We look at everything you need to know about Sky Glass and answer questions like What is it? How is it different from Sky Q? And How much is it?
What is Sky Glass?
Simply put, Sky Glass is a 4K TV that has Sky’s services already built into it, so you can stream shows and apps over WiFi without the need for a satellite dish or a box.
Sky Glass has a crystal-clear picture and a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar; removing the need to pay for a screen and soundbar separately. It's the ultimate package deal.
Sky Glass is available in three sizes and five different colour options which we will explore in more detail further on.
Sky Glass TV Specifications
Size
Sky Glass is available in three sizes:
- Small - 43-inches
- Medium - 55-inches
- Large - 65-inches
Colour
There are five unique colours available:
- Ceramic white
- Dusky pink
- Racing green
- Ocean blue
- Anthracite black
Sound
| Speakers | Dolby 3.1.2 output |
| 3.1.2 Configuration | 3x outwards-firing, 1x central subwoofer, 2x upwards-firing |
| Audio format | Dolby Atmos |
| Sound output | Up to 215 W |
Sky Glass comes with six speakers and a subwoofer built-in that support 360° Dolby Atmos surround sound. However, you will have to upgrade to the Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos Pack to actually be able to watch Sky content in Dolby Atmos. This also requires a minimum broadband speed of 30mbps.
Display
| Display type | UHD Quantum Dot |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Colour | Over 1 billion colours |
| HDR | Dolby Vision®, HDR 10,HLG |
Sky Glass is a 4K UHD Quantum Dot screen with 8.3 million pixels. You’ll also get HD included as standard, although, like the sound, customers will need to upgrade to the Sky Ultra HDR and Dolby Atmos pack to view content in UHD.
Playlists & Recordings
One of the main things to note with Sky Glass is that you won’t be able to record and store content in the same way you can with Sky Q. Instead, you’ll need to use the new cloud-based Sky Glass Playlist feature.
This allows you to easily create playlists bringing your favourite content from different apps (such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and ITV Hub) together in one place. Plus content is categorised making it even easier to find what you want to watch.
The downside to this, however, is it’s not as flexible as Sky Q. You cannot record from live TV which takes away a lot of control. If the program you want to watch can’t be found on catch-up TV then you won’t be able to add it to your playlist. On-demand streams will also be subject to relevant rights agreements, meaning programs might only be available for a certain time. If you like to store recordings to watch time and time again, then you might be disappointed with this playlist feature.
Sky Glass Channels
With Sky Glass, you don’t get quite as many channels as you do with Sky Q. Sky Q gives you more than 300 channels whereas Sky Glass is only 140. You will still get the most popular channels such as Sky Atlantic, Sky Documentaries, Sky Showcase, and Sky Witness.
Here is a list of the channels available on both Sky Glass and Sky Q
How much does Sky Glass cost?
Sky Glass can be purchased outright for those customers who choose to do so.
| Size | Full cost |
|---|---|
| Small (43”) | £649 |
| Medium (55”) | £849 |
| Large (65”) | £1,049 |
For those who don’t want the large initial outlay, Sky also offers 0% interest on either a 24 or 48 month contract.
| Size | Contract length | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (43”) | 48 Month | £13 |
| Small (43”) | 24 Month | £26 |
| Medium (55”) | 48 Month | £17 |
| Medium (55”) | 24 Month | £34 |
| Large (65”) | 48 Month | £21 |
| Large (65”) | 24 Month | £42 |
These figures are just for the Sky Glass TV set. The cost of your TV package will be added to this. You're looking at a minimum of £39 a month. This includes £13 a month for the small 43” TV on a 48 month contract and £26 a month for the Sky Ultimate TV package. Add Sports, Cinema, Sky Ultra HDR and Dolby Atmos, etc and this would increase.
There is also an upfront cost of £10 for 48 month contracts and £20 for the 24 month.
Multiroom viewing with Sky Glass
Multiroom viewing is available with the Whole Home Pack. With the Whole Home pack you can watch Sky on any TV in your home via one of Sky’s Stream Pucks - a separate device that you plug into your TV using a HDMI connection.
The Whole Home Pack costs an additional £10 per month. There is also a £50 upfront cost for each Sky Stream Puck, or if you are an existing Sky TV customer then the first Puck is free.
To work effectively, Whole Home requires a minimum broadband speed of 30mbps for Whole Home plus one Sky Stream Puck. Each additional puck requires a further 5mbps.
Disadvantages of Sky Glass
In addition to the reduced channels and being unable to record live TV, one of the downsides to Sky Glass is that it runs on your broadband connection. Whilst this is fine for those who live in areas with fast speeds, those in more rural areas might struggle.
You will need a minimum download speed of 25mbps, more if you add the Whole Home Pack for multiroom viewing. It is important to also consider what other demands you have on your broadband that may slow down your connection, for example, if someone is gaming in a different room. Relying on broadband also means that if you experience any outages, then you won’t be able to watch TV without the use of a backup terrestrial TV aerial. You may also experience broadcast delays of up to 45 seconds. This could be a concern for some, especially when viewing live sporting events.
Is a Sky Glass TV worth it?
Sky Glass certainly makes life easier by having everything all in one place, and if you are in the market for a new TV anyway then this could be a great investment. The superior display and sound quality of the TV, the ability to create a personal Playlist of your favourite content across apps, and being able to ditch the satellite dish all make Sky Glass an excellent choice.
However, if you tend to only use streaming services like Netflix or Amazon, then Sky Glass probably isn’t the best option for you. With Sky Glass, you are forced into taking a Sky TV package, so you have to really want Sky for this to be worth it. It also means you are locked in with Sky until you are willing to buy a new TV, which given the cost of Sky Glass, is unlikely to be for quite some time.
Whether Sky Glass is worth it or not ultimately comes down to what you are looking for from your TV and content.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a satellite dish with Sky Glass?
No, you don’t. The great thing about Sky Glass is that it already has Sky inside, so you do not need a satellite dish. Instead, you stream content over broadband. Simply connect the TV to your WiFi and you’re good to go.
What is the minimum broadband speed for Sky Glass?
As all content on Sky Glass is streamed via your broadband, a minimum speed of 25mbps is recommended. This is increased to 30Mbps if you want to stream in UHD and with Dolby Atmos.
The Whole Home requires a minimum broadband speed of 30mbps for Whole Home plus one Sky Stream Puck. Each additional puck then requires a further 5mbps.
Can I record live TV with Sky Glass?
With Sky Glass you can pause and rewind live TV for up to 30 minutes, but you cannot actually record to keep forever. Instead, Sky Glass uses what they call Playlists. When you add something to your Playlist you are essentially streaming it from the relevant service, such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub. If that particular show or episode gets removed from the streaming service then it is gone.
Will Sky Glass work if my broadband is down?
If your WiFi is down then you can use a terrestrial TV aerial as backup, though you will only be able to watch those channels included with Freeview.