Android is the interface of choice, divided into four tabs in Google Assistant/Search, Home, Discover, Apps, with settings located on the far right. It’s like any other Android TV screen in use.

However, notable by its absence is Netflix. Humax is acutely aware of this hole in its streaming service armoury, and we’re told discussions are ongoing – but as yet there’s nothing to report. In terms of firmware, Humax states that it will be upgrading numerous aspects of Aura’s performance, from video and audio enhancements to an improved UI experience. But on the app front, there is plenty to choose from within video, music, sports, and fitness. You can count on Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+. Lionsgate+ ITVX, Paramount+, TikTok, Mubi, Deezer, Roxi, Discovery+, BT Sport, Steam Link, Spotify, Vevo, Tidal, UFC, Peloton, BBC Sounds and DAZN. It’s not as many as Fire TV, Google TV, or Roku, but it’s a strong enough proposition. That said, if you have your heart set on a single-box solution for your TV recording and video streaming, the Aura is a solid choice. While the Aura is spot on for sound, we still recommend that you buy the cheaper but still brilliant Humax FVP-5000T while you still can, and add a Google Chromecast with Google TV if you also want streaming. The experience won’t feel much more split than the Aura already does but, more importantly, the smart offering will be more complete and a little better for picture quality too.Away from the video side, the hi-res audio support is a welcome addition. It means those connecting the Aura to a decent external speaker system can get a strong performance from locally stored or streamed audio files, even if connecting through the HDMI, which can handle up to 24-bit/192 kHz levels. To access entertainment, change the volume, get answers on screen and more, just ask Google. Supplied with a voice activated remote, there’s no need for a separate Google speaker. With integrated Google Assistant and access to thousands of apps via the Google Play Store, AURA syncs with the user’s Google account to deliver a customised home entertainment experience built around the individual or family. For ultimate flexibility, Google Assistant also provides voice control for frequently-used TV commands, and allows users to ask questions, discover information and activate smart home devices. The Aura can perform its own internal upscaling, the strength of the upscaling can be tweaked in the settings from ‘Smoothest’ to ‘Sharpest’, though to be honest I can’t see much of a difference bobbing up and down between the settings.

Since Sky Q appeared the notion of what a set-top box has changed. In an age of multiple entertainment sources, Sky’s box wasn’t interested in offering a range of television channels but in heralding a smarter age of TV viewing.Along with an HDMI 2.1 port, there’s optical digital audio output, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB ports (one of which is 3.0), and terrestrial aerial loop through. Dual Wi-Fi is standard. On paper, it’s a potent combination, with Android giving Humax a leg-up with Google Assistant voice control, Chromecast streaming plus the load of apps in the Google Play store. Just how strong is the aura that surrounds Humax’s set-top box? Design For an easy, top quality connection to your TV, the Aura uses HDMI. The set-top box also features an optical digital output – perfect for connecting to a home cinema system or soundbar. I find playing audio through the Aura’s apps to be similar enough to playing it through the TV. The slight difference I can hear is that there’s a little more weight and excitement to bass when watching the Eternals on Disney+. Dive into the settings and there are plenty more features to have a look at. One I’d recommend is ‘Dynamic Refresh Rate Scaling’. The Aura scales the resolution of each app to the resolution of the TV (in this case 4K). I found it was too annoying with its constant blinking and oftentimes crashing.

Humax has had great success with its What Hi-Fi? Award-winning FVP-5000T set-top box and, four years into its life, a replacement was long overdue when the Aura launched in 2020. For both specs and looks, the Aura was the upgrade we had been waiting for.HDD sizes: 1TB or 2TB | Tuner: Freeview Play| 4K: Yes | HDR: Yes | Smart platform: Yes, Android| Wi-Fi: Yes, dual band | Dimensions: 258(w) x 43(h) x 200(d)mm | Weight: 764g | Inputs: 1xHDMI 2.1, 2xUSB, Ethernet, optical audio The same HDMI connector on the TV was used for the other boxes along with the same cable, except for the TV’s built in Freeview. The two pictures are from the Humax Aura and the SkyHD(the picture with the (