Manhattan T4-R Review: The Ultimate Replacement for Sky Q? (2026 Edition)
he scariest part of cancelling Sky or Virgin Media isn’t losing the channels. It’s losing the box.
We are all addicted to the convenience. The ability to pause live TV when the doorbell rings. The ability to “Series Link” MasterChef so it’s always there when you get home. The slick TV guide that goes back in time.
For years, the Manhattan T3-R was the undisputed king of “Cord Cutting.” It was the only box that felt as premium as Sky Q, without the monthly bill.
But in 2026, there is a new king in town: the Manhattan T4-R.
Is it worth the £169+ price tag? Can it really replace your £50/month subscription? I pulled the plug on my satellite contract to find out.
💰 The Maths: Why this box is effectively “Free”
Let’s get the price out of the way first. Depending on the hard drive size (500GB, 1TB, or 2TB), the T4-R costs between £169 and £229.
That sounds expensive for a Freeview box. But let’s look at the “Sky Math”:
- Average Sky/Virgin TV Package: £45/month (minimum).
- Cost over 12 months: £540.
The Manhattan T4-R costs £169 one-off.
That means it pays for itself in less than 4 months. After that, every single month is £45 of pure saving in your pocket.
👉 Check Latest Price on Amazon
📼 The Recording: Just like Sky (Maybe Better?)
The T4-R is not a “Streaming Stick.” It is a heavy-duty Personal Video Recorder (PVR). It has two tuners inside, meaning you can:
- Record two channels at once.
- Watch a third channel (or a recording) while those two are recording.
- Pause and Rewind Live TV for up to 2 hours.
The “Series Link” Test:
I tried to confuse it. I set it to record Match of the Day. The box was smart enough to know that if the football runs over, it needs to extend the recording. It also groups all episodes into a neat folder, just like Sky Q.
The Storage:
I tested the 1TB model. That holds about 600 hours of HD TV. Unless you plan to record every episode of Pointless for the next 10 years, you will never fill it up.
📺 The Interface: Freeview Play Integration
The “Guide” button brings up a slick, dark-mode menu. It’s fast. Much faster than the old T3-R.
But the magic trick is Freeview Play.
If you missed Coronation Street yesterday, you don’t need to open the ITVX app. You just open the TV guide, scroll left (backwards in time), find the show, and click “Play.” The box automatically launches the correct catch-up player and starts the show.
It supports all the major UK players seamlessly:
- BBC iPlayer
- ITVX
- Channel 4
- My5
- BBC Sounds
- YouTube / YouTube Kids
⚠️ The “Elephant in the Room” (Read this before buying)
This is the most important part of this review.
The Manhattan T4-R does NOT have Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime apps.
Manhattan made a choice to focus purely on British TV. They decided that rather than building a terrible Netflix app (like most cheap boxes do), they wouldn’t include it at all.
Does this matter?
Actually, no. Because your Smart TV probably has Netflix already.
💡 The “Power Combo” Solution:
My setup is the Manhattan T4-R (for live TV and Recording) plugged into HDMI 1, and a Roku Streaming Stick 4K plugged into HDMI 2 (for Netflix/Disney).
This gives you the best of both worlds: a world-class recorder and a world-class streamer, with zero monthly fees.
🆚 Manhattan T4-R vs. The Old T3-R
If you spot a cheap Manhattan T3-R on eBay or refurbished, should you buy it?
| Feature | Manhattan T4-R (New) | Manhattan T3-R (Old) |
| Speed | Quad-Core (Very Fast) | Dual-Core (Good, but aging) |
| Software | Getting updates until 2030+ | Updates slowing down |
| Instant On | Yes (Sleep mode is instant) | Slower startup |
| Fan Noise | Silent | Occasional hum |
| Design | Matte Black (Fingerprint proof) | Glossy Black (Dust magnet) |
Verdict: If you can find a T3-R for under £80, grab it. It’s still a great machine. But for “future-proofing,” the T4-R is the safer bet.
🏆 Final Verdict
The Manhattan T4-R is the parachute that lets you jump out of your Sky contract safely.
It removes the fear of “missing out.” You keep your recordings. You keep your pause button. You keep your series links. The only thing you lose is the monthly direct debit.
If you are serious about cancelling your TV subscription, this box is the best investment you will make this year.
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Best For: Anyone who still loves “Live TV” and hates monthly bills.
