PVRs & set-top boxes advice guides

Freeview or Freesat? Sky TV or Virgin Media? We’ve got expert advice on buying and owning the best PVR or set-top box, including popular brands, features, and types, along with reliability scores to help find the right TV box for you.

How to buy the best PVR or set-top box
by Martin Pratt
Which? explains what to look for when buying a set-top box or PVR from brands like Sky, BT, Humax and TalkTalk. Find out about free-TV and pay-tv service providers, hard drive capacity, multiple recordings and more.
Top five best PVRs for 2020
by Callum Tennent
Looking for a great PVR? Which? in-depth tests reveal the best and worst performers and everything you need to know about buying, using and getting the most from top brands like Humax, Panasonic, BT and Sky.
Which PVR and set-top box brand to buy in 2020
by Martin Pratt
Leading set-top box brands from Humax, Manhattan, Panasonic, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media are put through our reliability survey to find out which develop the most faults over time, and which can be relied on to go the distance

Put us to the test

Our Test Labs compare features and prices on a range of products. Try Which? to unlock our reviews. You'll instantly be able to compare our test scores, so you can make sure you don't get stuck with a Don't Buy.

PVRs & set-top boxes advice guides

How to buy the best PVR or set-top box

Top five best PVRs for 2020

Which PVR and set-top box brand to buy in 2020

Put us to the test

Sky Q vs Virgin Media V6

Best cheap PVRs for under £150

Top three best set-top boxes for 2020

Best Humax PVRs

Freesat vs Freeview: which should you choose?

How we test PVRs and set-top boxes

The best way to record TV

PVR and set-top box Jargon buster