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EETV Apple TV 4K Review

NK20026
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

‎22-06-2026 09:39 PM

Hi, thinking of taking the plunge to EETV with the Apple TV 4K box setup, but wanted to see what others thought of it first. Does it work well, ease of use, picture quality etc? I know we don’t have Now TV Ultraboost available just yet but general thoughts would be very helpful while thinking about making the change from Sky Stream over to EE TV Full Works package. Thanks.

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34 REPLIES 34
garybs29
Scholarly Contributor
Scholarly Contributor

‎29-07-2026 11:25 AM

The fact Sky let him out of the contract tells me it's a Sky issue, we get it you're a fan of Sky but it doesn't mean nobody can post bad experiences with them

NK20026
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
In response to garybs29

‎29-07-2026 11:37 AM

Sky have told me I can leave without penalty too. I’ve had all sorts of issues this past 6 months, which are ongoing - and I don’t have a Sony TV so no blame there! When Sky Stream works, it’s great - but the puck is very inconsistent and in my view, not up to the job. Always been pro Sky, been with them since the BSkyB days, so no axe to grind with them. Just waiting for EE to get their act together with Now UHD, then I’ll be switching immediately - that’s another story though, which seemingly has no end! 

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scgf
Established Contributor
Established Contributor
In response to garybs29

‎29-07-2026 11:38 AM

I agree, it clearly wasn't the best product for him. What I disagree with is the 'Sadly I beg to differ' suggesting the he disagrees with the points I raised earlier. They are all valid, it just didn't work out in his specific setup. To issue a warning is great, but not to castigate the puck for all users. It sounds like you didn't read that into his comments and I'm pleased for you. 

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scgf
Established Contributor
Established Contributor
In response to NK20026

‎29-07-2026 11:54 AM

I have a rolling monthly contract with Sky. There's no way I was going to sign up for 24 months. It means I could leave whenever I wanted.

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R-Biohazardx9
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
In response to scgf

‎29-07-2026 12:07 PM - edited ‎29-07-2026 12:08 PM

"Pointing the finger of blame is not productive and sometimes you just have to say 'it didn't work for me'."

eh? it did work , for just over two years and was fine. I had zero issues. what part of "their software update broke the device" do you not get? - you are heavily suggesting I should put up with that.

can you at least comprehend the fact that the device has failed due to a botched software update? I mean if it was the EE box then I would ahve done the same. That is all.

I am quite polite in all this, making me sound like im ssort of passive aggressive.....

what does come across very strongly from you is that sky stream is holier than thou which it isn't, but in the same light it isn't a bad product either. Anyway please just put it to bed. You love sky, and I had an issue thats all their is too it.

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R-Biohazardx9
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
In response to NK20026

‎29-07-2026 12:09 PM

my sentiments exactly.

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Profile closed
Not applicable

‎01-08-2026 10:04 AM

@NK20026 wrote:

Hi, thinking of taking the plunge to EETV with the Apple TV 4K box setup, but wanted to see what others thought of it first. Does it work well, ease of use, picture quality etc? I know we don’t have Now TV Ultraboost available just yet but general thoughts would be very helpful while thinking about making the change from Sky Stream over to EE TV Full Works package. Thanks.

The Apple TV 4K is the most powerful, fully featured streaming box on the market currently, even though it was released in 2022.

If you are in the Apple ecosystem already, it is a no-brainer for accessing streaming apps like Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, YouTube and Netflix in great quality, as well as services you might also have a sub for (such as Apple Music, Arcade etc.).

The only real differences between buying an Apple TV 4K direct or via EE with EE TV is you receive a different remote (which you can buy an identical version from One4All if you like it - £35 from Argos), and the EE TV app is present but enabled to match your TV subscription.

Pluses and minuses for me:

  • The box doesn't appear hobbled in any way, you can do everything you would do on a box bought directly
  • Picture quality in the EE TV app I have found variable - sometimes really sharp and detailed HD (better than my Sky Q), other times (especially when watching fast moving sport), I find quality variable and worse than watching via the app itself (Caveat: I am on 67Mbps FTTC - YMMV)
  • SD channels have more data than via satellite or Freeview so look better - very viewable
  • On the EE TV Pro Box you can hide channels you don't want to see - Favourites is the only similar option in the app and isn't as good
  • The TV Guide itself can be flaky in terms of correct data - this is a problem across the whole EE TV experience and is always a "third party provider problem" that EE don't want to own
  • TNT Sport and Sky Sports channels have a security "bullseye" and very bright "viewer code" that appears at the top of the screen to combat piracy. Neither are present if you watch via HBO Max and only a feint rectangle marker at the bottom right is present in the NOW app
  • TNT Sport Ultimate in the EE TV app is UHD only, but UHD HDR via HBO Max on the same box
  • No access to NOW Ultra Boost, which has been "coming soon" to EE TV since 2024

There are then the things that others mention which are Apple TV 4K or app provider specific and not an EE issue:

  • iPlayer limited to 720p - upscaling is decent but again, anything fast moving struggles
  • Channel 5 is very limited as an app compared to the Smart TV version, it doesn't have any of the FAST channels
  • itvX is a veritable smorgasbord of adverts and different advertising styles on any platform it seems - if their content is important to you I think you have to pay for Premium to make it usable and even then, they still show adverts for "contractual reasons"
  • The NOW app has an auto-switching HDR bug when trying to watch live Ultraboost content

So, would I recommend the EE Apple TV 4K experience? I think it depends what you watch and how you like to watch to be honest.

If you want it as a base because you like the device and ecosystem and you like some sport, then I think it is safe to buy it with a TNT Sports subscription, because you will get the Freeview type channels in the EE TV Guide (and TNT Sports) but can also watch via the app. I would then buy NOW passes directly from them and just use the app.

Other than that, if you are really into your standard Freeview style offering and this is most of what you watch, a Freely device will get you more live channels, more HD channels and better versions of the apps like iPlayer and Channel 5.

The irony that YouView are the team behind both EETV and Freely is not lost on me.

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scgf
Established Contributor
Established Contributor

‎01-08-2026 10:36 AM

It all depends on your priorities and what you watch. 

  1. I hate adverts and there's no way of skipping them on catchup on EETV - unless you subscribe to services like ITVX or Channel 4.
  2. I love my 4K experience, and BBC UHD  programming is very impressive. To have to downgrade to 720p is unacceptable to me.
  3. I watch a fair bit of Channel 5 catchup - I like their crime series and am a guilty fan of Home and Away. On EETV I'd have to watch that in standard definition. Again, unacceptable.

If none of these things worry you, the Apple TV is a great box and other than what I've mentioned above, the experience is top notch. I use a Sky Stream puck on a rolling 31 day contract because it addresses all the above issues. If EETV addressed them I would seriously consider jumping platforms.

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Profile closed
Not applicable
In response to scgf

‎01-08-2026 10:38 AM

@scgf wrote:

It all depends on your priorities and what you watch. 

  1. I hate adverts and there's no way of skipping them on catchup on EETV - unless you subscribe to services like ITVX or Channel 4.
  2. I love my 4K experience, and BBC UHD  programming is very impressive. To have to downgrade to 720p is unacceptable to me.
  3. I watch a fair bit of Channel 5 catchup - I like their crime series and am a guilty fan of Home and Away. On EETV I'd have to watch that in standard definition. Again, unacceptable.

If none of these things worry you, the Apple TV is a great box and other than what I've mentioned above, the experience is top notch. I use a Sky Stream puck on a rolling 31 day contract because it addresses all the above issues. If EETV addressed them I would seriously consider jumping platforms.

I think others have already worked out you prefer Sky and what you like, but that is not what the OP asked is it?

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scgf
Established Contributor
Established Contributor
In response to Profile closed

‎01-08-2026 10:52 AM - edited ‎01-08-2026 10:55 AM

You don't feel it is worth mentioning the negatives of EETV? Why are you such a shrill? I have no loyalty to Sky, which is exactly why I have a rolling 31 day contract. I will move elsewhere as soon as something appears which addresses my issues. Virgin Media Stream is another option with a feature parity similar to Sky Stream, but something like a Manhattan Aero (Freely) is good but has no way of skipping adverts and doesn't do Dolby Vision. At the moment, Sky Stream is the only IPTV device which meets my needs.

Please explain why you feel my input is irrelevant? It's not how I read it at all. Your post, which you clearly deem acceptable, does not even mention ad-skipping apart from ITVX. With Sky you can even skip the 'mandatory' adverts on some ITVX programmes.

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