The wait is over – the Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer is now available to buy, bringing more affordable Freely streaming to any existing TV for £69.99.
We first heard about the Aero when Manhattan announced it just over a week ago, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Netgem Pleio whilst undercutting that device by £40.
As of today, you can actually buy one, though availability is currently limited to Currys (Get here) – John Lewis and Amazon are expected to stock the device soon, but haven’t listed it yet.
The Freely box market has now gone from zero standalone devices to real competition within just a few months, and the Aero’s arrival adds serious pressure on both the Pleio and the upcoming Humax Aura EZ.
While I haven’t done an in-depth review of the Aero yet – here’s everything we know about it so far.
The Freely Box Market Arrives
When Freely launched in April 2024, it was exclusive to brand new smart TVs. If you wanted Freely, you needed to replace your entire television.
That frustrated millions of viewers with perfectly good TVs who were curious about Freely – Everyone TV’s streaming platform designed to eventually replace traditional Freeview by delivering live channels and catch-up content entirely through broadband – but weren’t ready to spend hundreds of pounds on new hardware just to try it.
The Netgem Pleio changed that in November 2025, launching as the first standalone Freely box at £99. It sold out within hours, then increased to £119.88 in January before dropping to £109.89 last week.
The Humax Aura EZ 4K Freely Recorder appeared on Richer Sounds’ website yesterday, priced at £249 for a 2TB model combining Freely streaming with traditional Freeview recording.
And now the Manhattan Aero arrives at £69.99 – the most affordable way (for now, at least) to get Freely on any existing TV.
What Is The Manhattan Aero?
As with the other Freely devices, the Aero delivers 60+ live Freely channels – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5, and dozens more – plus over 75,000 hours of on-demand content from the major broadcasters’ catch-up services.
All accessible without an aerial or satellite dish, everything streamed through your broadband connection.
The device supports 4K output, includes voice control through the remote, and features both WiFi 6 and Ethernet connectivity. That wired connection option addresses one of the common complaints about the WiFi-only Netgem Pleio.
Setup is straightforward: connect the Aero to your TV via HDMI (cable included), plug in power, connect to your broadband, and you’re watching Freely channels within minutes.
The box itself is compact (though not as tiny as the Pleio) – 96mm x 96mm x 26mm – and weighs just 190g.
It’s designed to sit discreetly near your TV without drawing attention, powered by a quad-core processor that Manhattan and TiVo claim delivers very responsive performance.
In a brief demonstration I was given, the interface looked quite snappy. Channel switching in particular appeared noticeably faster than the Pleio, where switching takes 3-4 seconds – though we’ll need to wait for a full review under real-world conditions to see if that performance holds up over time.
The full specs reveal a well-equipped device for the price point: HDMI 2.1, USB Type-C, Ethernet, WiFi 6, Bluetooth, Dolby Audio with Dolby Atmos passthrough, 7-day electronic programme guide, parental controls, subtitles, audio description, and Google Cast screen mirroring.
Power consumption is 10W in use, 0.3W in standby. You get a 2-year manufacturer’s guarantee, and the box includes the remote, batteries, HDMI cable, and power adapter.
The TiVo OS Trade-Offs
The Aero marks a major departure from Manhattan’s recent devices – it runs someone else’s software entirely.
Manhattan TV has been manufacturing Freeview and Freesat devices in Britain for over 30 years. Their T4-R Freeview recorder and T4 Freeview Play box both run Manhattan’s own custom operating system, giving them complete control over the user experience whilst keeping costs down.
The Aero runs TiVo OS instead. By licensing TiVo’s platform, Manhattan gains instant access to a mature streaming system with built-in support for major services alongside Freely’s live TV integration.
TiVo achieved Freely certification from Everyone TV just last month, specifically for “puck-style” streaming devices.
Manhattan’s own software works brilliantly for Freeview functions, but it doesn’t run Android apps or have relationships with major streaming services.
Building those integrations from scratch would take years and significant development resources. TiVo OS solves that problem – Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, and more apps already work.
But TiVo OS isn’t Android TV, and the app selection is more limited than what you’d get on the Pleio or likely the Humax Aura EZ.
Some notable absences at launch include Sky’s NOW (though I understand this is coming in the future), Discovery+ (with TNT Sports), Apple TV+, and Paramount+.
There is a workaround for some of these – Discovery+ (with TNT Sports), Apple TV+, and Paramount+ are all available as Prime Video Channels through the Prime Video app, which is supported on the Aero.
That means you can access these services, but only through Amazon’s version of the subscriptions. In the US, both Apple TV+ and Paramount+ offer ways to link your standalone subscription with the Prime Video Channels version.
Whether and when that capability arrives in the UK remains unclear.
In addition to the major streaming services, TiVo OS provides access to TiVo+, a free, ad-supported service offering 400+ streaming channels and a library of on-demand movies and shows.
It’s a compromise. You’re getting the major services that most people actually use – BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube – but niche streaming apps or specific services might be missing or require workarounds.
The licensing arrangement means Manhattan doesn’t have the same direct control over the operating system as they do with their other devices.
However, I’m told they worked closely with TiVo’s software team during development, with TiVo making specific changes to their OS for the Aero, tailoring it to Manhattan’s requirements and the device’s specific needs.
It’s a collaborative approach – TiVo provides the platform and handles ongoing software updates, whilst Manhattan contributes hardware expertise and specific feature requests to make the system work better for UK viewers.
Aero vs Pleio: The Direct Comparison
Price: The Aero costs £69.99. The Pleio costs £109.89. That’s a £40 difference – 36% cheaper for Manhattan’s device.
Platform: The Aero runs TiVo OS with access to major streaming apps but some notable gaps (NOW, Discovery+, Apple TV+, Paramount+ require workarounds or aren’t available yet).
The Pleio runs Android TV 14 with broader app compatibility through the Google Play Store, though the implementation is locked down to prevent sideloading.
Connectivity: The Aero includes both WiFi 6 and Ethernet. The Pleio is WiFi only.
Gaming: The Pleio bundles a wireless gamepad and includes 12 months of cloud gaming access (250+ games) plus 150+ extra FAST channels.
The Aero doesn’t focus on gaming at all for now, though it does support Netflix Games if you have a Netflix subscription. There’s no bundled controller, and gaming clearly isn’t the device’s priority.
Positioning: The Pleio markets itself as a multi-purpose entertainment device – Freely plus gaming plus extra channels, with a subscription model treating the hardware as part of a service bundle.
The Aero positions itself as a straightforward Freely box with some streaming apps – you buy it once, it’s yours, no subscriptions or ongoing fees beyond any streaming services you choose to subscribe to separately.
For buyers who want cloud gaming and don’t mind the higher price, the Pleio remains the only option. For everyone else who just wants Freely and major streaming apps without paying extra for features they won’t use, the Aero’s pricing is significantly more attractive.
The app selection difference is worth considering carefully. If you’re heavily invested in Sky’s NOW or need specific streaming services that aren’t currently available on TiVo OS, you’ll need to work out whether the Prime Video Channels workaround is acceptable or whether the Pleio’s Android TV platform is worth the extra £40.
But for most viewers using BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, the Aero covers the essentials.
What About Recording?
The Aero doesn’t record anything. There’s no aerial port, no tuners, no local storage for recordings.
That’s a deliberate choice. Manhattan already offers the T4-R recorder and T4 Freeview Play box for viewers who want traditional aerial-based recording.
Adding Freely to these types of devices would create a complex hybrid requiring support for both broadcast tuners and streaming infrastructure.
Instead, Manhattan has created a separate streaming-first device for a different use case entirely – households where aerial reception is poor, second rooms without aerial connections, rental properties where installing aerials isn’t practical, and anyone ready to embrace streaming-first television without the baggage of traditional broadcast infrastructure.
For viewers who want recording, the T4-R remains available. For those happy with streaming and catch-up services, the Aero offers a cheaper, simpler alternative.
The upcoming Humax Aura EZ, however, will offer recording capability alongside Freely, but at £249 for the 2TB model, you’re paying significantly more for that flexibility.
Where To Buy
As of this morning, the Aero is available at Currys for £69.99, with stock showing as available for immediate delivery.
John Lewis and Amazon were mentioned in Manhattan’s original announcement as carrying the device, but neither retailer has listed it yet. Availability through those channels is expected soon, though exact timing hasn’t been confirmed.
With Currys currently the only retailer, stock levels could change quickly if demand is strong.
The Pleio sold out repeatedly during its first few weeks, and whilst Manhattan is a larger, more established manufacturer with presumably better supply chain management, early demand is unpredictable.
If you’re interested in the Aero and see it in stock at Currys, it might be worth ordering sooner rather than waiting for other retailers – particularly if you want to ensure delivery before the weekend.
I’ll reserve final judgement for a full review, but Manhattan has positioned themselves well – undercutting the competition whilst delivering a device that should meet many viewers’ needs.
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TalkingTV is on there now as well – my favourite. Plus loads of others like The Chase channel, Saturday Night channel (both ITV), plus loads of others like Dmax.
Interesting that it has Google Cast despite not running Android/Google TV. I would prefer Android/Google TV, but glad to see it at least has Google Cast.
Bought 2 from Currys online this morning. Chosen delivery date of Saturday as I won’t be home tomorrow. I really think these are going to be a game changer for Freely. Under £70, good price point and all we need now is those extra channels that Freely announced would be coming in 2026.
Blaze TV just recently added