By: Dipin Sehdev
Sky is rewriting the rules of what a 4K smart TV can cost. After a teaser earlier this year, the British broadcaster has now officially unveiled the full details of the Sky Glass Air—a budget-friendly alternative to the premium Sky Glass Gen 2. And the headline is clear: this is the most affordable way yet to get both a brand-new 4K TV and Sky content in a single, monthly subscription.
Set to launch on June 10th, 2025, the Sky Glass Air starts at an eye-popping £6 per month—yes, just £6 for the 43-inch model on a 48-month plan. But what exactly are you getting for that price, and how does it compare to Sky’s more premium offerings? Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know about the Sky Glass Air lineup, from screen sizes and design to pricing, performance, and availability.
Design and Display: Streamlined, Stylish, and Surprisingly Sleek
Despite being the more affordable sibling to the Sky Glass Gen 2, the Glass Air maintains a high bar for aesthetics. Available in three screen sizes—43-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch—it comes in three elegant color finishes: Carbon Grey, Cotton White, and Sea Green. Each unit includes a color-matched remote and stand, both of which underscore the brand’s attention to design detail.
While the Air trims some of the premium design elements found in Gen 2—such as the rear fabric panel and integrated soundbar—it retains the same minimalistic footprint. From the front, it closely resembles its higher-end counterpart, with a bezel-light design and a low-profile stand that clicks into place without tools.
At just a few centimeters thick, the Air also looks good on the wall, and Sky includes standard VESA compatibility alongside its own dedicated wall mount system.
The display itself is a Quantum Dot LCD panel with a native 4K resolution. While the Air lacks the local dimming zones featured on the Gen 2 Glass, it does use direct LED backlighting, which offers better uniformity and black level performance than traditional edge-lit panels at this price point.
However, it’s important to note that the panel is capped at 60Hz and features global dimming, so motion clarity and contrast won’t rival more expensive TVs or gaming displays. Still, for casual viewers, it delivers Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG support—meaning HDR content from Sky and streaming platforms will look punchy and colorful.
Sound System: Simplified, But Capable
The most notable hardware downgrade from the Gen 2 Sky Glass is in the audio department. The Air removes the 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker system found in the flagship model in favor of a 2.0-channel downward-firing speaker setup.
This decision is strategic: Sky found that many users preferred using external soundbars or didn’t prioritize immersive sound in budget setups. And with HDMI eARC support on board, users can easily add a soundbar or AV receiver if desired.
Despite the downgrade, the built-in speakers are powered by Dolby Audio processing, delivering respectable sound quality for most day-to-day use, especially for news, talk shows, and casual viewing.
Smart Features and Sky OS Integration
Like all Sky-connected TVs, the Glass Air runs on Sky’s proprietary operating system, the same interface used in both Sky Glass and the Sky Stream puck. This gives it a distinct edge over conventional smart TVs.
Sky OS is tailored specifically for Sky’s content ecosystem, enabling features like:
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Streaming live Sky channels over broadband—no satellite dish required
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A universal cross-service content search and playlist feature
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Industry-leading voice search and voice control
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Personalized recommendations based on viewing habits
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Fast boot-up and intuitive interface navigation
The experience is designed to eliminate app-switching fatigue and instead funnel all your content—whether from Netflix, Discovery+, Disney+, or Sky—into one central hub. That’s ideal for households that want plug-and-play convenience without compromising on content.
Content and Subscription Requirements
Of course, the hardware is just half of the equation. The Sky Glass Air requires an active Sky TV subscription to function. The entry-level Sky Essentials package starts at £15 per month, and includes:
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A curated selection of Sky's core channels
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A basic Netflix subscription (with ads)
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Full access to on-demand and live-streamed Sky content
When combined with the £6/month hardware cost for the 43-inch model, that means the total starting monthly outlay is just £21/month—a genuinely disruptive price for a 4K smart TV with hundreds of channels and apps built-in.
Want more content? Customers can upgrade to the Ultimate TV package for an additional £7/month, unlocking channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Max, and more.
Pricing and Availability: Ridiculously Accessible
Sky’s pricing model for the Glass Air is designed to undercut conventional smart TV setups. Here’s how the pricing breaks down across screen sizes:
Monthly Payment Plans (48-Month Contract):
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43-inch: £6/month
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55-inch: £10/month
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65-inch: £13/month
These prices are available to both new and existing Sky customers, and they can be bundled with any Sky TV package.
For those who prefer a shorter commitment, a 12-month contract is also available—though it approximately doubles the monthly payments.
Outright Purchase:
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43-inch: £309
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55-inch: £509
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65-inch: £649
Given the price gap between Sky Glass Gen 2 and the Air, this new model represents a substantial saving. For comparison, the Gen 2 43-inch TV starts at £14/month, more than double the Air’s entry price.
Who Is the Glass Air For?
The Glass Air is clearly aimed at value-conscious customers, especially:
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First-time buyers looking for a 4K smart TV with content built-in
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Renters or students who want a no-fuss, monthly payment plan
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Existing Sky subscribers looking for a secondary TV
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Families on a budget who want full Sky access in a child’s or guest room
It’s less suited for:
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Serious gamers seeking 120Hz, VRR, or ultra-low latency
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AV enthusiasts wanting high-end picture processing or fine-grained calibration
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Users who already own high-performance TVs and are only after content
Sky Glass Air vs Sky Glass Gen 2: Key Differences
| Feature | Sky Glass Air | Sky Glass Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 43", 55", 65" | 43", 55", 65" |
| Panel Type | Quantum Dot, global dimming | Quantum Dot, local dimming |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Sound System | 2.0 Dolby Audio | 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos (integrated) |
| Price (43-inch, 48 mo) | £6/month | £14/month |
| TV OS | Sky OS | Sky OS |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wall-Mount Compatible | Yes | Yes |
Launch Details and Where to Buy
The Sky Glass Air officially goes on sale Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 through the following channels:
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Sky.com
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Sky physical stores
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Sky customer service call centers
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Currys online and in-store (in-store availability begins June 18)
Sky’s strategy of pairing hardware and service into one simplified monthly bill appears to be paying off. With the Glass Air, they’ve extended this model to even more homes—and likely disrupted the UK smart TV market in the process.
Final Thoughts: A Game-Changer for Budget 4K TVs
The Sky Glass Air is not about beating LG or Samsung on specs. It’s about accessibility, simplicity, and value. For less than the cost of a takeaway meal each month, you get a brand-new 4K HDR TV and hundreds of channels, delivered over broadband without a satellite dish.
Is it perfect? No. Gamers and AV purists will want more. But for families, students, or those simply wanting a good-looking TV with Sky built-in at a rock-bottom price, the Glass Air is hard to beat.
Sky has just made it a whole lot easier—and cheaper—for UK households to access premium TV. We look forward to the reviews and CE Critic Score.
