If you’ve been eyeing up the Manhattan T4-R Freeview recorder but holding off on the purchase, now might be your moment.
The popular recording box has received a limited-time discount across all three storage capacities – and given that Manhattan barely ever drops their prices, this is actually worth paying attention to.
I can’t remember the last time I saw the T4-R discounted. Even during Black Friday, when every other tech product seems to get slashed, Manhattan kept their prices steady.
So, while the discounts aren’t huge – they’re something, especially for the 2TB model, which got the biggest reduction. However, these discounts could be pulled at any time.
The T3-R Successor
The T4-R didn’t have the smoothest journey to market, and those of us waiting for the T3-R’s successor know this all too well. Manhattan kept pushing back the release date, leaving Freeview recording fans checking their website every few weeks for updates.
When it finally arrived in June 2024, along with the non-recording T4 box, the delays made sense.
This wasn’t just a minor refresh – Manhattan had rebuilt the interface from scratch, bumped up the processor to a proper quad-core setup, and introduced storage options that reflect how we watch TV these days.
In my in-depth review of the T4-R, what struck me most was how Manhattan had focused on solving real problems rather than adding flashy features nobody asked for.
The EPG filtering options, for instance, came from understanding that scrolling through 100+ channels looking for something to watch is genuinely tedious.
The recording intelligence impressed me too. When I scheduled something in SD and the same programme was available in HD elsewhere, the T4-R would politely suggest the better option.
It’s the sort of thoughtful touch that shows someone actually uses these devices rather than just ticking specification boxes.
That said, it wasn’t perfect out of the gate. The standby bug that plagued early users was genuinely frustrating, and some of the third-party apps felt sluggish compared to what you’d get on a dedicated streaming stick.
But Manhattan’s response to these issues has been encouraging.
They Actually Keep Updating It
One thing that’s become clear since launch is that Manhattan treats the T4-R as a long-term project rather than a ship-it-and-forget-it product.
The software updates have been regular and meaningful. The June 2025 update finally squashed that standby bug that had been driving some users up the wall for months.
Earlier this year, they added YouTube support – addressing one of the bigger app gaps from launch. Sure, you’re still not getting Netflix or Disney+, but for a device focused on Freeview recording, the essential catch-up apps plus YouTube cover the key bases.
Manhattan T4-R Limited Time Discounts
Right, let’s talk money. The T4-R usually costs £169.99 for 500GB, £199 for 1TB, and £229 for 2TB. These prices have been rock-solid since launch – I’ve been watching them, and they rarely shift.
As of this writing, on Amazon, you can grab:
The 500GB model for £165.96 – only saving you about four quid, but it’s the first discount I’ve seen on the entry-level option.
The 1TB model for £197.07 – dropping just under £2, which isn’t going to change anyone’s life but is notable given Manhattan’s usual pricing discipline.
The 2TB model for £215.57 – this one’s interesting because £13+ off actually makes a difference, especially when you consider that’s about a 6% reduction on a product that almost never gets reduced.
Look, these aren’t the dramatic 40% off deals you see on dodgy electronics during fake sales events. But context matters here. Manhattan doesn’t play pricing games – their boxes cost what they cost, and that’s usually that.
However, the important caveat is that these discounts are available for a very limited time, so they may be gone by the time you read this. Check here:
- Check Manhattan T4-R 500GB Freeview Recorder
- Check Manhattan T4-R 1TB Freeview Recorder
- Check Manhattan T4-R 2TB Freeview Recorder
Should You Actually Buy One?
Here’s the thing – if you’ve been considering upgrading your Freeview setup, these discounts provide a decent enough excuse to stop procrastinating.
I’ve already spent more than a year with the T4-R, and while it’s not perfect, it’s genuinely the best Freeview recorder you can buy right now.
The interface is responsive, the recording features are intelligent, and it actually makes browsing Freeview content enjoyable rather than a chore.
The reality is that Freeview recording won’t stay around forever.
Then again, Freely might be the future, but it’s currently limited to a handful of TV models, and building a personal library of your favourite programmes remains something only a proper recorder can do.
These limited-time discounts won’t revolutionise your decision-making, but they can make an already solid choice slightly more attractive.
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I got one a few weeks ago to replace a very flaky Humax Aura, but sent it back as the remote is not bluetooth (unlike the Humax) and would require me to do a lot of gymnastics every time I wanted to control it.
I’m interested in the Manhattan unit as I use an old BT TV Pro Box to record some programmes such as concerts to keep for rainy days and also series on ITV/ 4/ 5 in order to ad skip.
Just wondering if the manhattan has the option to record and tune channels such as ITV 3 or Sky Arts via IPTV in order to record and view in HD?
I know I can do this on my BT TV box, but I’m also aware recording BBC channels if you use this tuning option actually directs you to watch via iPlayer instead.
Manhattan T4-R is poor on some of the ip tv channels. Odyssey TV is not laid out correctly and crashes my box. My Binge TV totally crashes it and it constantly forces my box to reboot all of the time. Not good so far, might return to Amazon. Still nothing back from their Support team.
By the way those 2 channels are fine on my tv’s inbuilt tuner, but not on the Manhattan T4-R.
I’m presuming that you’re in the US? Here in the UK, they’re talking about getting rid of both Freeview and Freesat in order to free up space for the Internet. This would obviously leave us with streaming services only. I have a Panasonic Freesat with Blu-ray and hdd recorders, Panasonic Freeview again with Blu-ray and hdd recorders and my wife uses a Panasonic hdd Freeview recorder. We record programmes in order to watch them at our discretion. The other bonus is that, if I want to keep anything, I can move it onto a disc from the hdd. If it’s on a commercial channel (not BBC), I can also edit out the commercials before putting it onto a disc.
We’re being dictated to a to how we can watch television and I’ve invested a lot of money in order to be able to view things as and when I want to. Why are they making things harder, rather than easier for viewers?
Cord Busters is a UK website. I’m very much not in the US…
I Live in Republic of Ireland .
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Can I get B.B.C.,ITV x.etc.with Manhattan Box.
I am looking for escape route from SKY.
I,”believe in better ”
Regards
The Manhattan box won’t work in the ROI (unless you live close to the border, and can somehow get Freeview reception) – you’ll need to use a Saorview box in Ireland.
Hello All @ Cord Busters,
You provide a wonderful service.
We are 77 and 79 parents of profoundly disabled daughter.
SKY TV are fleecing us,loyalty means nothing,customers for 19years paying 143 € per.month.
They are currently advertising ,new customers only 45€ per.
Month.
Will Manhattan Box work in
ROI ?
I bought the T4-R last winter – to replace my previous T3-R and have been very disappointed. I am currently looking at alternatives. The T4-R seems to have a mind of its own, regularly skipping planned recordings and refusing outright to record certain series. I have ensured that the software is upto date but it makes no difference.