Sky Q is, without doubt, one of the greatest set-top boxes ever made. This highly rated device has won endless awards thanks to its ability to record live TV, along with offering access to endless premium channels, streaming apps and on-demand content. However, Sky Q’s days appear to be numbered, with the firm now focusing on other internet-powered products such as its Stream box and Glass TVs. That shift could be good news for a new product that’s arriving soon.

Humax has just unveiled its latest Aura EZ 4K TV Recorder set-top box, which, just like Sky Q, can store endless hours of shows, movies and sporting action via an in-built 2TB hard drive. It’s getting harder to find boxes that offer physical recordings, and it’s really rare to see a new TV gadget with internal storage being released.

Things get even better: the new Aura EZ is also powered by Freely, which means owners can not only watch television via a standard aerial but also by using this streaming platform. For those unaware, Freely is the latest service to be launched by the team behind Freeview. It offers over 60 live channels plus hours of on-demand content via a broadband connection. That means the device can be moved from room to room, is much easier to DIY install and can be updated with bonus features more regularly.

Other features coming to the Aura EZ include full 4K HDR picture quality along with Dolby Digital Plus sound.

An integrated TV guide shows what is on now and next, plus there’s full smartphone controls via the Humax Aura EZ app, which means owners can navigate, plan and schedule recordings remotely from anywhere.

Of course, Freely can’t match Sky when it comes to content such as sports and blockbuster movies, but it is totally free to watch, and there are no subscription fees to pay.

Sound enticing?

The Humax Aura EZ will be available from authorised Humax retailers in the UK at a suggested retail price of £249 from February 2026.

News of this launch comes as Sky has just announced its own upgrade.

The UK television provider is introducing an impressive new subscription plan that bundles some of the world’s most popular streaming services at a lower monthly cost. For just £24 per month, new and existing customers will soon get access to Disney+, Netflix, Hayu and the feature-packed HBO Max app, which is set to launch next month.

Sky says the bundle represents strong value for money, with around £20 worth of streaming apps under one roof.

And that’s not all. Subscribers to the Ultimate TV plan will also receive more than 130 premium channels, including Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky History and more.

There is another bonus of signing up with Sky Cinema users benefiting from a dedicated Disney movie channel, which is being added directly to the TV guide.

HERE’S EVERYTHING INCLUDED IN THE £24 PLAN

• Netflix Standard with Ads

• Disney+ Standard with Ads – from March

• HBO Max Basic with Ads – from March 26th

• Hayu from July, with a selection of top shows available from March

• PLUS: Over 130 channels from Sky