Beat Sky with £89 gadget that’s ‘a worthwhile investment’ for TV and Netflix access

Argos shoppers can unlock thousands of movies and TV shows with this clever device that rivals Sky Glass and Amazon Fire TV Sticks

TV lovers can beat the prices of broadcasters like Sky with a rival gadget that provides hundreds of channels and streaming apps for a fraction of the cost. The device in question is the Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely from Argos.

This £89.99 device unlocks countless movies and TV shows from Freely, the streaming platform from BBC, ITV and Channel 4. By plugging the Manhattan Aero into a TV, viewers can stream more than 70 live channels and thousands of titles on demand from the UK’s major broadcasters without an aerial or satellite dish.

This works similarly to Sky Glass TVs, which have free-to-air and premium channels built in alongside streaming apps, but start at £309 when buying outright. They also require monthly subscriptions to access content, which adds at least £15 per month to the cost.

The Manhattan Aero requires no monthly fees to access Freely, but paid subscriptions are required to access streamers like Netflix. As it runs on the TiVo operating system, it also provides easy access to streaming platforms and apps such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and YouTube.

What’s more, the addition of TiVo+ opens a library of more than 400 channels to stream at no extra cost, alongside even more movies and series. The Aero works over WiFi and offers a simple plug-and-play setup through a TV’s HDMI port.

Users simply need to plug the device into a TV and connect it to WiFi, with the brand claiming it can be up and running in minutes. It’s also compatible with 4K HD TVs, so users can stream with a crystal clear and vivid picture quality.

The Manhattan Aero comes with an innovative voice remote that lets users search for titles completely hands-free. Amazon includes a similar remote control, with its Fire TV Stick range, the flagship streaming stick that plugs directly into a TV.

Like the Aero, Amazon’s model can turn a standard TV into a smart TV thanks to a wealth of content available on popular streaming apps. Prices for the Fire TV Stick depend on the quality, ranging from £39.99 for the HD model to £69.99 for 4K Max.

While it may not be a household name like the Fire TV Stick, Manhattan’s Aero has received an impressive 4.8-star rating from Argos customers

“This is a great little box,” one said. “I have a TV in the bedroom with no aerial, so I could only use iPlayer etc. Connected the box and went through an easy setup, and within five minutes I’m watching live TV. Cheaper than having someone come and connect to the aerial, and to be honest, less breakup of picture, which I often get with the main TV.”

“A worthwhile investment,” another said. “It was so simple to install yet so effective when put into use. Has increased channel availability and also, to some extent, improved screen contrast. Value for money and fulfilling its purpose well.”

Not everyone is so positive, as this four-star review says: “Not as good as I hoped; picture not sharp; sound is low compared to Roku stick. No way to access BBC text which I really do miss.”

While this five-star review says: “Easy to set up. Simply follow the on-screen instructions. Picture quality is good. Almost all commonly used TV stations plus a separate button for Netflix and YouTube. Pleased with the purchase and would recommend. Comes with HDMI cable and batteries for remote.”