Comcast’s Flex streaming package is free, however it is almost certainly not.

A year ago, Comcast jumped to the streaming-box company, attempting to sell an intriguing product called Xfinity Flex. It promised to place all your preferred streaming apps in one single spot, by having a screen that’s just like that available on its X1 cable TV that is popular field.

For cordcutters whom escaped from high Comcast cable TV bills to get all-streaming, it supplied familiar ground. For Comcast, it had been equipment which could keep clients within the fold. And offered it could be alluring for internet-only customers who hadn’t yet settled on a way to stream shows and movies that it only cost $5 a month.

And it had drawbacks as I wrote in my initial review of the Flex last June. It needed it didn’t offer apps for services designed to replace the cable bundle, such as the U.S. Version of Sling TV or YouTube TV that you use Comcast’s own modem/router combination, and. And that $5 month-to-month charge, which can be reasonable, added as much as $60 per year, ten dollars a lot more than the price of a contending Amazon Fire television Stick.

But Comcast is currently giving out the Flex field 100% free. (if you would like one or more in your house, extra devices continue to be $5 per month each. ) The business additionally no further calls for one to make use of its modem/router combination – it really works with your personal hardware.

The organization has kicked down an advertising campaign for the Flex, focusing on its customers that are internet-only. It offers apparently been effective: Comcast announced week that is last now has 1 million Flex users on its system.

Because of the push, I’ve heard from plenty of people who need to know if it is well worth getting one, regardless if they currently have a method to stream https://hookupwebsites.org/eharmony-review/.

My admittedly glib response was, “Hey, it is free, you will want to? ” In reality, since it cost nothing we ordered one for myself.

This can be even though I prefer a fourth-generation Apple TV, which will be mounted on A samsung that is circa-2011 HDTV. The Samsung is not 4K, nevertheless the image is great and we are content with our alternatives.

Installation is straightforward and fairly painless, with plain-language, step-by-step directions onscreen.

The picture the Flex delivers is gorgeous – in reality, it appears to be a lot better than the Apple TV’s image. It nearly appears it’s not like it’s 4K, but on my HDTV. The feature found on modern TVs that can make film look like it was shot on video for a while I thought it was using motion-smoothing. But Comcast assures me it is maybe perhaps maybe not doing any such thing fancy because of the sign. It’s simply great movie equipment.

For apps, the Flex gets the suspects that are usual. There’s Netflix, Amazon Prime movie, Hulu, CBS All Access, YouTube and many other things. But as once I first viewed Flex, there remains great deal missing.

There’s still no ESPN, simply ESPN3, the lower-tier form of that recreations solution. And, in the event that you’ve got children or Star Wars/Marvel fans in the home, there’s no Disney+. No Baby Yoda for your needs!

First and foremost, the Flex continues to be missing the bundled-channel apps which can be a substitute for a cable-TV package. There’s no TV that is sling YouTube TV, AT&T TV Now, Philo, fubo or Hulu with real time television. The apparent presumption is Comcast does not wish any software in the Flex that competes along with its cable-TV solution.

Steve Meyer, Comcast’s vice president for Xfinity Flex, said so it’s “not policy” that is maintaining these cable-alternatives from the Flex field. He pointed out of the existence associated with the version that is international of television, and stated that Comcast comes with an agreement with Sling. Once I asked if it meant it absolutely was only a matter of the time until the U.S. Software managed to get, he stated that “we are onboarding apps once we get along. ” So, perhaps.

One application it will have, which for the time being you can’t get any place else, is Peacock, the newest streaming service from NBCUniversal, that will be owned by Comcast. That may be more widely accessible come early july, but it’s “premium” tier is able to Flex users.

Peacock draws regarding the archive that is rich of content. Wondering where“The working Office” went when it vanished from Netflix? It is here, along side “Parks and Recreation, ” “House, ” “Downton Abbey, ” “Cheers” and substantially more.

Regrettably, however, the variation you obtain on Flex just isn’t ad-free. With films, 160 moments of adverts are stacked in the beginning of the movie. With shows, you can find standard advertising breaks, though with less commercials than the truth is on system television. And also you cannot fast-forward last them, so time your bathrooms breaks appropriately.

It is possible to, nevertheless, spend an additional $5 an and not see ads month.

The screen is, when I published early in the day, like the X1 package. Apps you utilize frequently and demonstrates to you view frequently bubble as much as the top of the house display, additionally the voice remote stays the way that is best to navigate the solution. It’s one of many voice controls that are best I’ve used.

Within my initial review We talked concerning the slew of free television shows and films which can be included. The easiest way to get them is by using the vocals remote, with lets you request things in various methods. You are able to request young ones programs, horror, comedy as well as other genres. You are able to request every thing that’s free, or all content for sale in 4K. I must say I don’t make use of the display screen design to get material, We use my voice just.

There’s one change that is big the way in which Flex works: It not any longer calls for that you apply Comcast’s xFi modem/router equipment. You can make use of your very own gear, though you won’t find some of this niftier features, such as for instance seeing which products are attached to your house community or use of your smart house abilities. But you’ll save the fee that is rental the xFi, that will be $14 four weeks.

In the event that you decide you don’t actually want to drop satellite tv for streaming most likely, you can easily re-sign up for Comcast’s cable-TV solution and make use of the Flex as your set-top package. This ability is created in to the Flex, enabling the business to capture cable cutters that have regrets. You’ll need the xFi Gateway to get this done, but Meyer stated Comcast will quickly allow you to take action together with your very own modem and router.

After coping with the Flex for a time, switching between it and also the Apple television, I’m happy I have actually it however, if I experienced to abandon it, we may not miss it. I possibly could not endorse the Flex to those people who are not used to cord-cutting and who would like a cable-alternative application, because Comcast is certainly not publicly investing in including them.

But because it’s free — go for it if you want free access to Peacock; want the familiarity of Comcast’s Xfinity TV interface; only want to use the most-common streaming service apps; or just want it.