Sky Glass Air hands-on: five things you need to know about this new slimmer, cheaper Sky TV

It may be Air by name, but there’s nothing lightweight about Sky Glass Air. This new addition to Sky’s fully integrated TV with streaming service line-up squarely has its sights set on the mainstream market.

A slick looking, smart flatscreen, it’s a good deal thinner than its stablemate, the Sky Glass Gen 2.

Of course, Sky Glass Air isn’t here to replace Sky Glass Gen 2, rather, it complements it. With its room-friendly profile and lower entry price, it’s clearly intended to bring the full-fat Sky experience into more rooms, and more homes.

Where Gen 2 impressed with Dolby Atmos sound and enhanced HDR brightness, Sky Glass Air focuses on essentials: a crisp 4K HDR Quantum Dot panel, hands-free voice control, and Sky OS baked in. 

Three sizes are on offer,  43-, 55- and 65-inches, in a choice of three colourways: Sea Green, Carbon Grey and Cotton White. Each comes with a colour-matched stand and remote. Smart in the traditional sense. 

I had an early hands-on with the new model at Sky’s Osterly campus, and was left in no doubt that the broadcaster is onto a winner here.

Here are the five things you need to know…

Sky Glass Air isn’t here to replace Sky Glass Gen 2, rather, it complements it, with its lighter build, slimmer profile, and lower entry price…

Sky Glass Air – design

The Sky user experience may be the USP, but let’s not gloss over the design, because it’s genuinely one of the most compelling aspects of the Glass Air. The central pedestal stand has a footprint suitable for most media units, and thanks to some clever chassis design, the TV appears slimmer than it is. Call it optical engineering.

The remote is also colour-matched to the set, which is a thoughtful touch.

Sky Glass Air – picture quality first impressions

I had the opportunity to take a closer look at Sky Glass Air in action, under controlled conditions on Sky’s Osterly campus, and was impressed. Obviously I’m keen to take a closer look when review samples ship, but ostensibly the Quantum Dot panel delivers vibrant, wide-gamut colour and solid brightness, enhanced by global dimming and Dolby Vision support. 

Watching a selection of content in Sky’s show lounge, I was impressed by how well the set handled motion and maintained luminance across varying scenes.

No, it doesn’t have local dimming or OLED-level black performance, but that’s not the market it’s playing in. What you do get is a well-balanced, vibrant 4K image that looks to be a genuine upgrade over typical budget screens.

The integrated sound system doesn’t come with any bells and whistles, but then it doesn’t need to. It’s not designed to compete with full Dolby Atmos setups.  

Sky Glass Air – buyer beware

Of course there are caveats. There are only three HDMI inputs available, and none of them support 4K 120Hz, as this is a 60Hz panel. Gamers will almost certainly want to look elsewhere.

It’s also not compatible with the Sky Live camera accessory.

Sky Glass Air – user experience

Running the same Sky OS platform that powers Sky Glass Gen 2 and Sky Stream, Sky Glass Air offers an intuitive, app-rich interface that blends live TV, on-demand, and third-party streaming services. It learns your viewing habits, curates genre-based rails, and helps you get to your favourites quickly.

The hands-free voice control is a low-effort way to launch apps, search for shows or adjust volume without lifting the remote. And with personal playlists and a ‘Continue Watching’ rail that spans apps, Sky OS feels cohesive and intelligent.

Sky Glass Air – screen sizes and prices

Here’s where things get even more interesting. The Sky Glass Air is available from just £6 per month for the 43-inch model, £10 for the 55-inch, and £13 for the 65-inch, via a 48-month interest-free loan. Alternatively, customers can purchase outright: £309, £509 , or £649 respectively.

Pair this with the Sky Essential TV package, which includes over 100 channels plus Netflix and Discovery+ ,  from £15/month, and the complete Sky Glass Air experience starts at just £21/month for new users.

There’s also a 24-month option for those wanting a shorter commitment, priced slightly higher: £12/month, £20/month, and £26/month.

Need more content? Sky Ultimate TV (£7/month extra) expands your channel line-up with Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries and more.

And so it goes…

Sky Glass Air – early verdict

Sky Glass Air may not aim to dazzle in the same way as high-end OLEDs or flagship Mini-LED TVs, but it’s arguably one of the most cleverly positioned TVs on the market today.

It brings together the sleek, streamlined look of a premium lifestyle screen with the smart convenience of built-in Sky telly, all at a price point that’s difficult to ignore.