Earlier in 2022 , Sky disclose it would be making its Sky Stream puckavailable as a standalone production , offering another means to get at your Sky subscription instead ofSky GlassorSky Q.
It was not long after Sky ’s announcement that Virgin unveil it ’s own all - in - one cyclosis box called theVirgin Media Stream . you may record all about our first impressions of the service in ourhands - on review .
So , what ’s the remainder ? Read on to pick up how the Sky Stream puck and the Virgin Media Stream compare to each other when it comes to design , interface and app support .
Pricing and availability
The Sky Stream hockey puck will be useable to buy later this twelvemonth , but Sky are yet to confirm the handout day of the month or price . presently , Sky Glass customers can buy extra Puck at £ 50 a opus alongside a £ 10 / calendar month subscription . You ’d think that should give us an idea of how much the Robin Goodfellow will be .
The Virgin Media Stream is usable to purchase now . client call for to compensate a one - prison term activating fee to get it up and running . All you ’ll see on your bill are any services you pick out to sign to via your Virgin Media write up , such as Netflix orDisney Plus .
New and existing Virgin Media customer can sign up for the Stream , with either Virgin Media broadband or broadband and headphone parcel require to qualify . depend on which other divine service you ’re coming from , this could intend more expensive or less .
Virgin ’s cheapest deal at the moment is£20 for broadband and phone . The cheapest Sky broadband heap is presently useable at£25 for 18 months , while the lowest price we can find for BT Fibre is £ 28.99 on a24 - month declaration .
You do n’t need a specific broadband provider to use Sky Glass serving , and we ’d assume like for the Stream puck , but if you ’re concerned in streaming UHD cognitive content then you will involve a fairly fast and full-bodied broadband pipage .
Design
The Sky Stream puck is a square - shaped twist that plunge alongside Sky Glass to allow users to transfer the Glass user interface to other video in their home . It features aHDMI 2.1and ethernet embrasure to connect to a TV or wire connection to the cyberspace
It come with a remote that include playback controls , a home clit , a pilotage launching pad and a number diggings , with the remote also enable “ Hello Sky ” vocalisation commands .
The Virgin Media Stream is likewise pocket-size and square , but do covered in a layer of mesh textile that makes it stand out more than the matte grim look of the Stream hockey puck . There ’s an HDMI port to cop the Stream up to your TV and the equipment come with a remote with the same basic control condition as the Sky Stream remote . Like the Sky Stream puck , it ’s also fully vocalise compatible .
Interface
As the Sky Stream hockey puck launched with Sky Glass as a mean value of transferring the interface onto non - Sky Glass screens in your menage , we ’d anticipate the puck to feature the same ‘ Glass ’ user interface when sold separately .
The Glass interface aggregates all your Sky cognitive content as well as content from other providers into one station . It uses a interchangeable track organization as Sky Q , fraction your content into TV Shows , Movies , Sport , Kids , International , Audio and Music , News and Fitness categories . There are also sections for recently used apps , inputs and spotlighted cognitive content . The Playlist feature of speech , which compose all the content you ’ve observe , are see and plan to watch into one space .
The Virgin Media Stream is marketed is an easy way to transmute any non - smart TV into a fully - fledge voice - activated overbold tv set . We were given a tour of the interface during Virgin Media ’s at the announcement effect for the Stream and were pick out through the categories available , which include tabs for Apps , Live TV , Catch Up and Box Sets & Movies .
Overall , the interface was clearly position out , making it easy to site content either by diving into the said tabs or by running a prompt part search .
Apps and channels
The Sky Stream puck allows Sky Glass users – and presently those without Sky Glass – to access a range of apps on their be screens . stand apps include BBC iPlayer , ITV Hub , Apple TV Plus , Disney Plus , Discovery Plus , Amazon Prime Video , Peacock , Spotify , YouTube , Fiit and Highbrow to name a few . you could see thefull list in our guidebook .
Likewise , you’re able to get at a wide compass of duct and apps on any recent TV with the Virgin Media Stream , though there are a few differences in the tune - ups of the two service .
On the Virgin Stream there ’s BBC , ITV , Channel 4 and Sky , as well as apps like Netflix , Disney Plus , Prime Video and YouTube . However , there ’s no support for Apple TV Plus , NOW or Spotify , while the likes of Peacock and Paramount+ ( when it arrives ) will be exclusive to Sky .
The biggest reason to get the Virgin Media Stream is the incentive to save money on subscription - base streaming services . Apps like Netflix , Disney Plus , Sky Sports and Cinema software system , BT Sport and Starzplay qualify for “ Stream Credits ” , so if you pay for them through your Virgin Media news report , the company will apply a 10 % discount rate for every calendar month you keep view based on the previous month ’s bill .
There ’s also the additional benefit of construe all of your subscription on one notice instead of juggling multiple individual electric charge every calendar month . you could see the full tilt of apps that count toward Stream Credits onVirgin Media ’s internet site .
Early Verdict
Both the Sky Stream puck and the Virgin Media Stream bring a well organised user interface and voice bread and butter to your existing goggle box , but there are a mates of differences .
The Sky Stream puck , through the Glass interface , patronize Apple TV+ and Spotify and wo n’t require you to sign up with a specific broadband provider .
The Virgin Media Stream , meanwhile , has a dispirited price , though we still do n’t know for sure how much the Stream puck will costs , we would n’t expect Sky to undercut its existing price of the Robin Goodfellow when it substantiate the standalone own pricing latterly this year . It also present the opportunity to preserve money on subscriptions with its Stream Credits .
Which streaming twist you prefer for will in all likelihood depend on factor such as broadband provider and the message you care to access . As far as pricing give way , we ’ll have to wait until Sky establish its Stream puck later this twelvemonth . We ’ll give this versus an update once we know more details .
