The mysterious Humax Freely recorder has surfaced again – and this time, we’ve got far more than just photos and a price tag.
The Humax Aura EZ 4K Freely Recorder has appeared on Richer Sounds’ website, complete with detailed specifications, product images, and even the full user manual that reveals a lot about what this device can and can’t do.
The listing shows a 2TB model priced at £249, though as we’ve learned from previous premature retailer leaks, nothing about this device should be considered final until Humax actually announces it.
But the new listing tells us plenty about what Humax has been working on – including some answers to questions we’ve been asking since September, and a few new details that could change the picture considerably.
And here’s the kicker: the device could be launching much sooner than anyone expected, with Richer Sounds apparently expecting stock within days.
The Freely Box Market Heats Up
Quick context for anyone who hasn’t been following the Freely saga: Freely launched in April 2024 as Everyone TV’s streaming platform designed to eventually replace traditional Freeview and Freesat.
The platform delivers live TV channels and catch-up content entirely through your broadband connection – no aerial or satellite dish required. You get BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and around 60 other channels, all streamed over the internet rather than broadcast over the airwaves.
Until recently, accessing Freely meant buying a brand new TV from select manufacturers like Hisense, Bush, Panasonic, or Amazon’s Fire TV televisions. Got a perfectly good three-year-old telly? Tough luck.
That finally changed in November when the Netgem Pleio launched as the first standalone Freely box. At £99 initially (now £109.89 after some pricing fluctuations), it brought Freely to any existing TV with an HDMI port.
Then last week, Manhattan announced the Aero 4K TV Streamer – a £69.99 Freely box launching in February that undercuts the Pleio significantly whilst adding an Ethernet port the Pleio lacks.
The standalone Freely box market went from zero devices to genuine competition within just a few months. And now Humax is joining the party.
The Aura’s Freely Successor
The original Humax Aura launched in 2020 as a hybrid Freeview Play recorder running on Android TV. It combined traditional aerial-based recording with streaming apps, theoretically giving users the best of both worlds.
The reality was more complicated. The Aura delivered on its core promise but struggled with reliability issues, missing apps (Netflix never arrived despite early hopes), and minimal ongoing software support.
Humax discontinued the Aura just last month, confirming “exciting new products” with announcements coming “in the next few weeks.” That timing strongly suggests the Aura EZ is imminent.
The new device appears to be positioned as the Aura’s direct successor, keeping the Aura branding while adding Freely’s streaming platform and (presumably) learning from the original’s troubled track record.
Unlike the streaming-only Pleio and Aero boxes, the Aura EZ includes an aerial port for traditional Freeview reception. That makes it quite different from its Freely competitors – it’s not forcing anyone to abandon broadcast television entirely.
You could use it as a straightforward Freeview recorder with no internet connection whatsoever, or embrace Freely’s streaming whilst keeping the aerial as a backup, or anything in between.
What We Know Now (With Caveats)
First, the essential disclaimer: this information comes from a retailer listing that appears to have gone live prematurely, just like the previous leaks we’ve covered.
Specifications – particularly software-related features – could absolutely change before the final, official launch.
With that said, here’s what the new listing reveals.
The device will be called the Humax Aura EZ 4K Freely Recorder (the “Aura EZ” branding we spotted back in October appears to have stuck). The model number is FHR-6000T, matching what we saw on earlier retailer listings.
The Richer Sounds page lists it at £249 for a 2TB model, but we don’t know if other storage capacities will be available, or whether that price will hold when Humax makes an official announcement.
That is, however, cheaper than the previous Aura Freeview 2TB box, which used to cost £279.
The Hardware Specs
According to the documentation, the Aura EZ runs Android TV 12 – not the latest version (the Netgem Pleio runs Android TV 14), but a step up from the original Aura’s Android TV 9.
The box includes:
2TB hard drive (1,000 hours recording capacity), 3GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth, HDMI 2.1 (supporting up to 4K output), Ethernet port, USB 2.0 port, optical digital audio output, and aerial input and loop-through ports.
The physical box measures 280mm x 200mm x 48mm and weighs just over 1kg.
The device comes with a comprehensive remote control featuring dedicated buttons for Freely services, playback controls, a numeric keypad, and buttons for subtitles and audio description.
There’s a dedicated Freely Guide button and a separate Menu button for accessing the Humax interface.
The remote includes TV control functionality – you can programme it to turn your TV on and off and switch inputs, reducing remote clutter.
There’s a deep standby mode that uses less than 0.5W of power, activated by holding the standby button. That’s impressive for energy efficiency, though the manual warns that recordings and updates won’t happen while the box is in deep standby (so at that point, you might as well unplug it).
The Recording Question
This is the detail everyone’s been waiting for since we first spotted this device back in September: What can it actually record?
The answer appears to be: traditional aerial-based Freeview channels, not Freely’s streaming channels.
The manual repeatedly emphasises the device’s three tuners, which allow you to record up to four different channels simultaneously whilst watching a fifth live channel.
That’s impressive multi-channel recording capability.
But tuners are for receiving over-the-air broadcasts via an aerial. They’re not used for internet streaming.
When the manual discusses recording, it consistently references the aerial connection and the tuners. There’s no mention of recording from Freely’s streaming channels – only from traditional Freeview broadcasts received through the aerial port.
The recording guide section shows scheduling recordings from “the programme guide” and mentions limitations “depending on the channels you are recording” – language that suggests aerial-based channel restrictions rather than streaming flexibility.
Given how aggressively the industry has moved against streaming recording capabilities (we’ve covered BT/EE TV neutering their recording features, for example), this makes sense.
So, unless Humax pull up some big surprise at the last minute, the Aura EZ appears to be exactly what we suspected: a hybrid device that brings Freely streaming to your TV whilst preserving traditional aerial-based recording for people who aren’t ready to give up that control.
Freely Integration
The manual confirms the device runs Freely’s streaming platform alongside the traditional Humax interface. You can access Freely by pressing the dedicated Freely button on the remote, which brings up Freely’s home screen with access to live streaming channels and catch-up apps.
It will, of course, include all the ‘official’ Freely apps – BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5, BBC Sounds, U (UKTV Play) and more – essentially the core UK broadcaster services that form Freely’s foundation, with more apps expected to come in 2026.
The box also has other streaming apps – such as YouTube and Prime Video. With this being an Android TV box, the hope is that it will support the full range of Google Play Store apps.
However – that was not the case with the previous Aura (which did not support Netflix, for example) – so we’ll have to wait for the final launch to find out.
The box supports both wired Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, addressing one of the common complaints about the Wi-Fi-only Netgem Pleio.
Remote Recording App
The manual confirms a mobile app for Android 4.0+ and iOS 10+ that lets you browse the TV guide, set recordings remotely, set reminders, and stream live TV to your mobile device (up to two devices simultaneously).
This matches features available on previous Humax devices, so it’s good to see the functionality carrying forward – and something that’s not available on the Pleio, or the upcoming Aero.
How It Compares
It’s premature to do detailed comparisons when we don’t know if these specifications are final, but some basic context is useful – particularly for understanding how the Aura EZ fits into the rapidly evolving Freely box market.
The Netgem Pleio (£109.89)
The Pleio launched in November 2025 as the first standalone Freely box.
The device initially sold for £99, sold out repeatedly due to high demand and stock shortages, then increased to £119.88 in January before dropping to the current £109.89 last week.
The Pleio is a tiny puck (just 64mm across) that runs Android TV 14. It includes cloud gaming features with a bundled wireless gamepad, plus 250+ games and 150+ extra FAST channels as part of its subscription model.
But the Pleio is streaming-only. No aerial port, no recording capability whatsoever. It’s WiFi-only (no Ethernet), and whilst it has access to Google Play Store apps, the implementation is locked down so you can’t sideload unsupported apps.
When I reviewed the Pleio in November, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. It solves real problems for households with poor aerial reception, but the interface can be confusing with three separate search functions, and the dual architecture (Freely on one side, Android TV on the other) creates friction.
For buyers interested in gaming or who want the widest app selection through Google Play Store, the Pleio remains appealing. But for anyone who wants recording capabilities, it’s a non-starter.
The Manhattan Aero (£69.99, launching February 2026)
Manhattan announced the Aero just last week, positioning it as a no-nonsense Freely box at an aggressive price point.
At £69.99, it significantly undercuts both the Pleio and the Aura EZ. Unlike the Pleio, it includes an Ethernet port for wired connections – addressing a common complaint about Netgem’s device.
The Aero runs TiVo OS rather than Android TV, which means different app availability.
You get major services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube, plus TiVo+’s 400+ free FAST channels. But some popular apps like Apple TV and Sky’s NOW aren’t currently available on TiVo OS devices.
Gaming isn’t part of the Aero’s pitch at all – there’s no bundled controller, no cloud gaming subscription at the moment (except things like Netflix Games). It’s purely focused on being an affordable way to get Freely plus major streaming apps.
Like the Pleio, the Aero is streaming-only with no aerial port and no recording capability.
Manhattan has a strong reputation in the UK market for reliable, well-designed TV devices. Their T4-R Freeview recorder remains the go-to choice for traditional recording enthusiasts.
We haven’t reviewed the Aero yet, but on paper, Manhattan has positioned themselves well for buyers who want Freely without paying for features they won’t use.
Where the Aura EZ Fits
Against this backdrop, the Aura EZ’s £249 price tag (if it holds) positions it as the premium option in the Freely box market.
You’re paying roughly £140 more than the Aero and £130 more than the Pleio. What you’re getting for that extra money is: recording capability (from aerial-based Freeview channels), an aerial port for traditional broadcast reception, and the flexibility to use it as either a Freeview recorder, a Freely streaming device, or both.
Of course, that has the potential to make it even more confusing to use, as you’re getting THREE separate systems – Aerial-based Freeview recordings, Broadband-based Freely, and Android TV apps.
The Aura EZ isn’t competing directly with streaming-only boxes. It’s targeting a different audience – people who want the option to record, people with good aerial reception who aren’t ready to abandon broadcast television, and households who want both streaming flexibility and recording backup.
Whether that’s worth the price premium depends entirely on your priorities. If you’re happy relying on catch-up services and don’t care about recording, the Aero or Pleio make more sense.
If recording matters to you, the Aura EZ is currently the only Freely-compatible option.
The Transitional Device
Everything about the Aura EZ screams “transitional product” – and that’s not necessarily a criticism.
We’re in the awkward middle period of television’s shift from broadcast to streaming. Freeview and Freesat are being phased out over the coming years, with the government pushing for an “IP switchover” by the 2030s.
Some viewers are ready to embrace streaming entirely. They’re happy relying on catch-up services instead of recording, and they don’t mind losing the control that comes with local storage.
Others aren’t ready for that yet. They want recording. They value the ability to build libraries of content, skip adverts, and watch on their schedule rather than when streaming services decide content should be available.
The Aura EZ appears designed for that second group – people who want to explore Freely’s streaming capabilities whilst maintaining the safety net of traditional recording.
For households with poor aerial reception, Freely’s streaming channels solve signal quality issues. For those who value recording, the aerial port preserves time-shifting capabilities.
In a way, this is a Freeview recording box, with Freely serving as the “backup” feature – to watch when you aerial reception goes down, or if you want better quality for some of the channels.
But it’s building in its own obsolescence. The traditional broadcasting infrastructure it relies on for recording is exactly what’s being phased out over the coming decade.
When’s It Actually Launching?
While Humax still hasn’t made an official announcement, we’ve received information from Richer Sounds that potentially sheds some light on availability.
When contacted by a customer enquiry, Richer Sounds told us they’re expecting a delivery of 200 units on February 10th, 2026 – just days away.
The retailer confirmed the device “will list on our website with an option to buy” once stock arrives, and they’re already accepting advance orders.
If accurate, this suggests the Aura EZ could be available to purchase as early as next week – though without official confirmation from Humax, there’s always a chance those delivery dates could slip.
The fact that Richer Sounds is expecting stock and accepting pre-orders is the strongest indication yet that the device is genuinely close to launch, rather than just another premature listing that disappears.
The standalone Freely box market is becoming genuinely competitive, which benefits everyone.
The Aura EZ’s success will ultimately depend on whether there’s a substantial market for hybrid devices that bridge Freeview recording and Freely streaming – expensive compromises that serve a specific transitional need, or exactly the solution some viewers have been waiting for.
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I am curious how this compares to the EE box that can have channels in internet mode as I have no experience with the newer boxes but the older ones streamed the subscription channels on there and had no problem recording any of them. I am assuming it is the same with any of the free channels that are being streamed too if it is set to that mode? If yes then this box has no reason why it shouldn’t record any freely channels unless Freely themselves doesn’t want people doing it.
It sounds like it will be very similar to EE box in internet mode but possibly less channels (as BT has subscription channels). Apps might be better on this because it’s Android but bit of a risk based the previous Aura not having Netflix. Also strange that they’re not putting the latest version of Android on this device – there’s a greater risk that apps will stop being supported in the future if the OS is not updated.
In regard to recording streaming channels – I suspect it’s ITV, Channel 4 and 5 that don’t want recording because you can fast forward ads (something they can control on catch-up services which is what you’ll have to use if you want to watch a programme later). Obviously, you can record from the tuners and I presume fast forward ads (unless they restrict this which I think is unlikely).
Just rung Richer Sounds and stock will be coming on the 10th
My TiVo Freely telly has about twenty games apps. And presumably includes Netflix Games (I don’t subscribe).
Do you know if Humax will do an update to the aura box that I currently have? As that was expensive as it is and to buy another one seems an expensive option.