Manhattan has launched its first Freesat recorder in years, and it could be exactly what satellite TV users have been waiting for.
The new S4-R is a 4K-ready recording box. It is designed to bring modern features back to Freesat, at a time when options have been quietly disappearing.
Starting at £219.99 for 500GB, with 1TB and 2TB models arriving in May and June, the S4-R is the first new Freesat recorder since the now-discontinued 4K boxes from 2020. That alone makes it a big deal for anyone still relying on satellite TV like Sky Q rather than streaming. There’s also no monthly fee.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, Manhattan is leaning on what already works. The S4-R runs the same interface as its well-reviewed T4-R Freeview recorder.
It pulls live TV, recordings and on-demand content into a single view, with search spanning both broadcast channels and over 60,000 hours of catch-up content. Apps for BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and My5 are included. Additionally, YouTube is available too.
There is a trade-off, though. Unlike the older Freesat 4K boxes, you won’t find Netflix or Prime Video here. This is a box focused firmly on free-to-air TV and broadcaster apps. If you want full streaming, you’ll need to pair it with a smart TV or separate device.
Where the S4-R does push forward is recording. It supports up to four simultaneous recordings, doubling the previous two-channel limit. This makes it far more capable for busy households juggling multiple shows.
Design-wise, it sticks to a familiar set-top box approach, but under the hood it’s clearly more modern. And importantly, more affordable than what came before. The outgoing 500GB Freesat box launched at £229.99. Therefore, this is a rare case of a newer model actually coming in cheaper.
This is not just another set-top box, it’s a much-needed update for a platform that’s been left waiting.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
