The 10 Best Freeview Recorder Reviews In The UK (2022)
Last Updated on April 17, 2022
When commitments (like work) keep you away from your favourite shows, a Freeview recorder is a must! You will never miss another episode and you can grow your own library of TV series and movies. Without further ado, let’s see which of this year’s top recorders is the best fit for your home!
Our Top 3 Freeview Recorder Picks
1. The Best Freeview Recorder By Humax
2. The Best 500 GB Freeview Recorder By Manhattan
3. The Best 500 GB Freeview Recorder With Remote By Manhattan
Product Testing & Comparing
When it comes to Freeview recorders, there are a few that might fall short of your expectations. To save you the disappointment and hassles of returning the box, our review team gathered all the top models of the year and put them through their paces. We compared them against each other and our strict quality guidelines and also tested each recorder. At the end of the day, we used our findings to rank the best at the top of the list and work our way down (although all 10 are pretty awesome).
We also looked at the following features of each recorder.
- Features
- Ease of Use & Setup
- Recording Hours & Capacity
Now that’s enough of what we want – let’s see what’s best for you, shall we?
Compare our top 3 picks below, or scroll past to see the detailed analysis of all 10 products.
Scroll left to view more products:
 Humax 500 GB |  Manhattan 500 GB |  Manhattan T3-R Freeview | |
| AWARDS |  |  |  |
| PRICE | £244.45 on Amazon View Product | £127.99 on Amazon View Product | £167.78 on Amazon View Product |
| OVERALL SCORE |  |  |  |
| RATING |  | | |
| PROS | Easy to use with all TVs. | 300 hours of recording. | The interface is clean, intuitive and responsive. |
| CONS | The remote control makes a clicking sound when you press the buttons. Many users find this annoying. | Needs a rooftop aerial. Will not work with cable TV or satellite signal. | You won’t know if a programme is recording because there is no LED screen available. To confirm your recording you will have to go into the programme “info”. |
| BOTTOM LINE | This thing is truly the best of the best – stylish, durable, and high-capacity. | You can certainly amass a huge collection of recorded episodes with this box. | This Freeview recorder is considered one of the best box/remote kits on the market today. |
| RATING CATEGORIES | Humax 500 GB | Manhattan 500 GB | Manhattan T3-R Freeview |
| FEATURES (30%) |  |  | |
| RECORDING HOURS & CAPACITY (30%) | | | |
| EASE OF USE & SETUP (40%) | | | |
| PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS | Humax 500 GB | Manhattan 500 GB | Manhattan T3-R Freeview |
| SIZE | 20 x 28 x 4.8 cm. | 20 x 28 x 4.8 cm. | 40 x 24.5 x 8.2 cm. |
| WEIGHT | 1.03 kg. | 684.02 grams. | 1.37 kg. |
| RECORDING CAPACITY | 300 hours (SD), 125 hours (HD). | 300 hours. | 300 hours. |
| VIEW PRODUCTS | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
The Best Freeview Recorders Of 2022
1. Humax 500 GB
The Best Freeview Recorder
£244.45
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 20 x 28 x 4.8 cm.
- Weight: 1.03 kg.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours (SD), 125 hours (HD).
This thing is truly the best of the best – stylish, durable, and high-capacity.
You can preview the programme listing as far as a week in advance. See two things you want to capture but they are on different channels at the same time? No problem; this unit can record two programmes simultaneously.
Furthermore, you can also pause and rewind live TV while recording. It also comes preloaded with relevant apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime and you can even listen to music. So if you subscribe to those platforms, just plug and play!
Pros
- Easy to use with all TVs.
- 500GB memory.
- The full HD picture quality is impressive.
Cons
- The remote control makes a clicking sound when you press the buttons. Many users find this annoying.
2. Manhattan 500 GB
The Best 500 GB Freeview Recorder
£127.99
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 20 x 28 x 4.8 cm.
- Weight: 684.02 grams.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours.
You can certainly amass a huge collection of recorded episodes with this box.
We picked it as the best 500 GB recorder because it allows you to gather 300 hours of your favourite shows. But it offers a lot more than a simple recording function.
You also get 70 TV channels, 15 HD channels and over 25 radio stations. Installation is as simple as connecting it to your rooftop aerial and once the recorder is up and running, you can peruse an 8-day TV guide to pick your entertainment. You can also pause and rewind live TV or record two shows at once.
Pros
- 300 hours of recording.
- Plenty of TV and radio channels.
- Easy to install and use.
- Records two channels simultateously.
Cons
- Needs a rooftop aerial. Will not work with cable TV or satellite signal.
3. Manhattan T3-R Freeview
Best 500 GB Freeview Recorder With Remote
£167.78
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 40 x 24.5 x 8.2 cm.
- Weight: 1.37 kg.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours.
This Freeview recorder is considered one of the best box/remote kits on the market today.
You can look forward to an intuitive remote with all the functions you need to comfortably view, record, and adjust your viewing from a distance. But what about the recorder?
The recorder has great features such as strong WiFi, a quad-core CPU for fast performance and support for Ultra HD and HDR, as long as your TV can handle it. The hard drive also offers you 500 GB which allows you to record 300 hours of episodes. Whatever you record, the box sorts your shows, episodes and other recordings into convenient categories.
Pros
- The interface is clean, intuitive and responsive.
- You can easily navigate the programme schedule.
- The hard drive is 500GB with 300 recording hours.
- Quality remote control.
- Will also record in SD as a contingency.
Cons
- You won’t know if a programme is recording because there is no LED screen available. To confirm your recording you will have to go into the programme “info”.
- Not compatible with Netflix.
4. BT Ultra HD YouView Box UHD
Top Twin HD Freeview Box
£107.99
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 39.5 x 19.3 x 9.7 cm.
- Weight: 1.84 kg.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours of SD TV, 125 hours HD and 30 hours Ultra HD.
Are you looking for a compact, quiet and functional Freeview box – this is it.
The unit runs silently, can be placed in areas that have limited space and also offers plenty of recording hours.
This recorder captures 600 hours of Standard Definition and 250 hours of HD. If you want to record in Ultra-HD then you can expect about 60 hours.
You can also download the app for Android and IOS and see the line-up of shows that will be airing soon. The box comes with a user-friendly menu system, an on-demand library, and the BT SPORTS Ultra HD channel if you are a BT subscriber.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use.
- The EPG is quick to navigate.
- Launches Netflix swiftly.T
- The interface is sharp, responsive and very intuitive.
- It can handle 4K recording for SKY, BT or Netflix.
- LED light shows when the unit is recording.
Cons
- The device does not come with Amazon Prime streaming services.
- Only 26 Freeview stations are free to record on this device.
5. Humax Aura Android TV 4K Freeview Play Recorder
Best Recorder With Google Assistant
£279.00
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 20 x 25.8 x 4.3 cm.
- Weight: 764 grams.
- Recording capacity: 2 TB disk capacity, can record 4 channels simultaneously.
If you love your Google Assistant, here’s another friend you can introduce to it!
But besides getting access to GA’s versatile features and controlling the box, you can also look forward to great viewing quality. The box offers 4K UHD and HDR picture quality.
You can also enjoy all the benefits of Android TV and the Google Play Store. But at the end of the day, you are probably interested in this appliance’s recording ability. With its massive 2 TB disk, you have almost a thousand hours to record your favourite shows.
Pros
- Easy to operate.
- Compatible with android devices.
- Records multiple shows at once.
- High definition viewing.
Cons
- Specific number of recording hours not provided.
6. BT Youview + Set Top Box
Top Youview And Set Top Box
£104.50
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 40.01 x 19 x 11 cm.
- Weight: 1.67 kg.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours.
This recorder allows you to watch TV in brilliant HD. Curious about what you missed in the last week? Just scroll back as far as 7 days and watch anything on the programming list.
You can also scroll forward to pick something in advance that you want to record. All told, the recorder can hold 300 hours of footage and sorts items by date or title for your convenience. Should you forget to manually program the recorder to capture something in your absence, you can use the YouView smartphone app to programme your box remotely with your iPhone.
Pros
- Easy to install.
- EPG is excellent and allows easy navigation between the TV channels and recorded programmes.
- The picture quality is amazing.
- Apps and streaming services include Netflix, NowTV, iPlayer, All5, ITVHub, 5, and more.
Cons
- It won’t record a show you scheduled if the broadcaster shuffles the programming.
7. Manhattan T2-R
The Top Freeview HD Recorder
£127.99
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 20 x 26.5 x 4.8 cm.
- Weight: 684.02 grams.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours.
This box is compact, near-silent and fits into any room.
Unlike several other alternatives, this one comes with a large, well designed remote control. You will find the most-used buttons placed conveniently near the top of the remote as well.
This unit has enough space for you to record the entire series for playback whenever you choose. Besides offering you 500 GB of space, you can also expect all the top features like pause and rewind, a great TV guide, recording two programs together, and more.
Pros
- Easy to install.
- Durable.
- User-friendly recording and access to recorded programmes.
- A remote control with batteries.
- 1.2m HDMI cable.
Cons
- No WiFi connection is available. You will need an Ethernet cable to connect to a router.
8. UK Digital Freeview Box
The Best USB-Compatible Recorder
£34.95
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 16.5 x 10 x 4 cm.
- Weight: 600 grams.
- Recording capacity: External USB devices, limitless capacity.
Our reviewers loved the fact that this recorder gives you a limitless amount of hours to record.
It achieves this delightful feat by not recording via an in-built disk but a USB port. So, if your storage device is full, you can simply plug in the next one and record some more!
The box also gives you access to 200 Freeview channels and various Internet platforms including Youtube, RSS and IPTV.
Pros
- Limitless recording.
- Plenty of free channels.
- Remote control.
Cons
- Requires a slight learning curve.
9. Manhattan T3-R Freeview Recorder
The Best Basic Recorder
£171.99
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 40 x 24.5 x 8.2 cm.
- Weight: 1.37 kg.
- Recording capacity: 300 hours.
In this bundle deal, you can choose whether you want to include a gold-plated TV aerial cable with your new Freeview recorder.
So, what can you expect from the latter? Let’s have a look at the top features of this recorder.
It may be basic but you can still enjoy 300 hours of recording, 85 Freeview channels, versatile controls that include popular options like pause and rewind live TV, catching up on a program you missed during the last 7 days, and creating your own personalized watchlist.
Pros
- Basic but satisfying control features.
- Optional aerial cable.
- Free channels.
- 500 GB disk.
Cons
- Requires a slight learning curve.
10. Panasonic DMR
The Smart 1 TB HDD Recorder
£184.99
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 30 x 5.2 x 19 cm.
- Weight: 1.6 kg.
- Recording capacity: 259 (SD), 684 (HD).
Add some style with this box’s sleek and beautiful design.
With in-built Freeview Play, the user is able to access catch-up services for all stations and seamless network connectivity.
The Long Record feature on this device doubles your recording capacity. You can record up to 684 hours in HD and 259 hours in normal mode.
Catch Up TV, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and All 4 are available, and the series link function ensures you never miss a thing. In addition, the programme guide shows you content from 8 days ahead and seven days behind.
Pros
- Sharp picture quality
- Works with streaming services like Netflix
- You can record for long durations.
- Reliable recording function.
- The WiFi broadband connection is hitch-free.
- Integration with TV is seamless.
Cons
- The programme guide tends to be sluggish.
- The remote control is often slow to respond.
Your Freeview Recorder Buying Guide
Take your entertainment to the next level while also going subscription-free. That’s right, we’re talking about Freeview recorders! Our guide offers the essential pointers you need to keep in mind to find the best recorder for you.
Features To Consider Before Buying A Freeview Recorder
The Number Of Tuners
With two tuners you can record two programmes at once. You can do this while watching a third programme from the hard drive or, with some recorders, live.
Accurate Series Recording And Storage
Ensure it can record full series and has good storage. The bigger the hard drive capacity in Gigabytes (GB), the better. Any unit containing a 500 GB hard disk or more is your ideal choice.
EPG
One would have thought that electronic programme guides (EPGs) would be largely generic but this is not the case. For example, the EPGs from Humax and Panasonic are quite different. Generally, a good EPG will not only spot recording clashes, but it will offer alternative programme times if there are any.
Apps
Popular apps and services that can be found on set-top boxes include Netflix, Now TV, Amazon Prime, Skype and news and weather services, amongst others. But just because they’re there doesn’t mean they’ll work for you. Many of them, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos and Now TV, require subscriptions.
Another thing to note is that all these features, Catch-up, YouTube, and the like, would only work when TVs are connected to an internet router.
Other Connections
If the rest of the set-top box of your choice is perfect, it might just be lacking a few ports that are compatible with the rest of your equipment. Just remember that adaptors that enable HDMI cables to connect to a different type of port, including Scart sockets, are available for less than a £12 price.
FAQs
Q: Can you record on Freeview TV?
A: Yes, you can. And the easiest way to do it is to get a Freeview HD Recorder or Freeview Play Recorder.
Q: Can you record Freeview on a smart TV?
A: There are TV models that allow you to directly record programmes onto a USB hard drive without the need for a digital video recorder or VCR. All that is needed is for you to plug your USB stick or external hard drive into the provided USB port. If you have a TV like this, then, yes, you can record TV programmes on your smart TV.
Q: How do I record on Freeview?
A: Select the show you want to record, then either choose to record a single episode or the whole series. With most recorders, you can do this even while watching, pausing or rewinding live TV programmes.
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