Sky Glass 2nd century and original Sky Glass

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Sky’s foodless TV is refreshing. The satellite giant has just removed the second generation cover of Sky Glass, an all-in-one television with Sky built in.

Skygrass 2 like the original is back in October 2021 – means there’s no satellite dish, streaming box and no extra confusion. You need a solid internet connection and it’s fine to go.

But how do new models compare to first-generation televisions? And do I need to upgrade from the original Sky Glass to a new model, or can I actually do it?

Read on to find all the answers…

2 Sky Glasses vs 1 Sky Glass: Price

This is easy as the second generation Sky Glass not only replaces the Gen 1 model, but also maintains the same pricing.

With Sky Glass you can either buy a full TV or, more generally, add monthly payments to a 24- or 48-month agreement.

Available in three sizes to choose from 43, 55 and 65 inches, with the 65 inch version (or £1,199 before £1,199) offering a smaller option (or £699 up front) for £14 a month. This is due to a 48-month agreement, and there is also a £20 commission on advance.

If you need wall mounts, it’s just 2 pounds of extra per month.

After that, you will need to choose the TV package to match the new shiny glass 2.

Sky Essential TV is an entry-level pack and includes over 100 channels, including Sky Atlantic, Netflix (ADS), Discovery+, and more. It costs 15 pounds a month.

Sky Ultimate TV includes all of the above (including Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky History and Sky Showcase) for £22 a month.

You will be paying additional fees for Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky Kids, TNT Sports, and more. Choose Sky Glass and use SkyStream Pack if you want additional rooms to be empty. Multi-rooms require you to pay a monthly fee, but you do not need to pay for two Sky subscriptions.

Comparison: Sky Glass v Skystream

Once your contract is over, Sky Glass will act as a regular TV, but unless you renew it you will lose access to smart features like Sky’s premium channels and voice control.

If Skyglass sounds expensive, it is worth noting that upcoming Skyglass air promises to be a more affordable, stripped version. It is scheduled to be released later this year.

2 Sky Glass vs 1 Sky Glass: Design

The Sky Glass Gen 2 comes in three size options, 43-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch, just like the original Sky Glass.

At first glance, the Sky Glass Gen 2 looks almost the same as its predecessor, but if you look closely there are some subtle improvements.

The stand system has been redesigned. Instead of screws, the new version has two prongs that slide directly onto the TV, making assembly easier. Sky was also able to shave 5kg from the weight of the stand.

If you prefer wall mounting, there is a tilt and swivel system that can be washed down towards the wall while providing flexibility.

The color options have also been slightly changed. The Gen 1 came in five shades, while the Gen 2 crops to three: volcanic grey, arctic silver, and atlantic blue.

The remote and soundbar fascia match the colors of the new chassis, giving the overall setup a more unified look.

2 Sky Glasses vs 1 Sky Glass: Image quality

The Sky Glass Gen 2 boasts a brighter 4K quantum dot display, along with advanced HDR and precision contrast enhancement technology designed to make black people black and white white. With a wider viewing angle, Sky says the Gen 2 model also offers a more accurate display than the original Sky Glass.

The Sky Glass 2 boasts dimming zones and local dimming upgrades.

This is a welcome change as the contrast performance of the Gen 1 was decent but not outstanding.

Sky has expanded and improved the Gen 2 presets to offer more content-specific modes, including entertainment, film, music, automatic, vibrant, vibrant, sports, and more. Hopefully this means fine tuning to get the best image.

One area that has not been changed is the refresh rate. The Gen 2 sticks to 60Hz so it’s fine for daily viewing, but gamers won’t find next-gen features here, such as 120Hz support, VRR, ALLM.

Sky Glass Gen 2 runs on Sky OS. This is the Entertainment OS brand found on Gen 1. The core functions remain the same. All major streaming apps are built in (Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, ITV Iplayer, ITV Hub, all 4, Spotify, and BBC Sounds), and Voice Control are working hands-free.

HDR support has also not been changed. DolbyVision, HDR10, and HLG are cutting, but still no HDR10+

2 Sky Glasses vs 1 Sky Glass: Sound Quality

The sound is probably the biggest upgrade between two generations. The first Skyglass provided amazingly good sound for an all-in-one TV, but the second-generation model adds a dedicated high-speed speaker to the Dolby Atmos setup. This should give you a more immersive 360-degree sound experience.

The original already works well in terms of width, height and bass performance. The new Sky Glass 7-speaker, 3.1.2-channel system is built on its foundations, and Sky promises richer, cinematic audio. This change can make a big difference as Atmos has managed to have a physical height channel.

Sky Glass 2 vs Sky Glass 1: Features and Software

The Sky Glass 2 runs on Sky OS, a rebranded Entertainment OS, like the first generation Sky Glass.

Therefore, the core functions remain the same. All major streaming apps have built-in (Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, BBC IPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, Spotify, and BBC Sound) and voice control works hands-free.

Check out Sky Glass and Skystream tips and tricks features to help you navigate through some of the things Sky Glass can do.

2 Skygrass vs 1 Skygrass: Which is better for you?

There’s no real argument as Sky Glass 2 replaces the original at the same price. Sky Glass 2 is the only version available now.

However, that’s good because upgraded brightness, local dimming and sound system should bring significant improvements, but the packaging is even more appealing thanks to improved design and ease of use.

If you already own first-generation Skyglass, the improvements may not be as dramatic as justifying an upgrade…it’s actually not a direct option for now.

You cannot upgrade Gen 1 Sky Glass to Gen 2. You must complete your current Sky Glass unpaid payment.

However, you can always add a Gen 2 model. This could mean paying for both TVs, but it syncs seamlessly across the home pack. If you’re fully paid for a first-generation Skyglass and are considering a new TV in another room, Glass 2 is the appetite piping option.

For new buyers, the Sky Glass Gen 2 is obvious, just a choice… at the moment.

Don’t forget that Sky Glass Air has arrived at a low price later this year.

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