Sky Glass Gen 2 review: This all-in-one solution is easily the smartest Smart TV for Sky subscribers

What We Loved

Sky Glass Gen 2 makes an incredible first impression.

It arrives in a recyclable cardboard box that’s free of any single-use plastics. Removing the Glass TV is like following origami instructions (albeit in reverse), with the box gracefully revealing the power cable, colour-matched remote control, and aluminium stand when you’ll need them.

The latter has been reworked so it can be assembled without any tools — leave your screwdriver in the toolbox! The result is a tool-less and hassle-free setup process. Just make sure there are two of you around to lift the television into position — combining a Dolby Atmos-certified soundbar with everything required to stream all of your favourite sports and shows in an aluminium case doesn't make for the most lightweight package!

Compared to the first-generation, Sky Glass Gen 2 is more efficient than its predecessor in the most popular 55” and 65” screen sizes. Switching from a standalone soundbar, Sky Q set-top box, and a flatscreen from a leading manufacturer in the UK to the first-generation Sky Glass could cut energy usage by 50%, and this new all-in-one promises to be even kinder on your smart meter.

While we don't have specific figures on the cuts to electricity usage, switching to Sky Glass Gen 2 is a simple way to upgrade everything in your setup in one fell swoop — and reduce your demands on the national grid too.

Like the unboxing experience, getting everything up-and-running on Sky Glass Gen 2 is a complete breeze too.

First up, you'll need to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi 6 or Ethernet. There’s no satellite dish to be found here, with live television and on-demand boxsets all delivered over a broadband connection.

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During setup, the custom-designed SkyOS software does an admirable job of walking you through some of the best features included with this clever telly, like the hands-free voice commands and the ability to keep tabs on shows from across terrestrial channels and streamers like Disney+, Apple TV+, and Netflix.

There's even a shortcut to favourite GB News as your go-to news channel too.

The new colours — Volcanic Grey, Atlantic Blue, Arctic Silver – make this Smart TV feel extremely premium. You should have no trouble finding a colourway that fits with the décor in your home ...although we can’t help but wish there were a few more choices, like the Dusky Pink from the first generation.

Sky Glass Air, the more affordable soundbar-less Smart TV that launched in the months since Sky Glass Gen 2, sports a gorgeous Sea Green shade that'd be amazing to see on this pricier, more feature-packed Glass TV too.

Some might bristle at the portly side profile of Sky Glass, a necessity when fitting such a complete speaker system inside the television since those components take up a decent amount of space and require airflow to function, but for our money, the commanding 47.7mm aluminium frame of this all-in-one telly looks good.

SkyOS does a superb job of presenting a snapshot of the telly that everyone is talking about.

Switching on Sky Glass Gen 2, you’ll be presented with a carousel of shows, films, documentaries, and sports fixtures that either recently aired or are scheduled to start soon.

These are pulled from across the live channels included in your Sky TV package and any streaming services you’re using on SkyOS. Using AI, the software will try to tailor its suggestions based on your viewing history.

This is very different to Fire TV Stick and Roku, which feature a similar banner but use it to display adverts.
Likewise, SkyOS smartly brings together content from a wide range of sources, including Netflix, Prime Video, ITVX, and BBC iPlayer. For example, if you add the next episode of Death In Paradise to Playlist with the + button, SkyOS will intelligently scour streamers like Netflix and U (formerly UKTV Play) to bring together previous seasons so you can catch up on every episode before the next series starts.

Once you’ve signed in to these services — and provided you’ve got a decent number of subscriptions under your belt — then you won't even need to recall which catch-up service currently has the show you're hoping to watch in its back catalogue.

Trust us, it'll save you a decent amount of time usually spent Googling to find out where so-and-so season is now streaming, or what subscription service has the new series of so-and-so... SkyOS handles everything for you. Just tap on the show in Playlist, and SkyOS will do the legwork for you. It’s all very clever stuff, and with the dizzying number of streamers and catch-up services available these days, it removes unwanted complication.

Hands-free voice commands work really well on Sky Glass Gen 2.

Whether you’ve lost the remote control or you’re simply too lazy to get out from underneath the duvet, the “Hello Sky...” wake phrase works well. It’s also unlikely to be confused with anything else, so you won’t see your telly blink itself on because it mistakenly heard a voice command, like you’ll get with some smart speakers.

If you find the idea of hands-free voice controls a little eerie, it's possible to disable the feature in the settings. Likewise, the ability for Sky Glass Gen 2 to switch on automatically when it detects motion nearby — so the moment you plonk yourself down on the sofa after a long day, this plug-and-play telly is awake and already running through a carousel of recommended shows, films, and live sports event — can be disabled too.

That's helpful if you've placed this flatscreen in an area with more foot traffic, like a kitchen.

But what about when you’re actually watching something on Sky Glass Gen 2? The clever recommendations, seamless setup, and clutter-free all-in-one design are all well and good, but count for nothing if the experience of watching a must-binge boxset is terrible on this second-generation Smart TV from Sky.

Thankfully, that’s not an issue.

Sky Glass Gen 2 is a brilliant way to binge your next boxset. Streaming the latest blockbusters from Sky Cinema in Ultra HD and HDR looks great, and the sound quality from the seven-speaker array comfortably fills the room.

Dialogue is clear, so you won’t be constantly reaching for the remote (something that’s all-but required for anyone watching on a flatscreen without a soundbar), and the Dolby Atmos-certified system can produce a satisfying amount of bass, which is handy for explosions in action films or a dread-inducing rumble in your favourite horror film. It takes the crown as the best-sounding telly on store shelves today.

Granted, this is still a Quantum Dot screen – don’t expect the same cavernous shades of black that you’ll find on a pricier OLED. But the team at Sky has done a superb job of maximising the screen technology included with this telly. SkyOS now includes a slew of different picture options, which switch automatically based on what’s on-screen.

You can override its recommendations to keep things permanently in Entertainment, Sports, Movies, Music, Vivid, or Extra Vivid. The latter makes colourful family animations sizzle on-screen. If you’ve ever wanted to recreate the colourful look of a showroom display in your local electronics store, this is the mode for you.

Given that Sky Sports is such a core part of its lineup of channels, it's great that fast-paced action from the pitch or tennis court looks great on this QLED screen.

And thanks to a complete overhaul of the pipeline used by Sky TV to transmit live pictures from its cameras in stadiums nationwide, and optimisations in its SkyOS software, Glass Gen 2 benefits from the dramatically reduced latency during live events, bringing it on par with satellite broadcasts.

What We Didn’t Love

From the outside, Sky Glass Gen 2 looks pretty similar to its predecessor. With its exciting selection of colours (compared to the endless sea of black plastic TVs on the shelves at your local Currys) and its chunkier frame, you’re never going to confuse Sky Glass with any of its competitors. Given that Sky is a brand best known for its exclusive sports coverage and boxsets — not its televisions — that’s an impressive feat on its second attempt.

But if you’re looking for a svelte, wall-mounted flatscreen that sits flush with the wall when you’re not watching, Sky Glass is not the right choice for you.

SkyOS might be one of the best ways to sort through the endless parade of must-binge boxsets, blockbusters, and sports fixtures, but it can be a little unreliable at times.

During our months of testing, Sky Glass Gen 2 had to be switched off at the plug a couple of times to revive its Wi-Fi connection. Other devices connected to the same network never experienced an issue at that time.

Finally, while the decision to ditch satellite broadcasts in favour of streaming has several advantages, there are definitely a few disadvantages too. Since everything is streamed from the relevant catch-up service (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4), there are no concerns about running out of storage, which is good. And unlike Sky Q, there’s no limit on the number of shows you can record simultaneously... since you’re not actually recording anything.

That’s where there will undoubtedly be a period of adjustment for longtime Sky TV viewers. Sky Glass Gen 2 is much closer to an Apple TV 4K or Fire TV Stick than a traditional set-top box.

As such, during a broadband outage, you won’t be able to watch anything saved to your Playlist — the SkyOS equivalent of Recordings on Sky+ HD or Sky Q. You’re also at the mercy of each catch-up service’s licensing agreement.

For example, Match of Day is only available on BBC iPlayer until the next episode supersedes it – no trouble on Sky+ HD, where you could store back-to-back episodes after a few weeks away. No such luck with Sky Glass Gen 2, where you’ll only be able to watch what’s available on BBC iPlayer when you finally get a chance to catch up.

If you're switching from Sky Q or Sky+ HD, there's currently no way to remotely add shows, sports, or films to your Playlist from a smartphone. Sky Go works seamlessly with Sky Glass Gen 2, so you can pick up where you left off from your iPhone, Android phone or tablet, iPad, PC, or games console when travelling... and then resume at home.

But while Sky Q allowed you to schedule recordings from anywhere via a mobile app — handy if you're the sort of person who needs to take action there and then, or else it's forgotten for a calendar month — that's not possible with Playlist for the time being. It's a niche request, but something that might irk longtime Sky TV subscribers who make the switch to the latest-and-greatest kit from the UK broadcaster.

Final Verdict

Sky Glass Gen 2 is a clever plug-and-play solution that’s designed to replace your flatscreen television, Dolby Atmos soundbar, and Sky Q set-top box. If you make the switch, you’ll be treated to an all-in-one Smart TV that cuts energy bills, sports a sleek anodised aluminium case in some bright colours, and is equipped with clever software features to make finding a new favourite film, streaming live sports, or watching boxsets a breeze.

SkyOS lets you add series, actors, and even favourite sports teams to the Playlist, which brings together content from across your streaming subscriptions, catch-up services, live terrestrial channels, and Sky’s own mammoth on-demand catalogue. If you're happy to stump up the monthly subscription costs for all of that content, you'll never run out of new things to watch on Sky Glass Gen 2. Good thing there’s no storage limit, and it supports top-tier standards like Dolby Atmos, 4K Ultra HD, and HDR for the best viewing experience.

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Hands-free voice commands work incredibly well on Sky Glass Gen 2, and the new speaker array adds serious oomph to your next movie night. The automatic switching between picture modes based on what’s on-screen works really well, too. If you're the sort of person who likes the spend hours tinkering with picture settings to fine-tune your experience, you can switch manually, but honestly, you might not be the target audience for Sky Glass.

Want one of the best panels on store shelves today? Treat yourself to an OLED instead.

Need the flexibility to upgrade your soundbar while keeping the same telly? Honestly, you’re better off sticking with separate gadgets rather than an all-in-one system like Sky Glass.

However, if you’re already juggling multiple subscriptions, but struggle to find the shows you’re looking for. Or, maybe you’re sick of the tangled wires ruining the aesthetics in your living room. Perhaps you want the simplicity of a single monthly plan with all of your telly and a brand-new TV to watch it on.

There are plenty of reasons to upgrade to Sky Glass Gen 2. This second-generation flatscreen is a serious step-up and solidifies Sky TV as a true competitor to long-established telly brands.

It's the best television yet to leave Sky’s R&D department, not to mention one of the most complete and hassle-free ways to watch everything on Sky TV. It’s not for everyone, but those who want an all-in-one solution won’t be disappointed by this 4K QLED screen and its Dolby Atmos soundbar.

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