devices.

While we can't discern too much from these filings, it points to new streaming devices coming from both Amazon and Roku soon. And with Apple also tipped to launch a new Apple TV 4K, it looks like we'll have plenty of choice in the coming weeks and months.

The new Premier League season starts this weekend and Sky customers have several new and enhanced features rolling out for Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q to help them enjoy the action. Viewers using the Now streaming app will also get a couple of new modes.

The headline feature, Your Multiview, will launch on 21 August, in time for the first live match on Sky – Arsenal v Coventry. It gives you the ability to watch live feeds of up to four Sky Sports channels at once.

You can choose which of the feeds' audio you want to prioritise, but it means you'll be able to watch different matches or even sporting events at the same time.

For example, if your team's live match clashes with a Formula One race – you can have both on the screen at the same time, along with the golf and cricket coverage.

You can then switch any of the feeds to be full screen if you want to get closer to the action.

Now viewers will also be able to watch multiple streams at the same time, with the feature coming later this season.

What else is coming to Sky Glass, Stream and Sky Q?

Additional features that will be available across Sky platforms for the 2026/27 season include a Sports Hub with live scores, stats, tables and more. There will also be short-form clips and highlights instantly available to play at the side of the screen.

Sky Sports is introducing Team Pages too, so you can follow a favourite team from the same place – including all the live games, headlines and highlights. There will also be reminders for upcoming matches.

And, as with the recent World Cup coverage on the BBC and ITV, Sky will host Real Time streams of the Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Premier League channels. These offer lower latency feeds of live matches so you won't have goals and other incidents spoiled by phone notifications or neighbours.

All of these features will be available on Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q bar the Real Time feeds, which is exclusive to Glass and Stream.

When Apple detailed its new Siri AI functionality during WWDC 26 in June, it left out a couple of product categories it'll be coming to. However, it seems one of those will be getting the new, more powerful voice assistant after all.

References to Siri AI have been spotted in code, suggesting Apple's streaming devices will be getting the upgrade too. The only question that remains is whether it'll be available on existing boxes or if you'll need to buy a new Apple TV 4K.

There have long been suggestions that Apple will launch a new TV 4K box once Siri AI becomes available, as the current-gen model doesn't have a chipset capable of running it. After all, the Apple TV you can buy today was released four years ago, long before Apple Intelligence was introduced.

Siri AI could transform the TV streaming experience and offer a more immersive, contextual experience when you are hunting for something new to watch. It will also likely sit at the hub of your smart home, so could be important when using simple, contextual language to control other devices too.

As 9to5Mac also points out, Apple plans for a "One Siri" experience, so the same system works across all of your Apple devices – iPhone, Watch, MacBook, etc – and it'll undoubtedly want your Apple TV 4K box to be included.

And so it makes sense that Siri AI will be part of tvOS 27 when it releases in September. It's just whether it will be joined by new hardware that'll be required, too.

Found in official Apple code

The Apple-centric site claims to have found the reference to Siri AI in macOS 27, as part of the apps list for tvOS 27. The entry features the string "com.apple.campo", with "Campos" being the internal codename for Siri AI.

This doesn't appear in app lists for tvOS 26, leading 9toMac to believe that it'll be launched with tvOS 27.

Hopefully, this will also signal the long-awaited refresh of the Apple TV range as well, which might be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra during Apple's next launch event. It's currently believed that could take place on 9 September – so not long now.

Unlike just about every other major TV manufacturer, Samsung does not support Dolby Vision – it has bet the house on HDR10+ instead, the HDR standard it co-developed. And there's a possibility it'll turn its back on Dolby Atmos eventually too.

That's because it has developed its own spatial audio codec with Google, which is available on select Samsung TVs from 2025 on and some models from other manufacturers, such as fellow Korean brand LG.

Like Dolby Atmos, Eclipsa Audio creates a "3D soundscape" by optimising the spatial positioning of sound when played through a TV or soundbar. However, unlike true Atmos, it doesn't require a full surround sound setup to work.

It can send channels to dedicated speaker systems, such as a 7.1.2 array, but it is also designed to work well through fewer speakers – creating a virtual bubble of sound for the listener.

What do you get with Eclipsa Audio?

Its biggest feature is to allow for positioning of sound within that scape, so you can pick out different cues and effects in different areas of the 3D "bubble". Effects can also move around to match visuals on the TV, for example.

Eclipsa Audio also has the benefit of being free to use by content creators and sound engineers, whereas Dolby Atmos and DTS:X require licence fees. That differentiates it and will hopefully lead to more Eclipsa Audio tracks being available in future.

Indeed, Samsung itself recently posted a chat with a couple of the senior executives behind Eclipsa Audio, Woohyun Nam and Joonhun Choi, who explained how the company's own streaming TV service, Samsung TV Plus, is adding new live music content mastered in the format.

"Our top priority was ensuring viewers could fully experience the immersion of a live performance," said Nam.

"We worked closely with the [visual display business] to verify that Eclipsa Audio could be delivered seamlessly through Samsung TV Plus and that the spatial audio of live performances was faithfully reproduced."

"We focused on securing Eclipsa Audio content and encouraging content partners to adopt the technology," added Choi.

It's been a clear hit so far: "Users said they felt as though they were sitting in the audience at a live performance," revealed Choi.

"Some even said that certain scenes were more satisfying than watching from a small theatre."

Of course, Samsung TV Plus is exclusive to Samsung televisions, and you'll need one that supports Eclipsa Audio to get the full effect. However, with Google being the main partner, the technology is also being baked in Google TV and Android TV models, and you'll likely find videos on YouTube to try the effect for yourself.

It will also eventually be used in a wider range of shows and content types.

"Beyond musicals, we plan to expand Eclipsa Audio to K-pop concerts, classical performances, movies and sports," said Choi. We wait to see (or hear) what comes next.

Freely continues to be on course to replace Freeview in a few years, as its channel lineup has dramatically expanded. As well as achieve more than two million weekly viewers, the free UK TV platform has now surpassed 70 live channels.

Last week, we reported on 11 new channels coming care of UK network 5, but now the service has announced a swathe of additional stations from multiple other broadcasters.

Warner Bros. Discovery has provided six new channels, in the form of TLC, Quest, Really, Quest Red, Food Network and DMAX. While AMC has added Bloodline Detectives, Love After Lock Up and AMC Reality.

On top of these, ITV has launched two new channels on Freely, with one being of particular interest to fans of The Chase. Yep, the quiz show now has its own, dedicated channel. And there's a new Saturday Night, Every Night channel, for even more quizzes, game shows and talent shows.

The new lineup is extensive and bolsters the electronic programme guide (EPG). Channel hoppers will have plenty to find, that's for sure.

Here's the list of channel numbers for the additional new stations:

When will the UK TV digital switchover to Freely happen?

Freely claims it is "on track" to be the UK's biggest TV platform by 2030 and the government is still in consultation over whether to enforce a new digital TV switchover in the next decade.

With the likes of Sky Stream and Sky Glass becoming the de facto way to receive Sky TV services, and Virgin Media eyeing its own Stream box as a possible replacement to cable TV in the coming years, internet provided TV (IPTV) is clearly the future for delivery in the UK.

There are some stumbling blocks, of course. The UK's broadband network is still not stable or widespread enough to ensure every household can receive the best TV services via the internet alone.

And many viewers simply do not want to switch from traditional broadcast technologies. Not yet, at least.

There is a sense of inevitability about it though, with the potential switchover timeline being between 2034 and 2044. And at the current rate of expansion, Freely will most certainly be ready for it when it does finally occur.

In a sudden and unexpected announcement last September, Dolby revealed that its next-generation HDR (high dynamic range) format, Dolby Vision 2, would be introduced.

I got to check out the new format – which arrives in Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max with added benefits for even higher-spec TVs – back in March of this year, courtesy of Philips' TP Vision 'Unboxed' event, where side-by-side demonstrations were presented.

Now, however, Dolby Vision 2 is here for real – and will begin rolling out via an over-the-air (OTA) update to a select handful of TVs. Hisense is first out of the blocks, beating TCL and others to the punch, but it won't be long before other brands also get a Dolby-certified pass.

That said, Dolby Vision 2 Max-authored content – which can take fuller advantage of scene-by-scene metadata for 'Authentic Motion' control – won't be available until sometime towards the end of this year.

Which TVs get Dolby Vision 2 first?

• Hisense UX
• Hisense UR9
• Hisense UR8
• Hisense U7 [USA]
• Hisense U7 Pro [UK/EU]

Interestingly, the Hisense TVs set to receive this update (as listed above) are all of its higher-end models – all of which will deliver Dolby Vision 2 Max, as and when the relevant content arrives.

No additional TV update will be required for Max compatibility, though, as the Dolby Vision 2 'wrapper' will determine which metadata is relevant to any presentation.

What's the immediate benefit of DV2?

• New Imagine Engine
• Content Intelligence
• Intensity control

You needn't worry whether you're watching 'original' Dolby Vision content or 'new' Dolby Vision 2-authored content.

This Dolby Vision 2 update will bring an immediate benefit to all Dolby Vision content, though, with a new imaging engine that delivers "enhanced" experience to visuals.

From contextual understanding of scenes, to punchier colours and greater visible detail, Dolby Vision 2 recalibrates the format.

Yet, for the first time, it puts simple control in users' hands – via the intensity slider feature. You can pick how intense the HDR effect is in real-time, using a software-based control.

What about Dolby Vision 2 Max content?

• Light Sense 2
• Authentic Motion
• Pro Reference Mode

Dolby Vision content doesn't change, per se, rather what your TV can do with it does.

Dolby Vision 2 Max brings everything mentioned above in Dolby Vision 2, but adds three key additional features.

Light Sense 2 handles real-time ambient light feedback for auto-adjusting of what you're watching.

Authentic Motion provides content creators with the ability to apply per-scene motion control into the metadata, preventing unwanted judder for specific moments. Brighter TVs highlight motion issues more keenly than dark ones, hence it being part of the Max feature set.

Lastly there's Pro Reference Mode, which is for high-end users only. This switches off Light Sense and fixed picture quality to match studio-accurate display presentation. It's not something that most will use.

The Hisense TVs listed above are all Dolby Vision 2 Max certified, so will benefit from these features – as and when the relevant content arrives. Just something else to look forward to, late in 2026 through into 2027 and beyond.

As well as use a Roku smart projector to level up my World Cup viewing this summer, I've just returned from a seaside holiday where one of the brand's streaming devices proved to be a godsend.

I'm a sucker for a good, old fashioned British holiday, usually in a sited caravan or lodge. As the owner of a young dog, I don't like leaving him behind, so it suits us all to take a vacation where he can join us. We all get something out of the long walks and fresh air.

However, I always ensure that I take a streaming device with us for evening entertainment, just in case the provided TV has signal issues. And that turned out to be the case this time.

So on my latest week away, I took a Roku Streaming Stick, connected it wirelessly to my iPhone as a hotspot and we were sorted for the nights when the local entertainment was lacking.

It's a doddle to setup wherever you are – you only need a TV with a HDMI port – and Roku devices are indisputably the best served when it comes to streaming apps. So if you have kids, they can watch children's TV in the mornings, while you can settle down to a movie later.

Now you can follow my lead for even less, as Roku has kicked off its annual summer sale in the UK.

The Roku summer sale runs through to 2 September 2026 and you can also find discounted products at Argos, AO, Currys and Very if you'd prefer to shop there.

I find my Streaming Stick to be so handy, I ensure I chuck it in the bottom of my backpack whenever I take a trip somewhere. One tip though: it's wise to update it with the latest apps and software patch before you go – you might not have the fastest signal while you're there (or don't want to take up to much data on your phone plan).

The TCL C7L has a tough act to follow – last year’s C7K model took home a coveted T3 Award, and now that it’s reached end-of-life, it’s available at a very tempting price indeed.

But TCL is nothing if not intrepid, and for the C7L it’s added an exciting new Super Quantum Dot – or SQD, for short – technology, without letting the asking price get out of hand. So can lightning strike twice?

Price & Availability

On review is the 65-inch C7L – the TCL 65C7L – which is on sale now, priced at £1299 in the UK. The equivalent 65QM7L sells for $1499 in the USA, while in Australia you’re looking at AU$1999.

The C7L offers other sizes, too, with 55-, 75-, 85- and 98-inch models also available. It runs quite the gamut of scale, which is part of the benefit of SQD technology, should you be looking for 'huge yet affordable'.

Features & What's New?

The most striking thing about the 65C7L – on paper, at least – is the fact that it’s a Mini-LED TV that uses Super Quantum Dot technology (SQD).

TCL has used an HVA 2.0 Pro LCD panel (because it promises low reflectivity and superior viewing angles) backlit by a colossal number of miniscule LEDs, in order to create a panel with a massive 1152 individually controllable backlight dimming zones (for the 65-inch model).

Then it’s deployed a similarly huge number of Quantum Dots that use five, rather than the more common two, layers of material to maximise their stability and efficiency as they’re generating colour. Only one other range of TVs currently uses SQD technology: the more expensive TCL C8L.

The idea is to serve up a television with a vibrant, accurate and wide-ranging colour palette to draw from, that has class-leading backlight control, that is easy to watch off-axis, and that can hit frankly unlikely brightness levels. For this 65-inch model, TCL is claiming a massive 3000 nits of brightness, which should be easy to watch even in brightly lit rooms.

It would be a shame not to make the most of this complicated technology, of course, so TCL has made the C7L compatible with every high dynamic range standard out there – HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision (including Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Vision Game). Naturally, the screen is certified IMAX Enhanced too.

It’s used some proprietary technologies to maximise performance, too. The ‘All-Domain Halo Control System’ ensures the remarkable brightness levels don’t result in haloing during high-contrast scenes, while ‘Deep Colour System’ keeps colours naturalistic in every circumstance. That’s the idea, anyway...

As is only reasonable, given the thoroughgoing nature of the C7L’s video specification, TCL has again turned to Bang & Olufsen to provide this TV’s audio system. Unlike the video spec, though, not many details are forthcoming about the C7L’s sound.

Yes, it’s compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X spatial audio soundtracks. Yes, there are a couple of exposed bass drivers on the rear of the chassis. And, yes, there’s actually more ‘Bang & Olufsen’ branding on this product than there is ‘TCL’.

But how many drivers are there in total? What are they made of? How much power is on tap to drive them? About the only thing I’m prepared to suggest is that while the TCL can deal with spatial audio, it’s not configured to actually deliver an impression of spatial audio. If it was, we’d know about it.

Performance

If you’ve worked out how to liberate significant brightness from a screen, it must be tempting to just shove all that brightness forwards at every opportunity. But thankfully TCL is a bit more judicious and slightly less of a show-off than that.

Of course, if you’ve got brightness to spare there’s no harm in letting everyone know about it every now and then. Cue up some nice bright HDR content and there’s real intensity to the C7L’s images – but even when really going for it in brightness terms, pictures are still detailed and the nuance of texture and tone is always present.

The TCL is very good at controlling high-contrast scenes, too. Even if black tones lack the outright depth of those served up by an OLED panel, there’s no washing out or bleaching even when black and white are sharing the screen.

In between these extremes, there’s remarkable breadth and variation to the colours the C7L generates. If your content insists on punchy and primary tones, there’s real zip to them here – but equally, when it’s called upon to do ‘subtle and understated', the TCL has more insight into the subtleties of shade than pretty much any price-comparable rival.

The palette on display has a lot of variation in it, and the screen’s facility with detail retrieval and retention means that discrepancies in texture, as well as in tone, are described in full. Control of patterns is also impressive.

The TCL is a crisp and organised watch, but it never threatens to get edgy with 4K content. Its ability to control on-screen motion – a big factor during this endless summer of televised sport – is always impressive. Or, at least, it is once you’ve looked into your motion-control options in the set-up menus…

The C7L isn’t half-bad when it comes to upscaling too – up to a point, anyway. The 1080p stuff isn’t quite as detailed or quite as sharp as native 4K content, naturally – but it’s still detailed, still composed, and still moves around the screen in confident fashion.

Moving down in resolution from here can see the TCL working very hard indeed at times, and images can get a little vague and smeary. The C7L isn’t the only big 4K TV that looks a bit of a state with reruns of 80s shows on the outer reaches of the cable channels, mind you…

The C7L is a straightforwardly impressive gaming monitor, thanks in no small part to very low latency, very high refresh rates and the motion stability I’ve already discussed. The brightness and the colour fidelity it’s capable of really bring the most out of a games console.

Shortcomings where picture quality is concerned are apparent, sure, but they’re not exactly deal-breakers. Some picture noise is apparent in content that’s less than state-of-the-art, and despite what TCL seems to think the HVA 2.0 Pro panel is readily reflective of the light in your room. It’s also not the greatest watch if you’re sitting strongly off-axis – its backlighting becomes apparent and its colour fidelity takes quite a big hit too.

When it comes to sound quality, though, the TCL is rather underwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not terrible – it can reveal a fair amount of sonic detail, and it has the ability to reach a fair way down the frequency range in search of bass sounds.

This is far from the only TV that can’t muster the sound quality to match its picture quality, though. It’s default audio character is ‘thin’, and it's definitely not a fan of higher volumes – the stressed and compressed nature of its sound if you turn it up will have you turning it down again pronto.

Design & Usability

The 65-inch C7L on review is just 56mm at its deepest point, and it’s VESA-compliant too – so it’s a great candidate for wall-mounting. If you're not going down that route, though, it’s supplied with a central pedestal stand that doesn’t swivel but does raise the screen to the point that even a quite chunky soundbar will fit beneath it.

It’s predictable (and, let’s face it, quite welcome) that TCL hasn’t attempted to do anything radical with the design of the C7L. Its bezels are reasonably slender, the plastics from which it’s mostly made don’t feel anything special, and the standard of construction and finish is perfectly fine – but where ‘design’ is concerned, this is just a TV and as functional as you might imagine.

Equally predictable and, in some ways, equally welcome are the ways in which you can control the C7L and set it up to your satisfaction. TCL supplies a remote control handset that covers pretty much every eventuality – it has rather small buttons, though, no backlighting, and doesn’t look or feel even remotely special. The TCL control app is equally thorough, easier to navigate, and just as tedious to look at as the physical remote. Happily, Google Assistant is built in and, once you’ve located the /mic’ button on the remote, it’s swift and reliable in response to your prompts.

However you decide you want to control the C7L, though, you’re in charge of some nicely judged set-up menus – they make getting a workable picture quick and easy, and offer some reasonably in-depth tweaking to those who want it. It’s just as well that the menus are simple and logical, because when the screen first comes out of its box and is plugged in, its default settings are all at whatever the visual equivalent of ‘shouting’ is.

The user interface is provided by Google TV, and it’s one of the better examples of the type. It includes each and every UK TV catch-up service, including the lesser-spotted BBC iPlayer, and has plenty of options where streaming service (and other) apps are concerned. It’s easy to navigate, quite logically laid out, and doesn’t try all that hard to sell you things. All of which count as positives.

As far as connectivity goes, there are four HDMI sockets – two are at full-on 2.1 specification, and one of this pair is also eARC-enabled. So as well as VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync and all the rest of it, the TCL supports 4K @ 144Hz and 1080p @ 288Hz – latency in ‘Game’ mode is at around 10m/s. There are a few lesser physical connections, along with a couple of RF aerial binding posts, and Bluetooth and dual-band wi-fi are available too.

TCL C7K review: Verdict

The C7L is not only a great advert for TCL’s Super Quantum Dot technology, it’s also a great all-around picture-maker that serves up endlessly watchable, high-contrast HDR (high dynamic range) images from any source capable of delivering them.

It uses its prodigious brightness in a thoughtful and mature way, rather than just turning it up to ‘11’ the entire time – and when you add in the great colour fidelity, fine motion-handling and undeniable advantages it brings to gaming, it's certainly the real deal.

Also Consider

It’s an indication of just what an accomplished TV the TCL C7L is that the most credible price-comparable alternatives are all TVs from 2025. The C7K is one obvious option, given its even lower price, of course.

Otherwise the LG OLED C5, for instance, is now down towards TCL money – but while it has plenty to recommend it (excellent black tones, great gaming features, decent contrasts and good colour fidelity), it cannot get anywhere near the brightness of the C7L.

It’s a similar story with the Sony Bravia 7: it has impressive colour balance, good backlight control, excellent standard of build and finish and, remarkably, half-decent sound – but there’s no HDR10 or HDR10+ support and it’s rotten when viewed off-axis.

Two new picture technologies are coming to TVs in the next few months, with both HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 both set for release soon. Indeed, in the case of the former, we could see it in a matter of days

Samsung has announced that it will be rolling out HDR10+ Advanced to its 2026 models this month – August 2026. Or at least, it'll be activating it as the technology is already integrated in select TVs.

Amazon Prime Video will be the first streaming service to adopt the new brighter and more immersive HDR standard. Amazon has been pivotal in the rise of the HDR10 standard in the past, most notably being the first to offer HDR10+ on its movies and shows in 2017. This continues that trend.

"At Prime Video, we’re dedicated to providing the best possible viewing experience and HDR10+ Advanced represents a meaningful step forward for our customers," said Prime Video's vice president of technology, BA Winston.

"With Enhanced Overall Brightness and Intelligent Motion Smoothing, the picture quality adapts to bring out the best details in every scene."

Only Samsung's 2026 models will be compatible with HDR10+ Advanced – that's TVs with "H" at the end of their model name, including the jaw-dropping Samsung S99H and S95H.

Support for other manufacturers should become available over time.

What improvements does HDR10+ Advanced offer?

HDR10 is the de facto standard for HDR (High Dynamic Range) picture technology on many – if not all – TVs and devices. HDR10+ was introduced by Samsung in collaboration with several partners almost a decade ago as a direct response to Dolby Vision.

All HDR technologies expand the available colour gamut and offer a much wider dynamic contrast range, resulting in more realistic and immersive images. However, HDR10 simply applies the same setting for an entire movie or show, while HDR10+ (and Dolby Vision) can adjust the balance on a scene-by-scene basis – frame-by-frame, even.

As the name suggests, HDR10+ Advanced goes a step or two further. It adds Enhanced Overall Brightness, to better utilise modern TV's higher brightness capabilities, while also using AI to better tone map content in real-time. This preserves details at two ends of the spectrum, in the shadows and the brightest scenes.

On top of these, Intelligent Motion Smoothing dynamically adjust motion processing on a scene-by-scene basis, to smooth the action without creating the plastic look of aggressive motion technologies of the past.

The new technology rivals Dolby Vision 2, which will offer similar properties when it arrives soon too.

Freely is one of the UK's biggest streaming success stories, with more than two million Brits now using the free service on their TVs. And now they have access to even more live content, as an additional 11 UK TV channels have been added.

That means, no matter whether you receive the free streaming service through a TV with it baked in or via a separate device, such as the Netgem Pleio or Manhattan Aero, you can now access new channels filled with documentaries, kids shows, movies and more. All at no extra cost.

All the new stations come from the UK's 5 network – the operator of the 5 terrestrial channel. They include 5Movies, 5Crime, Milkshake!, and 5History.

True crime lovers might also like to tune into 5Cops and 5Police Interceptors.

Here's the new channel list in full:

Some of the dedicated channels, including Milkshake! and 5Movies, are not available on Freeview – they are only available through 5's own streaming app as well.

What is Freely and how do I get it?

Freely is a free alternative to Sky Stream / Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. It provides live FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) channels streamed over the internet rather than via traditional broadcast means.

Backed by all of the UK's major broadcasters – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5 and the U network – it gives you access to the country's main TV channels and a lot more besides. While not quite as comprehensive as Freeview at present, it is getting there. And you get exclusive channels besides.

Streaming is undoubtedly the future for British TV, with persistent talk of a new digital switchover in the next decade. That means you will only need an internet connection, rather than aerial or satellite dish, to receive live TV.

Freely also offers catch-up services via each of its main channels, which can be activated by clicking on the programming information in the electronic programme guide. This will launch the show in the respective streaming app, such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX.

Numerous TVs from multiple manufacturers already have Freely built in, and as previously mentioned, there are separate streaming devices that can also give you Freely access on an existing television.

Sony has long been a proponent of LED backlight, with its flagship TV model often using some variation of the tech rather than the ever-popular OLED.

It's perhaps ironic that one of the best OLED TVs is the Bravia 8 II, a model that's flanked by two other non-OLED: the Bravia 7 II below it and this, the Bravia 9 II, at the top. Both of these are what Sony calls 'True RGB' TVs.

We've seen Sony's RGB tech on a number of occasions, but with the Bravia 7 II and the Bravia 9 II, it finally brings the next-gen TV tech to market. Meaning you can, finally, actually buy one.

While the message here is about surpassing OLED, the more time I spend with RGB backlight TVs, the more I see it more as the logical evolution of Mini-LED. It carries many of Mini-LED's advantages, while hanging onto some of its disadvantages.

At its core, the Bravia 9 II is a flagship Sony TV and that shines in pretty much everything that it does – especially if brightness and colour are your biggest asks. It might not seal the deal over OLED for everyone, though.

Price & Availability

The Sony Bravia 9 II was announced on in May 2026. It's widely available from retailers, but as a flagship model, it comes at a premium price.

It's available in 65-, 75-, 85- and 115-inch sizes. If you want something smaller, you'll have to get the Sony Bravia 7 II (which is less bright).

The 65-inch model is £3499 in the UK, so it's a full £500 more expensive than the LG OLED G6 – and that aligns with where Sony sees this television.

It's also a bump over the price of the previous Bravia 9, so there's no escaping the fact that this is an expensive TV (at least at launch – time may see discounts applied).

Sony Bravia 9 II vs Bravia 9: What's new?

Comparing the Bravia 9 II to the previous Bravia 9 might not be quite fair: the Bravia 9 was announced in 2024 and its design reflects a previous generation of Sony TVs.

The Bravia 9 II has a central stand instead of feet at the far ends of the screen, making it a lot easier to accommodate. It also increases audio output.

So physically there's a design difference, but the real difference lies in what powers the display. Moving from traditional Mini-LED, the Bravia 9 II introduces an RGB backlighting system, meaning it's much more capable when it comes to generating vibrant colours.

This is combined with the RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro, while also using a new contrast-boosting system. Peak brightness on the Bravia 9 was somewhere around 3000 nits, but the Bravia 9 II aims to be closer to Sony's reference monitor, which is calibrated to 4000 nits. So it's brighter by quite a margin.

The Bravia 9 II also comes with an anti-reflective display, which is a new technology for Sony.

In reality, these two TVs are a world apart. They might share the same fundamental name, but the core technology differs by a dramatic degree.

Design & Setup

The good news is that Sony's new Mirage stand is a very welcome addition, moving support into the centre of the screen rather than towards the edges that we saw from the previous generation.

That makes it a lot easier if you want to place the TV on a piece of furniture – the 65-inch model is 145cm wide, but now you don't need a huge surface to sit it on, as it can protrude over the edges.

The Mirage stand earns its name thanks to the clever refractive panel that slots between the legs. This plastic panel allows light through, but it obscures anything that's behind it. That basically means that cables can be hidden, but visually there's no huge block under the TV – it's a nice move to keep things tidy.

If you're interested in RGB TVs then there's something you need to know: this tech results in hefty TVs. While premium OLED models are wafer thin, RGB TVs are hench.

Sony has used the extra bulk of this TV to pack in a more accommodating sound system, but the 65-inch model I reviewed is definitely a two-handed lift.

There are two remotes in the box: one with a button-heavy version that's been established for many years; and a lighter remote made from recycled plastics, offering USB-C charging, which strips down the buttons – and which I found served me well during testing.

Sony's TV sits on the Google TV platform and the setup process is rather long, walking through a number of steps that invite you to connect devices, as well as introducing you to My Cinema, which is, in my opinion, the core of Sony's picture modes.

Sadly, Google TV doesn't support Freely, so you'll be invited to connect an aerial or TV box, but at least Google TV remembers your passwords if they're saved in Google – so it's quick to sign into your favourite streaming services.

Speaking of connections, Sony hasn't made a huge change from its previous arrangement with this TV: only two of the four HDMI ports support the full bandwidth HDMI 2.1.

That's a pain for anyone connecting a soundbar and multiple games consoles. This is a 120Hz display, so again, there's a bit of a feeling that you're not getting a huge amount of futureproofing.

Picture Quality

Cutting to the chase, the Sony Bravia 9 II offers exceptional picture quality.

There are two sides to that: firstly, Sony continues to offer exceptional processing that's balanced, aiming to deliver cinematic authenticity, while widening the colour volume over Mini-LED TVs. The RGB tech can deliver huge brightness and vibrancy, the fact that Sony keeps that in balance is a credit to the brand's pursuit of accuracy.

I've previously criticised Sony's home screen arrangement, because it tends to be a little dull when navigating. This seems a deliberate choice compared to something like the Hisense UR8S (that I was testing at the same time) where the home screen is almost painfully vivid.

Of course, once you dive into high-quality content, the screen doesn't fail to impress. Sony is inherently deliberate with its offering: there's no HDR10+ and there's no Filmmaker Mode, which is usually what TVs recommend for the "most accurate" presentation, as the director intended.

Instead, Sony offers Calibrated Modes for Netflix and Amazon Prime, and these modes will overrule Dolby Vision, which is usually upheld as the gold standard for HDR (high dynamic range) content. You can turn off those calibrated modes for better results – I find them a little dark.

My Cinema is a suite of picture modes that govern the picture settings across the TV. It's slightly confusing that My Cinema only applies to "movie" content, but apps and broadcast TV isn't classed as movie content, it counts as "video/images" instead. This would mean that My Cinema wouldn't apply to it.

You're free to manually change the content type in the settings, which is ultimately what I did. I had everything classed as "movie" and I used My Cinema for the lot. Sure, it's confusing, but I found that "My Cinema Daytime" struck the best balance overall for everything I watched.

Sony's processing makes a huge difference. Watching Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and there are vibrant reds showing off the potency of RGB's ability, while skin tones remain natural without getting flushed. It's these fine points of HDR brilliance that are presented without blowing out the rest of the content. And that's what makes this TV and its underlying technology great.

But RGB isn't a magic bullet, as there are areas where the delivery looks a little strange – and that includes sport. I watched some of the World Cup in UHD via BBC iPlayer and found a strange combination of a slightly muted picture, but with colours that popped off the screen. That saw the orange of the referee's shirt looking almost neon, with some really vibrant adverts around the pitch, but the grass looking dull.

The 65-inch Bravia 9 II is thought to have 1530 dimming zones and that's naturally a long way from the 8 million that a rival 4K OLED would offer. But The Batman still looked dark and contrasty, with the Sony doing a great job and avoiding unnecessary brightening of darker scenes.

There's occasional blooming, but you have to look for it. It gets more obvious when you're not sitting head-on – white Netflix programme naming on a black background, for example. It's here that this LED tech shows its limitations compared to OLED.

Most of the time you also won't run into the Bravia 9 II's potential. That huge peak brightness sits in the background, betting against a future where content makes greater demands on TV screens than OLED currently offers.

If you want to see how bright and vibrant this TV can be, don't stop at Standard, jump all the way to Vivid and you'll find it's almost painfully bright. If you do end up using Standard, at least change the motion processing – as it's prone to the soap opera effect, while other modes handle motion with much more assurance.

This all sets the stage for excellent bright room performance, boosted by Sony's new glare-free screen. It's taken a leaf out of Samsung's book here, killing reflections with skill, making this a great TV for a sun-filled room, but I think that Sony's display looks blacker than Samsung's (I compared it to the S99H), so there's real rivalry here.

Sound Quality

Sony has a reputation for great sound on TVs – and that continues into the Bravia 9 II. This TV has an 80W speaker system that's made up of eight speakers. Rather than firing down from the bottom of the screen, which is common, these are placed at eye-level, around two-thirds of the way up the screen.

The speakers are divided into two woofers in the rear of the screen, left and right speakers, left and right sound-positioning tweeters, and upfiring beam tweeters. On first setup you'll be invited to tune the TV to the room with a quick test.

The layout of these speakers is designed to support immersive audio, with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It makes a noticeable difference. This is a great-sounding TV, although I suspect that those spending upwards of a few grand on a new screen will want a bigger soundstage too.

It's easy to recommend pairing this TV with one of the best soundbars, with Sony's Bravia Theatre Trio being an obvious suggestion, with the advantage of having access to Sony's advanced tech drawing the TV and sound system closer together.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Verdict

Sony's new flagship TV offers stunning performance out of the box, bringing its first RGB backlight technology to market, yet not veering from the Hollywood accuracy that it's known for.

The Bravia 9 II possesses huge brightness potential, but it's used with restraint so that it has real impact when it matters. With Sony's processing ensuring this RGB technology keeps everything in check, it drives forward the case for flagship LED-based TVs.

Is this an OLED killer? Not yet. There's still blooming when viewing off-axis. But Sony's careful handling of dark scenes displays movies the way they're supposed to look, while its new anti-reflective finish results in a screen that often looks darker than Samsung's equivalent sets.

Overall, the Bravia 9 II is a great TV for brighter rooms – and a great showcase for RGB tech. However, there's no escaping that this is an expensive alternative to everything that OLED offers.

Also Consider

The Samsung S99H is a hugely bright QD-OLED model that's stunning in its delivery, while not delivering quite the accuracy out of the box that Sony strives for. But with a matte display and huge brightness, Samsung similarly offers a great bright-room experience for a little less cash.

The LG OLED G6 is one of the finest OLED models you can buy, cheaper than the Sony, but rivalling its position as a champion for accuracy. The glossy finish to the display retains the brilliant blacks that OLED is known for, better for movie nights in controlled rooms, while also offering a stunningly slim design.

The rapture around director Christopher Nolan's latest epic, The Odyssey, is unlike anything I've ever seen in cinema history. Audiences are travelling miles – some hundreds or even thousands – to watch it presented in its native IMAX 70mm format.

"As Nolan intended" has already become a prominent meme, driven by the fact that the majority of prospective audience members know they'll likely never see the film in IMAX 70mm – at least not soon, anyhow. I've resigned myself to a hypothetical showing many months from now, given the movie's plot isn't exactly secret.

But it got me thinking – such is the melting pot of technology and, indeed, technological crossover and nostalgic lean that we find ourselves in today – that when The Odyssey does release in physical and streaming formats, what'll be the best way to watch it?

Could it be that 8K resolution TVs – those four times the resolution of the current 4K standard – find their place in the market once more? Most brands – including LG, Sony and TCL – have given up the ghost when it comes to "Ultra-Ultra-HD", with Samsung the only notable remaining purveyor of the format.

Well, it's not as simple as that, because it's about so much more than just resolution. So let's dig into the 'whys', looking at how The Odyssey is being presented to audiences, the rarity of IMAX 70mm availability worldwide, and how the film's production process reaches beyond digital resolution and range.

What actually is IMAX 70mm?

But let's roll back a moment. For all this talk of 'IMAX 70mm', what exactly is the format? In short: it's a much taller aspect ratio than is typical of cinema, actually closer to the older 4:3 TV format that was predominant from the 1920s until around the turn of the century.

The Odyssey is the first feature film ever to be shot exclusively using IMAX 70mm film, as produced by Kodak. In this supposedly digital age, Nolan is an advocate of film for many reasons – despite its obvious challenges, which are well documented.

In the case of IMAX 70mm, an obvious challenge is the cameras required to expose such a negative, which is physically massive – each frame's usable area measuring 69.8 x 48.5mm, with 24 of those captured every second. Indeed, an IMAX 70mm film canister can only capture up to 150 seconds before it's exposed, meaning long takes during production are out of the question.

But while Nolan does scan the film for editing purposes, that's then used as reference, with the original film returned to and spliced by hand, the old-fashioned way. It's even colour-corrected on film, so the original and effectively limitless analogue format is never simplified by being digitised. Watch the 60 Minutes interview via the YouTube video embed above, which is a fascinating 15-minute watch.

Not all IMAX is the same

But here's the thing: not all IMAX presentations are equal. Indeed, only 40 copies of The Odyssey's film-to-film transfer in IMAX 70mm have ever been made. That's one for each of the 41 cinemas capable of presenting in such a format – that's how rare it is.

Just think about that for a moment: only 41 theatres in the world can present the movie this way. That's partly down to the old projection equipment requirements, not to mention expertise, plus the huge physical scale of the screen in its near-square format.

Plenty of other IMAX cinemas exist, of course, they just don't have the same projection equipment or screen size. The other IMAX-supported format is a 1.9:1 aspect ratio, which is far wider, yet a little taller than the more typical 2.20:1 aspect of most cinemas' digital projection standard.

I produced the infographic, above, to give a hypothetical visual indicator of those formats – IMAX 70mm film, IMAX's Laser / Xenon format at 1.9:1, and typical (non-IMAX) digital projection at 2.20:1 or 2.40:1 – and present what would be 'lost' on some systems.

How does IMAX display on TVs at home?

That same infographic provides an interesting snapshot in how most movies arrive to physical (4K Blu-ray, for example) or streaming formats. The portion between IMAX and typical digital projection becomes embedded black 'bars', as we all know so well, given modern TVs' 16:9 aspect ratio.

How will a TV display an IMAX 70mm image therefore? Well, we've seen it before. This isn't Nolan's first rodeo with the format – large portions of Oppenheimer were captured using 70mm film, for example, with even 2008's The Dark Knight having 28 minutes of its 152-minute runtime in the format.

When those scenes come on you know about it, though, as black borders appear to the left and right of – quite the jump from a widescreen image. Such is the nature of IMAX 70mm within a TV's 16:9 aspect ratio!

With The Odyssey that will be the perpetual vision in how it plays, unless Nolan elects to edit a different widescreen version of the movie for home viewing in addition to the original. And I think we all know: the chances of that are pretty much zero.

So, is 8K a good answer?

But back to that original thought: is an 8K TV the answer for would-be best at-home viewing? Would The Odyssey actually gain more from an 8K version? The answer is both yes and no. On the one hand, you would achieve a higher resolution than 4K, of course, but on the other hand it wouldn't be as high as the film stock's theoretical equivalent.

Kodak's low ISO 50 stock film has a grain that's somewhere in the 12K to 18K range. Not that a gridded digital capture of an organic, randomised pattern of crystals is ever going to fully realise that in the same way. The Odyssey also used some 'faster' film for low-light scenes – and the maximum ISO 500 is granier and will appear different in quality and aesthetic.

Besides, resolution isn't everything. Nolan's use of film, in his own repeated words, is to best equate to how the human eye sees. He wants his films to deliver grandeur in as realistic yet filmic a way as possible. It's not about cranking high dynamic range (HDR) to the maximum, pulling the highest yield from today's brightest TVs.

There's another devil in the detail, pun intended: to benefit from even 4K resolution at its fullest you need to be fairly close to the source (the THX-certified recommendation would be 6.5-feet at no more than 40-degrees off centre when viewing a 65-inch panel). For 8K that's even closer still: a 65-inch panel would need to be positioned about 3.5-feet away, which is unrealistci.

With IMAX screens so large – the biggest being in Melbourne, Australia – the equation is an entirely different prospect. So different that, arguably, the experience could never be transferred into a home environment. Which is exactly part of the point: to keep cinema as cinema. So let's cherish that, sing a song for the imminent death of 8K, and enjoy The Odyssey in whatever future formats it arrives in – however long that'll take.

BBC iPlayer could be locked behind a paywall in the future, as the Beeb looks to restrict its content from those who refuse to pay for a TV Licence.

Its chief consumer officer has revealed that locking out licence dodgers from its "free" streaming service is one of the options that is being considered.

It comes as the corporation finds itself at a crossroads. It recently revealed that while 94% of UK households watch programming covered by the paid TV Licence, only 80% pay for one. And that disparity is resulting in the loss of jobs and budgetary constraints for future productions.

Some ideas have been touted around, including from the UK government's secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy. She revealed that streaming services that are currently exempt from TV Licence requirements, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, could be added.

Currently, viewers need a licence to watch platforms that show live TV (including, confusingly, live broadcasts on Netflix and Prime Video), while the only streaming service that is covered fully by the TV Licence is BBC iPlayer.

Now it seems that could be about to undergo change, too.

Could BBC iPlayer go behind a paywall?

As reported by Deadline, the BBC executive, Kerris Bright, told staff during a call on Monday that there is a future "opportunity" to lock down iPlayer to licence payers only.

However, Bright also admitted that it didn't make sense in the short term: "iPlayer is the only service really that’s licensable where you could actually decide to put a gate in front of it. But, the data today says that actually [there’s] not really the return on investment for doing that," she said in the leaked call.

"The vast majority of people that are watching iPlayer are people that are paying their TV Licence... that would make it a very difficult experience for people that are paying for the licence."

Times are a-changing though, with new streaming services coming to the UK regularly, while Sky's acquisition of ITV (pending regulatory approval) will present the corporation with new challenges.

It could create a market where it is much more financially viable to put a paywall in front of iPlayer, for the BBC to compete. That's Bright's thinking, anyway: "It is something we should absolutely keep looking at because it might be something that you actually would want to do in the future," she added.

LG just dropped some fascinating news to tie in with the streaming arrival of Masters of the Universe – it's adding an all-new picture mode to its latest top-end TVs. That mode is called Creator Original Picture Mode, and it's a little bit like Filmmaker Mode on steroids.

Tied in with Amazon Prime Video, where the movie is going to be added on 22 July, Creator Original Picture Mode is like a bespoke, movie-by-movie version of Filmmaker Mode. It lets your TV adjust itself to the exact settings chosen by the creators of the movie you're watching, instead of applying a uniform settings list.

LG says that the parameters on offer to creators and studios include "shadow detail, colour balance, noise reduction and motion handling", all of which can have a pretty big impact on how a film looks on your hardware.

This means that, in the case of Masters of the Universe, you should get the right contrast levels between some of its more glitzy effects and darker parts of the frame, for instance.

As an amusing extra cherry on top, LG is also making the movie available through a fun wake phrase. Those with a compatible TV will be able to use their remote's voice function to say "I have the power", which will bring it up for them to start watching.

Which TVs will actually get Creator Original Picture Mode? Well, it's only going to be the high-end ones. That means the 2026 OLED flagships – the paper-thin W6, the beautiful G6 and the more mass-appeal C6. Those last two are five-star models in our eyes, so this feature could make them even better.

LG says the setting will roll out by the end of July, and it'll be genuinely fascinating to see whether it gets much uptake. There's a lot to be said in favour of being able to get your TV tuned to a director's vision the moment you load up a movie, but it does depend on those creators actually investing the time in tinkering.

Interestingly, for now the LG press information on the setting also calls it "Creator Original Picture Mode for Prime Video" in its footnotes, which suggests the feature might not work across more streaming services or physical media when it does arrive, which would also limit its potential a lot.

As we recently reported, the UK government is considering changes to the UK TV Licence to make it more relevant to today's services, with the potential of even lowering the fee for British households.

These proposals include adding streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ to the licence, meaning you'll need one to stream content – even if you're only using your mobile phone.

But what does the TV Licence cover now, when is it mandatory, and how much does it cost?

We answer these questions and more in this handy guide to the UK TV Licence as it stands, with one eye on how it could change in the future.

Why do I need a TV Licence?

Rather uniquely, the UK's main broadcaster – the BBC – is a public funded organisation rather than commercial. That means it doesn't carry adverts, but is paid for through a form of taxation – ie. the TV Licence.

Each household that watches live TV in the UK is required to pay a fee (monthly or yearly) and the government then dispenses that money to the Beeb to spend on its programming and operations.

Where it can become confusing for some is that while the BBC is the beneficiary of the TV Licence fee, it is mandatory to pay it even if you only watch other channels.

Indeed, all live TV is covered by the TV Licence, including the vast array of TV channels in the electronic programme guide – whether free or paid-for via the likes of Sky or Virgin Media. The same is true when watching live TV content on YouTube or Prime Video in the UK.

The licence is also required if you watch and stream content on BBC iPlayer, even if it's not live (ie. on demand).

What aren't currently covered by the TV Licence are sole streaming services when not viewing live TV content. For example, you can watch Stranger Things or Squid Game on Netflix without needing a TV Licence, but if you watch a live show such as WWE Raw or Smackdown, you will.

So, do I need a TV Licence to watch Netflix and Amazon Prime Video?

As mentioned above, you don't generally need a TV Licence to watch content streamed via the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV. Not even YouTube.

But, that depends on what you watch. If you watch any live shows broadcast on the streaming platforms, you do need one. And considering each of them is moving more and more into live TV, they are entering a grey area.

This is where the UK government's new proposals come in. It is already proving hard to encourage all households to purchase a licence, with only a reported 80% in the UK said to be paying already.

That's a lot lower than the amount of households thought to be watching the BBC or other eligible television programming – that's reportedly 94%.

The shortfall is an issue for the BBC, which is growing having to cut budgets and jobs as its funding shrinks. Which is why both the BBC board of governors and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are considering different plans to alter the licence to suit changing trends.

This could lead to streaming services being covered by the TV Licence completely, regardless of whether you are watching live TV or on demand content. In that scenario, you will require a TV Licence no matter what, where or on what device you watch.

We're keeping a close eye on any further developments, and will update in due course.

How much does a TV Licence cost in the UK?

A UK TV Licence currently costs £180 per year which covers an entire household. That includes student or shared accommodation if you watch TV in a single shared area. Businesses also need at least one TV Licence to show live TV content in the office or in hotel rooms.

If you only have a black and white TV, you only have to pay £60.50 per year.

Note, if you are found to be recording or watching live TV without a TV Licence, you can be fined up to £1,000.

And finally, what has the BBC ever done for me?

As part of its drive to get more UK households paying for a TV Licence, the BBC has made its own commercial titled: "What has the BBC ever done for me?"

Starring comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan, it looks at the most popular programming and initiatives that are synonymous with the corporation, to remind viewers exactly how much it might mean to their daily lives.

It's well worth a watch.

Virgin Media regularly rewards its customers with new content and channels, and the latest free additions are available from today.

All Virgin TV 360 and Stream customers will find four new channels have arrived on their electronic programme guides, with a sum total of 96 hours worth of TV shows a day to watch at no extra cost.

That's because each of the new channels will be broadcast 24 hours a day, and as they are FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) stations, you don't have to do anything else to get them. You just need your device connected to the internet.

That's why they are exclusive to the Virgin TV 360 box and Virgin Media's own streaming puck, the Stream.

The channels that have been added (and their respective EPG slots) are:

• Robot Wars (235)
• Demand Drama (236)
• River Monsters (239)
• The Hotel Inspector (253)

How useful they'll be to you depends entirely on how much you enjoy the subjects, of course. Personally, I can't enough of Robot Wars (having been vaguely involved in its conception back in the 90s).

It may have broadcast its last episode in 2018, but you can watch decades of classic battles and seasons on the new channel.

I'm also a sucker for The Hotel Inspector, although I'm not quite sure I can stomach 24 hours a day of finding people's pubic hairs in bed and breakfasts. Maybe it's one to drop in on at time to time.

These new stations join a growing list of other FAST channels, with 40 of them already available on the platform. There will be more to be added later this year and beyond, the provider tells T3, so we'll keep you up to date in any further developments.

Luxury AV brand Loewe has returned to its roots for its new TV launch, with the Antares OLED set having bespoke customisation befitting of its premium price point.

Each OLED panel, for example, is individually calibrated before it leaves the Loewe factory, while personalisation is possible through optional aluminium overlays and interchangeable design elements.

You can also choose to add a matching Antares soundbar, plus a floor2ceiling or rotating floor stand. Alternatively, it can be wall-mounted with one of the available solutions on offer.

The TV comes in several sizes – 42, 48, 55, and 65-inches – with each offering a 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 144Hz for gaming. Dolby Vision IQ is supported for HDR pictures, as well as Dolby Atmos for sound.

The smart functionality is provided by the Vidaa OS platform, which includes all the streaming apps you're used to – Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV included. While other streaming options are available too, such as Apple AirPlay and Alexa support.

The optional Antares soundbar adds an 80-watts audio experience, and Loewe's dual channel platform is on board to enable USB video recording through multiple TV tuners. There's timeshift functionality on the set itself, too.

"With Antares, we are introducing the most individual Smart TV Loewe has ever created," said company CEO, Aslan Khabliev.

"For decades, Loewe is synonymous with design, innovation and individuality. Loewe Antares takes that philosophy further than ever before, combining exceptional picture quality, intelligent technology and unprecedented freedom of choice in one beautifully crafted product."

The Loewe Antares OLED TV is available now priced from €2,500 / £2,500. This goes up to €4,000 / £4,000 for the 65-inch model.

Some might bemoan the UK's summer heatwave but it presented a great opportunity to test some AV kit for me. After England dispatched Mexico in the FIFA World Cup last 16 I was determined to watch the quarter final in my garden, and without spending too much in the process.

The conditions were perfect for a projector – the match against Norway was to kick off at 10pm BST, so it would be dark outside, but the heatwave meant that the temperature would remain over 20-degrees Celsius. Cue cider, ice cream and quality football.

Sticking to a budget of around £200 meant I was limited to a 1080p projector, but that would be amble for the kind of scenario. I opted for the recently-launched Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector (EAZZE D1R).

Usually priced at £199.99 on Amazon, you can actually get it with a massive discount right now. Tick the voucher code box on the listing and it's just £129.99 – a bargain as it turned out for me.

The Aurzen projector not only runs the full Roku streaming experience, which works smoothly over its dual-band Wi-Fi connection, it has auto focus and keystone functionality, so was a doddle to set up.

There's currently a World Cup football zone on the Roku front end too, so it was easy to find my match and launch the live stream (on ITVX, in this case).

Now the projection screen

The projector is capable of providing an image up to 150-inches diagonally, but I didn't want to go quite that large as I might also use the screen later indoors. So, with budget considerations in mind, I opted for a non-branded 100-inch portable screen and stand from Amazon.

I paid around £60 for it personally, although it has since gone up in price a touch. I'd keep an eye out for price drops though, as they happen regularly on these kinds of products.

I chose this particular screen as it comes with a carry bag, is easily storable, and also includes guide ropes, ground pegs and bags to fill with water to stabilise the feet. This proved a godsend as it was windy in the garden that night and I wouldn't hold out much hope of keeping the screen from sailing off over the neighbours' houses otherwise.

So if you are looking for an equivalent screen, do keep that in mind.

The set up

Setting up the screen in the garden was extremely simple – construct the poles, slide on the crease-free screen, fill the water bags, and peg it down using the guide ropes.

The screen I chose could be used with front or rear projection, as can the Aurzen, but I wanted to keep the projector to the front as I was using the built-in speakers for sound and as they are side firing, they were perfect for sitting just behind.

It's also worth noting that the size of the image projected depends on the distance of the projector itself, so you need plenty of room away from the screen to place it for a crisp 100-inch picture.

There is a zoom functionality, as well as manual keystone correction (both of which proved handy to get the picture just right), but you'll find yourself moving the projector back and forth during setup a fair bit.

One issue I had on that particular evening is that, with just 280 lumens brightness, the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector isn't that great in sunlight. In fact, I could barely see an image at all when the sun was shining. So I had to wait until sunset to set it up.

That only gave me about 15 minutes before kick off to get things just right, but when it clicked, it clicked.

The upsides and downsides

With the light completely gone, the projector and screen combo came into its own – with one minor change (which I'll come to in a bit).

While only 1080p with no HDR, the pictures provided were visually spectacular – deep and rich in colour, and popping in the fresh English countryside ambience. The white of the England shirts was stark and clean, while the reds of Norway's kit and green of the grass was vibrant yet without being overly saturated.

It certainly made for an excellent viewing experience (even though Norway scored first and gave us a bit of a scare).

The sound too worked well, even from the on-board speakers. Their placement was great for my family and I to hear the commentary and action clearly, yet didn't carry too far to bother our neighbours.

You can also link the projector to a separate Bluetooth sound system if you want beefier or surround sound, but it was perfect for us for the scenario.

The only real issue we had (bar the inability to see anything in daylight outdoors) was that running the match through ITVX added around a minute of latency. This is unlikely the projector or Roku system at fault, but the streaming service itself. And as we discovered, when you're watching a live, important match, you may hear spoilers emanating from other garden viewing parties.

Indeed, the Norway goal was greeted with loud groans in our area long before we got to see it.

It sent me rushing back into the house to grab my Sky Stream puck and controller, which I then connected via the HDMI port. Sky currently offers low latency streams of live World Cup matches when shown on either the BBC or ITV, on dedicated channels.

It fixed the issue for us, but that might not be an option for everyone, so is something to keep in mind.

Was it worth it?

And so, all told considering the entire set up (excluding bunting, LED lights and flowers, which my wife arranged to make things look more fun) cost less than £200, the evening's viewing experience elevated the World Cup for my family and I.

It helped that England won, of course, but it turned the watching experience into a more festival-like affair. Or maybe it was the cider.

Either way, this setup will be coming out more often in the future – Glastonbury viewings next year, for example. And I plan to host some nighttime garden movie screenings if the weather continues to hold out.

Considering all the apps – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc – are available on the Roku TV Smart Projector, there's certainly plenty of films to choose from.

The only sad part is that the rest of the World Cup – including England's semi-final against Argentina – are being screened in the UK's daylight hours, so my quarters experience will be impossible to replicate. Still, there's always the Euros in a couple of years time. C'mon England!

How to watch the World Cup from anywhere

And finally, just in case you'll be nowhere near your garden for the remaining World Cup matches, you could consider a VPN to stream the action live when on your travels.

When it comes to streaming dongles, there are plenty of Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices that come in a convenient, compact stick form but few that run Google TV.

That's where Xiaomi comes in, as it's just released its latest streaming device in the UK and several other regions around the world. The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is an entry-level streamer that provides the full Google TV experience, but with Fire TV Stick-like design and price.

Essentially replacing the Mi TV Stick, which ran on Android, this second generation device is HD only. That means it's locked to a maximum of 1080p 60Hz streaming and 5.1 surround with Dolby Audio, DTS:X and DTS HD support. There's no 4K or Dolby Atmos, although you do get HDR 10+.

It should provide a super smooth user experience thanks to running on a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor and 1GB of RAM. There's 8GB of storage on board too, so you can download plenty of apps.

Xiaomi TV Stick HD connectivity specs

Dual-band Wi-Fi is supported for a more stable connection, as well as Bluetooth 5.0. You can link your phone to it, for example, as Google TV supports casting.

The only other connections are the built-in HDMI which plugs straight into the back of your TV, and a Micro USB port for power. You also get a HDMI extension cable that enables connection even if the fit at the back of your TV is too tight for the entire dongle.

The included remote has a button to activate Google Assistant voice control, plus dedicated one-touch buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. There's a custom button you can assign yourself, too.

As it comes with Google TV installed, all the streaming apps should be supported, as well as hundreds of extra services and games through the Play Store.

Priced at £39.99 from Xiaomi's own website, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is available now. However, if you would rather have 4K video and Dolby Atmos support, there's also a Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) version available on Amazon right now.

That's priced at £51 at present, with a discount.

UK TV is changing. Sky's acquisition of ITV may have made several guarantees over the future of ITV shows and channels, but the long-term impact will be profound. For starters, we'll be getting a new "integrated" streaming service that will likely be ITVX and Now combined into one.

But perhaps the biggest impact on our daily TV viewing will be from rivals who won't want to be left behind. After all, Sky / ITV would become a major, if not the biggest, force in paid and free TV if the buyout is approved.

That's perhaps why the BBC is on the lookout for partners in its own ambitions. And it seems Channel 4 could be first to jump on board.

So what are the plans being proposed by the new BBC director general, Matt Brittin, and how will that affect your TV viewing in the future? Here's what we know so far.

Is the BBC merging with Channel 4?

A combined Sky and ITV will become the largest commercial broadcaster the UK has ever seen next year, if the deal is approved by regulators. Sky has said that this will not impact on ITV's public service broadcasting commitments, so its channels and programmes should remain on Freeview for everyone to enjoy.

There are a number of other things that could change, such as ITV's sports coverage, but the biggest announcement so far is the creation of a new streaming service to take on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

That has seemingly put the Beeb's nose out of joint the most. Its BBC iPlayer service is the biggest free streaming platform in the UK, and it has endeavoured to create its own super-streaming service for years.

Project Kangaroo was killed by the Competition Commission before it could get off the ground. That would have seen the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 collaborate on a new service to tackle Netflix, but it wasn't to be.

Then Britbox, which did have its day in the sun, ended up being incorporated into ITVX before dissipating into a fine mist.

And now, with ITV becoming part of the Comcast / Sky machine, ambitions to create a single streaming service with all major free-to-air broadcasters seem to be over. But that hasn't deterred the BBC completely.

Brittin has proposed bringing Channel 4 content into iPlayer, emboldening the existing service in the face of increased competition coming from Sky and ITV next year. Channel 4 will keep its own voice and business model – ie. advertising – but viewers could watch BBC and Channel 4 shows without having to switch apps.

"We have had an approach and a discussion with Channel 4," said the director general (via Cordbusters). It's therefore something both parties want to progress with.

What it's not is a merger. This will be a partnership between two separate broadcasters for their streaming activities only. It is unlikely to affect the channel line up on Freeview or Freely. Or their respective TV productions.

And what about 5, will that join the new BBC venture?

Here's where the picture gets a little muddier. The UK's other main broadcaster, 5, is owned by Paramount, which operates its own paid streaming platform, Paramount+.

It is unlikely therefore to become part of the BBC / Channel 4 or Sky / ITV services. If anything, we might see Paramount take on the other platforms by integrating 5 into Paramount+ or whatever service emerges after the company's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

That is already expected to see HBO Max and Paramount+ combine, so maybe that will also include a free advertising-funded option in the 5 service.

Whatever happens, the coming year will be seismic for the future of streaming in the UK, but is unlikely to impact the current TV channels much.

Will Freely still operate in the same way?

One other question people ask me is how all of this will impact the free TV streaming platform Freely. It essentially offers a Freeview-like experience, with live TV channels and access to the broadcaster's apps, but delivers all programming over the internet rather than an arial, cable or satellite dish.

Well, it's hard to say for absolutely sure, but Freely has agreements with the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5, as well the U network, and they'll likely continue no matter the owner.

But, if each of the brand's streaming service changes, Freely would have to point instead to the new apps for catch-up content and features.

We'll undoubtedly find out more in the coming months.

In a World Cup year, there's been a big focus on bigger panels and emerging TV technologies – with RGB Mini-LED the incoming talent. But the established technologies, from OLED to Mini-LED, have also been bolstered further this year.

So whether you're buying a top-tier set to tune into the best streaming services, plug in a player for ultimate 4K Blu-ray experiences, or want best-of-best for a gaming panel, there are lots of top-notch TV options.

This year's T3 Awards 2026 not only celebrates the year's best TVs, but also expands across our brand's core areas of coverage – from Tech to Active and Home – and the quality over the past 12 months has been incredible. In addition to this Best TVs section, do also check out the Best Tech and Best Headphones & Audio winners.

Picking out the best TVs to award for this year was a considerable task. That's why we've broken down this category into relevant sections, highlighting specific purchase needs, from the best OLED model to the best gaming TV. Check out all the winners below.

Best Gaming TV

Samsung S99H / S95H

For the pivotal gaming experience, you'll have a number of requirements. High brightness for top HDR (high dynamic range), 4K output with speedy refresh rates (upward of 120Hz – meaning that HDMI 2.1port types are a must).

Well, Samsung's S99H goes above and beyond. Not only is this QD-OLED panel super-bright, but it's also equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports on the rear.

Beyond this, however, you can connect a separate Wireless One Connect box and tot up a total of eight HDMI ports (the latency of the additions aren't for gaming link-ups, but ideal for your other A/V kit – no unplugging to make accommodations).

The S99H model pictured has a fancy 'FloatLayer' border design, too, but if that's not to your tastes, then in the UK the S95HF model ditches that and will likely be most gamers' choice.

Highly commended: LG OLED G6

Best OLED TV

LG OLED G6

Traditional OLED – that's organic light-emitting diode – technology has the benefit of self-emissive pixels, which create perfect contrast visuals. That means no light bleed, but it's also meant that other, brighter technologies have come to challenge it.

Well, 'challenge accepted' seems to be the message from LG. The Korean brand's latest panel proves that there's still a long life in OLED yet. Its Primary RGB Tandem multi-layer panel (the same fundamental one as in the previous OLED G5) and new processor combine for an even greater brightness uptick.

But it's not just sheer eye-searing levels that award this TV its accolades. The picture quality is magic – colourful yet faithful and an ideal match for cinematic content – and, when asked, this TV can flex its OLED muscles to deliver vivid gaming experiences too. It's very versatile – and frankly could have won many of these T3 Awards gongs.

Highly commended: Philips OLED 910

Best Streaming Service

Apple TV

The very reason to own a great TV comes down to the quality of what you can watch on it. This year has introduced more content from the best streaming services than ever before – including some absolutely superb shows.

Once again, Apple TV has shown itself to be the most consistent of them all in our book. The strength of Apple Originals shows and movies has been second to none – across a wide range of genres.

There's more to come, too, whether you're into drama, sci-fi, comedy, thrillers – Apple has got the lot. They'll all look even better via an Apple TV 4K box, too, if you want to back up your streaming service with some worthy hardware.

Highly commended: Disney+

Best TV

Sony Bravia 8 II

Now, while the LG and Samsung above are sensational OLED and QD-OLED panels in their own right, there's something untouchable about Sony's entry in this category – and why the second-gen Bravia 8 is our unequivocal winner.

No, it doesn't have four HDMI 2.1 ports (only two). No, it's not even technically the top model in Sony's line-up (that goes to the Bravia 9 II True RGB set). So why's it our winner? There's just something about the image quality straight out of the box that'll take your breath away.

Add better-than-average sound, a great design, and those visuals which bring out the best for both gaming and home-cinema uses alike, and it's a stormer of a set. It's a premium TV with a premium price, though, but it's a premium that's worth paying.

Highly commended: LG OLED G6

Best Mid-Range TV

TCL C7K

Another TV trend for 2026 is that top technologies are trickling down to more affordable price points. Indeed, the best "mid-range" winner this year feels anything but – often delivering flagship-grade results.

TCL has long been at the top of its game when it comes to the craft of Mini-LED panels, which is where the C7K (soon to be replaced by the C7L) brings great performance at a great price.

It delivers super-bright images, with a better-than-average sound system, yet will cost a huge amount less than its mainstream rivals – with minimal compromise. What's not to like? It's an obvious 5-star winner in this category.

Highly commended: Sky Glass Air

Best soundbar

Marshall Heston 120

Best TV acquired, but the sound's not up to delivering that true cinematic experience? While you may consider a full surround system, many people just want a single 'bar solution to cater for the task – and this year's winner does that with style.

Marshall's speakers have always stood out for visual flair reasons, which the company's first soundbar brings to the TV market. But it's not design for the sake of it, this is a practical setup that's complete with physical control knobs to give it unique appeal.

Not only this, it sounds absolutely banging straight out of the box, whether you're enhancing the best movies or blaring out your favourite music. It's got Dolby Atmos duties well and truly ticked, and its volume goes up to 11.

Unlike last year's Sonos winner, the Marshall has a 4K/120Hz HDMI passthrough, too, so you needn't compromise what you have to unplug in order to accommodate it and lots of other A/V kit beneath your TV. That's an added bonus in addition to its solid sonic performance.

Highly commended: Samsung HW-Q990H

Best Streaming Device (UK)

Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely

This year has also seen a huge uptick in the way we here in the UK can source content, with Freely having accelerated that. This free-to-air streaming provider brings access to BBC, ITV ,Channel 4 and Channel 5 – without the need for an aerial or sat dish.

There are umpteen ways to obtain Freely, with a number of manufacturers now baking it into new TVs, too, but as a separate purchase it's the Manhattan Aero that we find a diamond among the other gems. It also brings access to more than 400 other channels, so it's not just locked to the 'big five'.

It's not the first streaming device with Freely support, mind, but we do find it the most integrated. Powered by TiVo – which provides a smooth experience, suggesting the right shows and films at the right time – it's a doddle to set up and use, and you never have to pay a penny for a subscription either.

Highly commended: Apple TV 4K

With the UK in the grip of another heatwave and England's next World Cup match scheduled for a balmy Saturday evening, I'm not going to be sweating it out in my front room. I'm going to decamp into my garden and watch it using a projector.

If you're thinking along the same lines then I have one piece of advice: don't waste your money on a cheap projector, get something you'll use again.

There have been a lot of changes to projectors over recent years, from falling prices to diverse designs. We have short throw projectors that don't invade your whole room, we have powerful 4K projectors for the ultimate detail.

From Samsung's Freestyle to Aurzen's affordable Roku projector, you have plenty of choices. And I've been testing the Soundcore Nebula P1 – a projector that's definitely worth consideration.

Portable practicality

I first saw the Nebula P1 at CES 2026 and the thing that attracted me to it was the versatility. Designed with portability in mind, the projector swivels into the body when you pack it away, while a pair of speakers clip onto the top. There's a carry handle so it's easy to port around.

Nebula has made this its forte, from the dinky P1i to the huge Nebula X1 Pro (which is over £4,000), these projectors are designed to be moved around. About the only criticism I have is that there's nowhere to store the remote unless I buy the separate carry case.

The detachable speakers mean you can easily create separation for stereo, or just place them close to where you're sitting so you can hear what's happening. They are only 20W, but I've found that to be loud enough and it's simpler than having to connect to a Bluetooth speaker.

Simple setup

The design of the Nebula P1 means you can rotate the projector body to adjust the height of the projection. There's no messing around winding tiny feet in and out on the bottom, you literally just set it at the angle you want. There's a screw thread on the bottom so you could put it on a tripod if you don't have a suitable surface for it – but it needs to be something sturdy as the P1 weighs 2.5kg in total.

There's auto keystone that will make sure the picture is correctly proportioned. This sits alongside autofocus, so you basically just have to point it at the screen and it will make all the adjustments. You can manually adjust the size, but it will project up to 180-inches diagonal. I tested it with a 120-inch screen.

It doesn't have the sort of smart correction that you'll find on the Samsung Freestyle that will adjust for wallpaper patterns, but it's easy to get it to fit your screen or projection area.

It's a full Google TV system

The Nebula P1 runs Google TV. This will invite you to sign in with your Google account, but you'll then have access to all the normal Google apps and streaming services. This is so much easier than connecting an external device or casting from your phone – as long as you have solid Wi-Fi, you'll get a great experience.

There's just one slight hiccup here: there's no support for BBC iPlayer at the moment. That often comes down to device certification, so if you need iPlayer, you might be better connecting a Fire TV Stick or similar. As this is an Android device, it's probably not too hard to sideload the APK. ITV X works perfectly, however.

If you are venturing into the garden you might choose to hotspot off your phone (which I did) if your home Wi-Fi doesn't reach reliably all the way to your projector – but I also found it had better connectivity than some cheaper projectors I tested alongside it.

There's also an HDMI connector alongside USB and a 3.5mm connector, so you have choices to connect other external devices if you choose. The included remote connects via Bluetooth and is backlit, so it's really handy and better than the cheap remotes that some projectors offer.

How good is the picture?

I've used the Nebula P1 to watch World Cup matches and it's ideal for those later evening games. This isn't a projector that's well suited to bright conditions – with 650 lumens it's mid-range, but on a summer evening, it's good enough. Importantly, it's far better than cheap projectors you might be tempted to buy on impulse.

If you are considering it, be sure to look at the brightness, because the more powerful it is, the better the picture can be.

The resolution sticks to 1080p which for most sports broadcasts will be fine, unless you're really craving the highest quality, in which case you're better watching your TV.

It's the portability that wins here. It's easy to move the Nebula P1 from garden to front room if you want. You just need somewhere to project the image and you're good to go.

Yesterday, we revealed that Sky is to buy ITV for £1.6 billion ($2.13 billion) and create the largest commercial television broadcaster the UK has ever known. It has plans beyond British TV too, revealing that the combined company will also launch a competitor to the major streaming services, like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.

However, UK TV viewers are perhaps a bit more concerned about how their day-to-day TV shows and services will be impacted. And whether the Sky deal will mean they'll have to buy a Sky Glass or Sky Stream and subscribe just to watch their favourite programmes.

That's where we can help. We've heard a few questions bandied around from worried ITV viewers and have done our best to answer them below.

So, if you're wondering what will become of the likes of Coronation Street, I'm a Celebrity and Love Island read on...

Will ITV shows remain free-to-watch on Freeview?

If and when Sky's takeover of ITV is ratified by UK regulators, the company has guaranteed that ITV's free-to-air public service broadcast channels will remain. And that will include the channels' biggest shows.

ITV Studios will not be part of the buyout and will be spun-off as a separate company. However, Sky has reached an agreement to continue to broadcast its shows for the next five years, with plans to renegotiate after that time.

As Sky CEO Dana Strong said after revealing the ambitious acquisition: "As long as consumers love Coronation Street, we will absolutely be delivering Coronation Street."

The same is true for other big ITV brands, such as I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Britain's Got Talent.

Will Sky News move to ITV?

According to Sky, there are currently no plans to merge Sky News and ITV News. They will retain their own "independent voices".

That will likely mean that, for the time being at least, ITN will continue to produce ITV News, while Sky's in-house production teams will continue with its own service.

It helps somewhat that ITV never launched a 24-hour news channel to compete with BBC News and Sky News (which is also available on Freeview). That might have muddied the water a little.

Will ITVX and Now continue as separate streaming services?

While there is a commitment to maintain the current ITV channel lineup and shows, its less clear what Sky's plans will mean for ITVX and Now.

As revealed with the buyout announcement, the combine Sky and ITV plans a new super streaming service to take on the US giants, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV. And the wording used is that it will be an "integrated" service that will reach 16 million UK viewers.

"Integrated" suggests that Sky will combine its Now streaming platform with ITVX, maybe for a hybrid free/paid alternative. Or they could be replaced entirely.

Truth is, we don't know for sure right now.

Will ITV get live Premier League matches?

One additional, exciting announcement is that, once the takeover is complete, Sky said it will "supercharge" ITV's sports offering.

Whether it will move some live Premier League, Championship or other Football League matches to the free-to-air channels is yet to be revealed. However, it cannot currently show Premier League highlights on ITV channels.

The BBC currently holds the rights to show Premier League highlights until the end of the 2028/29 season.

What is more likely is that Sky's expertise in live sports broadcasts will be employed by ITV too, using the same teams and setup. Sky will also have even stronger bidding power when it comes to new rights negotiations.

When will Sky and ITV merge?

Although the Sky ITV deal has been officially agreed and announced there are several hurdles yet to be navigated – not least governmental approval.

It still needs shareholder and regulatory approval, which might take several months.

Sky shook up the British TV scene when it first launched 35 years ago. Then named BSkyB, it redefined the television landscape with scores of new channels, and in collaboration with the newly-formed Premier League, it went on to reinvent sports coverage too.

Now it plans something equally as seismic, with the announcement that it is to buy ITV in a £1.6 billion ($2.13 billion) deal.

If approved by the UK's regulators, a combined Sky and ITV will become the largest commercial broadcaster in the country by far. And the ambitions don't stop there.

While there is a commitment to maintain independent "editorial voices" for both ITV News and Sky News, and ITV's free-to-air channels, there are also plans to create a new, UK-focused streaming giant to take on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV.

ITV currently operates the free ITVX service, while the Comcast-owned Sky has Now – its paid, streaming-only service. It's not clear whether either or both will remain, but the new "integrated" platform will be looking to serve "over 16 million viewers".

Will the Sky deal impact the ITV shows I love?

ITV Studios will not be part of the buyout and will operate as a newly-formed separate company. That means shows will continue to be made independently. However, all of your current ITV favourites should remain on their free-to-air channels as before – for the next five years, anyway.

Sky has negotiated deals with ITV Studios to retain popular programming.

"As long as consumers love Coronation Street, we will absolutely be delivering Coronation Street," said Dana Strong, CEO of Sky.

"We've got all of the shows that consumers love in a five-year contract. That's a pretty long contract in our industry."

It will renegotiate extensions after that.

Interestingly, Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q also offer free subscriptions to the likes of Netflix, HBO Max and Disney+, so it'll be interesting to see what happens to those agreements when it launches a direct competitor.

One thing's clear though, if the takeover is ratified, Brits will finally end up with a super streaming service of their very own.

At the end of this week, on 3 July, one of the biggest sci-fi shows of modern times will return. Yes, Silo season 3 is set to air on Apple TV.

The anticipation is high, too, given the second season's jubilant reception – it still maintains a 92% score on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

The latest trailer – which is embedded below – has already confirmed some pretty big plot twists, too, so the show's trajectory already looks to be a riot.

But Apple TV has made some great decisions in the show's airing schedule to which other platforms, from Netflix to Disney+, ought to pay greater attention.

Same-day global streaming

The first episode of Silo season 3 airs on Friday 3 July. Not Thursday in the USA and Friday at ungodly hours in the UK. It's a same-day release – so less chance of leaks and spoilers. That's a big positive for a global audience.

Unlike many shows' season premieres, Silo season 3 won't release multiple episodes at once. You won't get two episodes back to back to kick off the season – and I think that's a good thing for scheduling.

Indeed, as I've written before: Apple's bold message with Silo is foresight that Netflix should learn from. The show is already shot beyond this season, through to season 4, meaning ongoing consistency will continue to follow.

No mid-season breaks

Silo season 3 will air consistently, with each week's episode running to a similar length – none of the aberrated runtimes that the final season of Netflix's Stranger Things exhibited.

That, too, is an important factor for consistency, story flow and audience focus. Add that there are no mid-season breaks – FX's Higher Potential on Disney+ could learn that – and that can aid the storytelling aspect of this series.

There's going to be a lot of time jumps in this series, based on the trailer, which ought to lend the writers to cue up plenty of cliffhangers and unknowns. Classic TV storytelling momentum that so many modern 'boxset shows' otherwise lack.

Weekly schedule

But! No physical release...

As one of Apple TV's major Apple Original shows, however, the streamer keenly wants to hold the show on its platform.

That means no physical release – any Blu-rays you see are knockoff bootlegs, not official – and the 4K streaming output, as I've written about before, is sometimes questionable (especially for such a low-light show).

I, for one, would pay extra for an Apple TV Ultra, if it promised higher bitrates. The unofficial workaround, however, is to buy a physical Apple TV 4K box, which services its users with better quality than app sources elsewhere.

That's one hurdle I'm not sure can be fully overcome at this time. Given that Silo S3 has all the badges on its official page – 4K, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos – it's clear it could look even better than its streaming bubble enables. But it's a darn good reason to buy a 4K box nonetheless...

When the Project Hail Mary 4K Blu-ray was finally listed for pre-order I let out a little whinny of excitement. Or maybe that was just in my head. Nonetheless, I rapidly paid my order for the physical release, as it had been on my wish-list for some time.

Amazon MGM Studios had a major opportunity here to fix my biggest problem with physical media releases – namely, the release date being set in stone. Sadly, however, this is yet another 4K Blu-ray release where things are just, well, unclear.

- As a 4K Blu-ray fan, these are 7 discs I'd buy in Amazon's sale

Two weeks ago the Project Hail Mary pre-order went live on Amazon in the US. It attracted a mass of interest, then the listing seemingly evaporated – as if the pre-order volume was so considerable that all stock was allocated. Fortunately, the UK didn't suffer the same fate – you can still pre-order on Amazon.

Not in tandem with streaming

At the time the 4K Blu-ray pre-order went live, however, there wasn't even a hint of official release date. Even now, weeks on, there's no official word from Amazon MGM Studios about when the disc version will actually arrive to customers.

That's a frustration. After all, those who want to watch can do so via pay-to-view streaming using MGM+ – as has been the case since 18 June.

• Subscribe to MGM+ for £2.99/month (offer ends 2 July 2026)
• USA-based? Subscribe for $7.99/month

Sure, I get that Amazon wants to promote that platform's sign-ups and revenue, but why not get the 4K Blu-ray out first? Surely that would increase the demand and make even more money overall?

No precise release date

There are also agreements that restrict a release schedule based on a theatrical run – and as Project Hail Mary's life in the cinema extended initial expectations, that put in a bit of a delay.

That's the price of success but, again, why not relay with clarity as soon as possible when the disc would drop? It only adds additional time for teams to be working on the release, rather than squeezing schedules.

As it stands most UK sites have just latched '31 December 2026' into this field, as a catch-all way of saying 'this year', I suppose.

The 4K Blu-ray won't be released that late, though, as suggestion is 11 August will be the official date. Sources are loose on this one, however, so that can only be seen as a suggestion rather than definitive date at this time.

Limited 'Extras' detail

A massive reason for wanting a 4K Blu-ray of any release is for the best-of-best picture quality at a bitrate that no streaming service can ever match, plus an uncompressed sound mix that will make the best home theatres shine all the brighter.

In addition, however, collectors and fans love the Extras on discs. Behind-the-scenes. Storyboards. Deleted scenes. Alternate endings. Director's Cut versions. The list goes on. Yet there is no list – as the 4K Blu-ray of Project Hail Mary hasn't listed any of its contents at this stage.

That's not stopped me from buying the disc on first sighting, of course, I just wish these points would be addressed to make for a smoother purchase experience. At £24.99 / $37.99 for a copy, such buyers are awarding a high rate of return to the studios after all.