Comcast’s Flex box that is streaming free, however it might not be.
This past year, Comcast jumped in to the streaming-box company, attempting to sell a product that is intriguing Xfinity Flex. It promised to place all your preferred streaming apps in a single spot, by having a software that’s just like that entirely on its popular X1 cable television package.
For cordcutters whom escaped from high Comcast cable TV bills to get all-streaming, it supplied ground that is familiar. For Comcast, it had been equipment that could keep clients in 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 when I composed in my own initial breakdown of the Flex final June, it had disadvantages. 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 fee that is monthly which can be reasonable, added as much as $60 per year, ten dollars significantly more than the price of a contending Amazon Fire television Stick.
But Comcast is currently giving out the Flex field 100% free. (if you prefer multiple at home, extra devices continue to be $5 per month each. ) The organization additionally not any longer calls for one to make use of its modem/router combination – it really works with your own personal hardware.
The organization has kicked down an advertising campaign for the Flex, targeting its customers that are internet-only. It’s evidently been effective: Comcast announced the other day it now has 1 million Flex users on its system.
As a consequence of the push, I’ve heard from lots of people who wish to know if it is well worth getting one, regardless if they currently have a option to stream.
My admittedly glib response was, “Hey, it is free, why don’t you? ” In reality, I ordered one for myself because it cost nothing.
This really is even though i take advantage of a fourth-generation Apple TV, that will be mounted on A samsung that is circa-2011 HDTV. The Samsung is not 4K, however the image is great and we are content with our alternatives.
Installation is not difficult and fairly painless, with plain-language, step-by-step directions onscreen.
The image the Flex delivers is gorgeous – in reality, it seems a lot better than the Apple TV’s image. It nearly appears enjoy it’s 4K, but back at my HDTV, it is maybe not. For a time we thought it had been making use of motion-smoothing, the function entirely on modern TVs that will make movie appear to be it had been shot on video clip. But Comcast assures me personally it is not anything that is doing using the sign. It is simply great movie equipment.
For apps, the Flex has got the typical suspects. There’s Netflix, Amazon Prime movie, Hulu, CBS All Access, YouTube and so many more. But as whenever I first viewed Flex, here stays great deal lacking.
There’s still no ESPN, just ESPN3, the lower-tier form of that recreations solution. And, in the event that you’ve got young ones or Star Wars/Marvel fans in the home, there’s no Disney+. 
No Baby Yoda for you personally!
Most of all, the Flex continues to be lacking the bundled-channel apps which are an option to a cable-TV package. There’s no Sling TV, YouTube television, AT&T television Now, Philo, fubo or Hulu with Live television. The apparent presumption is the fact that Comcast does not wish any software in the Flex that competes using its cable-TV service.
Steve Meyer, Comcast’s vice president for Xfinity Flex, said that it’s “not policy” that is maintaining these cable-alternatives from the Flex field. He pointed out of the existence for the version that is international of television, and stated that Comcast has an agreement with Sling. It ended up being merely a matter of the time before the U.S. Software managed to get, he stated that “we are onboarding apps once we get along. Once I asked if that meant” So, perhaps.
One software it will have, which for the time being you can’t get somewhere else, is Peacock, the brand new streaming solution from NBCUniversal, that is owned by Comcast. That may be a little more accessible come early july, however it’s “premium” tier is liberated to Flex users.
Peacock attracts 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 very beginning of the movie. With TV shows, you can find standard advertising breaks, though with less commercials than the truth is on system television. And you also cannot fast-forward last them, so time your bathroom breaks consequently.
You can easily, but, spend an additional $5 an and not see ads month.
The screen is, when I published early in the day, just like the X1 field. Apps you utilize frequently and demonstrates to you view frequently bubble as much as the top your home display, and also the sound remote stays the way that is best to navigate the solution. It’s one of many most readily useful sound controls I’ve utilized.
During my review that is initial I concerning the slew of free television shows and films which can be included. The way that is best to locate them is by using the sound remote, with lets you request things in various methods. It is possible to require children programs, horror, comedy along with other genres. You are able to request every thing that’s free, or all content for sale in 4K. I really 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 acquire some associated with the niftier features, such as for example seeing which products are linked to your house system or use of your smart home abilities. But you’ll save the leasing cost for the xFi, which will be $14 four weeks.
In the event that you decide you don’t actually want to drop cable television for streaming in the end, you can easily re-sign up for Comcast’s cable-TV solution and make use of the Flex as the set-top package. This ability is built in to the Flex, permitting the ongoing business to fully capture cable cutters that have regrets. You’ll need the xFi Gateway to achieve this, but Meyer stated Comcast will quickly enable you to get it done along with your own modem and router.
After coping with the Flex for some time, switching between it and also the Apple television, I’m happy I have it however, if I’d to abandon it, we might not miss it. I really could not advocate the Flex to those people who are a new comer to cord-cutting and who desire a cable-alternative software, because Comcast just isn’t publicly investing in including them.
But if you need free use of Peacock; desire the familiarity of Comcast’s Xfinity television program; just desire to use the most-common streaming solution apps; or simply just need it since it’s free — go with it.
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