Comparing Sky Glass and Sky Glass Air: A Look at the Major Distinctions and Which One to Opt for in Your Purchase Decision
Sky has announced a new addition to its lineup of all-in-one TV solutions, the Sky Glass Air. This affordable offering aims to provide minimal fuss and maximum enjoyment, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a secondary room TV or a more budget-friendly option.
A User-Friendly Experience
The Sky Glass Air comes with the easy-to-use Sky OS operating system, a built-in electronic programme guide (EPG), and access to favourite apps and games. This makes navigating through your content a breeze, allowing you to enjoy your favourite shows and games without any hassle.
Compact and Cost-Effective
With its smaller size and cost-effectiveness, the Sky Glass Air is ideal for a secondary room TV. The true minimum cost of Sky Glass Air is £21 per month, including Sky TV Essentials. Adding a Netflix subscription, which costs £18.99 per month, makes for a whole TV setup for a couple of quid extra, quite the bargain.
Picture and Sound Quality
While the Sky Glass Air does not offer the same picture and sound quality as its more premium counterparts, such as the Sky Glass 2, it still delivers a solid performance. The 43-inch Sky Glass Air is priced from £6 per month over a 48-month period, the 55-inch is £10, and the 65-inch is £13.
The Sky Glass Air features a 4K quantum dot display with Dolby Vision, but uses global dimming instead of advanced local dimming. This means the brightness may not be as good as other high-end TVs, but colours remain fairly vibrant. The sound quality is also slightly less immersive, with a simpler dual-speaker setup that lacks Dolby Atmos. However, dialogue remains clear, and the volume can get fairly loud.
Design and Dimensions
The Sky Glass Air has a less chunky design compared to Sky Glass 2, measuring approximately 3.5cm in visible edge, 7cm including rear sockets, and up to 18cm with the integrated flat plate stand. Despite its smaller size, it can handle Dolby Atmos decoding.
Comparing Sky Glass Air and Sky Glass 2
The key differences between the Sky Glass Air and Sky Glass 2 lie in picture quality, sound quality, and cost effectiveness. While the Sky Glass 2 offers superior picture and sound quality, the Sky Glass Air provides a more budget-friendly, compact option suitable for casual or secondary room use.
| Aspect | Sky Glass Air | Sky Glass 2 | |----------------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | Picture Quality | 4K quantum dot display with Dolby Vision but uses global dimming; not as bright but maintains fairly vibrant colors. Picture quality is solid but below that of Sky Glass 2 and other high-end TVs. | Also 4K with Dolby Vision; features more advanced panel technology with local dimming, leading to better brightness and color vibrancy. Overall superior picture quality. | | Sound Quality | Simpler dual-speaker setup without an integrated soundbar; lacks Dolby Atmos, only has basic Dolby Audio; less immersive sound with reduced bass and expansiveness. Dialogue remains clear and volume can get fairly loud. | Equipped with a built-in 3.1.2 soundbar system delivering fuller, cinematic-quality audio with more immersive surround sound and Dolby Atmos support. Much more powerful and rich sound experience. | | Cost Effectiveness | Priced at roughly half the cost of Sky Glass 2, making it very affordable and good value for casual or second-room viewers; sacrifices in sound and panel quality reflect the price reduction. | Higher price reflecting its premium audio and better panel features; better suited for main entertainment setups where performance justifies the cost. |
In summary, the Sky Glass Air offers a more budget-friendly, compact option with acceptable picture and sound quality for casual or secondary room use, while Sky Glass 2 provides a higher-end experience with advanced picture technology and superior integrated sound designed for a primary entertainment hub.
[1] Sky. (2023). Sky Glass Air. [Online]. Available: https://www.sky.com/shop/tv-packages/sky-glass-air/
[2] Sky. (2023). Sky Glass 2. [Online]. Available: https://www.sky.com/shop/tv-packages/sky-glass-2/
[3] CNET. (2023). Sky Glass Air review: A budget-friendly smart TV with a lot to offer. [Online]. Available: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/sky-glass-air-review-a-budget-friendly-smart-tv-with-a-lot-to-offer/
The Sky Glass Air, complimenting a home-and-garden setup with its compact size, merges comfortably into your lifestyle as a cost-effective secondary room TV, while serving up a user-friendly experience through the Sky OS operating system, allowing you to effortlessly access your favorite content.
For those seeking to broaden their entertainment horizons beyond the primary living room, the Sky Glass Air, alongside a Netflix subscription, offers an all-encompassing home-and-garden TV setup at an affordable price that won't break the bank.
