Netgem Freely Pleio review: This generation’s answer to the Freeview box

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Want to transition your existing TV to Freely, the broadband-delivered alternative to Freeview? The Pleio puck from Netgem is just what you need. 

Until now, Freely has been offered on a relatively limited selection of new TVs, from the likes of Toshiba, Panasonic, Hisense and Bush. The Pleio changes that equation, offering a plug & play way to get mainstream TV channels, as well as premium apps, and cloud gaming via Wi-Fi.

Design & Build

• HDMI connection
• Joypad controller in the box
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Roughly the size of a coaster, the Netgem Pleio makes for a modest addition to any AV equipment rack. It’s presentable enough, and comes equipped with the bare essentials: a HDMI output, with CEC switching, USB-C power connection, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth (there’s no Ethernet port).

The supplied remote control is light and easy to navigate, although it’s not backlit. Dedicated buttons for Freely and Netflix sit alongside shortcuts to the Pleio FAST channels and cloud gaming.  

Unusually, Netgem includes a full-size wireless game controller in the box, which is Xbox-like in shape and feel. Its inclusion reinforces Pleio’s ambition to be more than just a TV streamer. A HDMI cable is also supplied, removing one small but common setup irritation.

Features & User Interface

• Premium streaming services
• FAST channels
• Voice search

Setup is pretty straightforward: plug in, connect to Wi-Fi, and you’ll be ready to watch within minutes. The only friction comes from having to log into all the individual broadcaster apps, each with its own authentication process. It’s a bit of a faff. A unified sign-in for Freely’s core services would dramatically improve first impressions.

…the good news is that the Freely channel bouquet is growing rapidly, building on a core of UK public service broadcasters

Freely doesn’t quite match Freeview in channel depth, but the good news is that the Freely channel bouquet is growing rapidly, building on a core of UK public service broadcasters. There’s BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and UKTV Play, with more on the cards, including a bunch of themed channels from AMC Networks, Blaze, Talking Pictures TV, and regional Local TV services.

The platform also comes with many of the most popular premium streaming services, including  Netflix, Now, Paramount+, Discovery+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and YouTube, as well as Pleio Channels+, a collection of FAST (free ad-supported) linear streams, including Motorsport TV and Haunt. There’s also a well-stocked cloud gaming portal, aimed at casual players.

Usability is a bit of a mixed bag. The home screen is inevitably Freely-focused, with premium streaming apps tucked away in a separate Apps section, rather than mounted front and centre. That means a lot more button presses if you want to watch Disney+, compared to, say, PBS America on Freely.

As we’ve seen on other services, curated content rails are provided for browsing inspiration, but they’re rather prosaic.  

You can also use voice search to find stuff. However, after a few attempts to use this, ending in not very helpful results, I decided it was best to keep shtum. The interface itself is generally nice and quick to respond.

Picture & Sound Performance

• Impressive 4K HDR
• Dolby Atmos audio
• Laggy cloud gaming

While all Freely live channels currently stream in nothing better than HD, the device itself is fully 4K UHD capable, and looks great when fed high-quality material from BBC iPlayer, and major streaming apps. 

Picture performance is sharp, consistent and well defined, with minimal artefacts – the obvious caveat being that a decent broadband connection is required if you don’t want to suffer intrusive buffering. Freely specifies a minimum speed of 10Mb or higher, but to make the most of 4K UHD content, you’ll want a connection that’s at least 25 – 35 Mbps.

Colours appear natural and well balanced, with convincing skin tones and pleasing saturation. Native UHD material looks appropriately cinematic, with HDR support covering HDR10+ and HLG. Blacks appear reasonably deep, highlights nicely controlled. 

The obvious omission here is Dolby Vision. It’s listed as ‘disabled’ in the Pleio’s HDR menu, suggesting unrealised potential rather than outright incompatibility. Everyday SDR content matches expectations.

Audio rewards those with decent sound systems. Stereo is clean and dynamic, and when routed through a Marantz AV receiver, the Pleio delivers excellent multichannel audio. Dolby Atmos mixes carry height cues convincingly; when I hooked the puck up to an AV receiver, a fully filmic audio soundstage was delivered.

Obviously, not every app or programme offers Dolby Atmos, but when it’s present, the Pleio performs on par with rival, popular premium streaming sticks that I’ve tried. AV sync remained reliable throughout testing, even when passing through an external audio system.

Cloud gaming is a little less satisfying. Lighter titles such as Worms and Overcooked 2 run smoothly and responsively, but more graphically demanding games, including Lords of the Fallen, suffered from stutter and felt laggy when played, even on a strong broadband connection.  Hopefully this will improve over time.

…the device itself is fully 4K UHD capable, and looks great when fed high-quality material

Price & Subscription

• £99
• FAST Channels and Cloud Gaming subscription

The Pleio sells for £99. You can buy it from Amazon, although units are sold out at the time of writing. The product has been restocked periodically.

For that, you get the streaming device, with Freely channel access, major streaming apps, a remote control, HDMI cable and a wireless game controller. Pleio Channels+ and cloud gaming are included free for the first 12 months, after which they become a £9.99 monthly add-on.

That said, iIf the device is bundled with an ISP package, that subscription cost could be absorbed. 

Given this is currently the first device of its kind, value is very much in the eye of the beholder, however it’s worth pointing out the price of the puck sits close to an entry-level Freely TV,  and substantially above mainstream streaming sticks.  

Should you buy the Pleio Freely streamer?

If you have an older TV that’s still going strong, but want to cut the aerial cord and bring it into the Freely era (perhaps relocating it to an aerial-free spare room) the Pleio makes a lot of sense. 

Picture and sound quality are better than you might expect from a compact streamer. Film fans will appreciate the stable 4K HDR delivery and Dolby Atmos support, while general users benefit from a familiar, broadcast-style experience without new wiring or a new television. 

While there are some caveats, regarding the interface and channel choice, these look likely to be ironed out over the next few months.

This Netgem gadget may be a little pricey, but it’s well worth considering as an alternative to Fire TV sticks, Roku devices and Sky Stream. 

Specs

• Freely IPTV tuner
• Max resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• 1 x HDM
• HDR support: HDR10+, HLG,
• Premium streaming apps
• Cloud Gaming portal
• FAST Channels
• Dimensions: 90 × 90 × 20 mm (W x d x h)
• Weight: 150g