Key Features
Review Price:
£250- HDRHDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision
- AppsGoogle Play via customised version of Android TV
Introduction
It may be small but Vodafone TV marks a big expansion of Vodafone’s service ambitions, taking the telco beyond mobile and broadband into the living room for the first time.
It’s essentially a one stop shop for Freely linear TV, Netflix, HBO Max, FAST (Free Advertising Supported TV) channels and cloud games, woven together with personalised recommendations and top notch voice search.
It faces tough competition though. It’s up against similar Freely-powered offerings from Manhattanand PLEIO, as well as established TV players like Sky, Amazon and Roku.
So does Vodafone TV have what it takes to win the ratings game? Let’s take a closer look…
Price
Vodafone TV is only available to Vodafone customers with a broadband, 5G Broadband or mobile plan. If you qualify, there are three subscription packages on the table. The entry point is £10 a month which gets you Freely, linear FAST channels, plus a library of cloud games.
The step-up plan is Vodafone TV Essential, priced at £17. This includes the entry-level iterations of Netflix and HBO Max.
Finally, there’s Vodafone TV Ultimate, which adds the option of either Disney+ or Prime Video, for a grand total of £25.50 a month.
Design
- Ethernet
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Bonus sticky pad
This bijou box is easy to accommodate, particularly if you take advantage of the supplied sticky pad which allows you to mount it on the back of your TV (which I think is a nice touch).
Connectivity is similarly considerate. Accepting that sometimes a physical network connection is best, particularly when you’re dealing with UHD streams, there’s Ethernet to support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The supplied remote control is light and comfortable enough. Unfortunately, it isn’t backlit nor solar powered. There’s also the option to control
User Experience
- Voice Search
- Dual programme guides
- Familiar TV layout
The Android TV interface is built around descending content rails and curated recommendations, presented here with some refinements particular to Vodafone.
The addition of live video previews for Freely channels at the top of the screen serves as a smart taster for shows now playing.
There is, however, an awkward distinction between Freely and Vodafone’s ‘MoreTV’ FAST offering. They’re currently accessedress the Guide button on the remote, and you’re taken to the FAST channel listing, and not the terrestrial TV one
A unified guide would make considerably more sense. Samsung has demonstrated that broadcast telly and FAST channels can live together within a single programme guide, under its Samsung TV Plus banner, and Vodafone’s interface would benefit from a similar approach.
That said, navigation is sprightly, and voice search works well. Requests were understood accurately and the results were useful and relevant.
Features
- Cloud gaming
- More TV FAST channels
- Freely
For what’s ostensibly a small box, the Vodafone TV packs a lot in. There’s linear television, in the form of Freely, with FAST channels, catch-up services, premium streaming apps, and gaming.
The platform also supports film rental and purchase through Vodafone Box Office.
When it comes to cloud gaming, there’s no shortage of variety. More than 300 titles equates to a substantial catalogue (it’s the same selection as that available on the Netgem PLEIO).
You can also pair a Bluetooth joypad for a console-like gaming experience.
The problem is consistency. A mixture of recognisable titles and less familiar games, many appear to be ports from PC or mobile platforms, and retain menus, settings and controls that don’t make much sense in their new environment. Some also stutter to the point of unplayability.
The curious part is that the very same games work considerably better through the Vodafone Companion app. Role playing titles that infuriate when attempted on the box, run smoothly on the app.
The good news is that this inconsistency doesn’t extend to Freely and third-party streaming services.
Performance
- Dolby Vision
- Dolby Atmos decoding
- 5.1 Dolby Surround compatible
With a reasonably fast connection, picture quality from catch-up services, Freely and premium streaming applications is excellent. My broadband speed averages around 80Mbps, and given a quality stream – Ted Lasso on Apple TV for example – image quality shines with plenty of fine detail, broad colour and appropriate dynamics.
UHD HLG from BBC iPlayer also looks great, while Netflix and Disney+ benefit from Dolby Vision HDR handling. Colours are rich but measured, detail is high, and overt artefacts low.
The last thing you want a streaminggreeably transparent. Ultimately, image quality is dependent on, but when given the goods, this box delivers
Audio is equally impressive. The hub supports Dolby Atmos and regular 5.1 surround, and sounds very convincing with movies and big budget TV shows.
I routed the box through a Marantz Cinema 60 home cinema amplifier, into a 5.1.2 Atmos array, and got the expected immersive presentation. Audio/video synchronisation was consistently good across different sources.
For a full blown home cinema system, Vodafone TV makes for a perfectly credible source.
Should you buy it?
If you’re plugged into Vodafone
Definitely, if you’re a Vodafone Three mobile customer looking for an all-in-one package that bundles streaming services with free to air TV. It’s a well-equipped hub, built around a great Freely implementation, and is capable of an entirely credible 4K streaming performance…
If you’re into gaming
Think twice if gaming on your TV is a major priority, or you can live without Freely altogether…
Final Thoughts
Ambitious, and largely convincing, Vodafone TV offers a tidy solution to a surfeit of services, applications and miscellaneous content. It’s a handy way to update a less smart TV, or bring entertainment to a room lacking a conventional aerial point.
The hardware is well made and Android TV provides a familiar face. Throw in advanced content aggregation and excellent voice search and you’ve got a very polished package.
Picture and sound also tick all the right boxes. My only real reservation is the system’s cloud gaming performance. That said, value for money, particularly with the Essentials package, is good.
The system is definitely worth considering if you’re a Vodafone customer.
Trusted Score
How We Test
The Vodafone TV box was used both as a content-end home cinema system, where its picture and sound could be more closely scrutinised.
The platform was also evaluatedes when it comes to gaming
- Tested with real world use
- Tested for several days
Does Vodafone TV support 4K and Dolby Vision?
Yes. Vodafone TV supports 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision, confirmed during testing through Netflix and Disney+. It also supports Dolby Atmos audio and 5.1 surround sound.
Can you play games on Vodafone TV?
Yes. Vodafone TV provides access to hundreds of cloud games and supports a Bluetooth controller. The selection is broad and should appeal to casual gamers and families, but can suffer from stuttering, latency and some control issues.
Trusted Score
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