The PLEIO streaming box, the tiny puck from Netgem built to bring Freely’s live-TV service to any TV, sold out in hours after its launch. People rushed to buy what many are calling the first standalone Freely device, and initial Amazon listings vanished almost immediately.
Why the rush? PLEIO packs several modern features into a compact package that are useful for renters or people with older TVs.
Below is everything you need to know to decide whether PLEIO is right for your living room
Overview of the PLEIO TV box
Here is a quick overview of the general details of this gadget
- Model Name: PLEIO TV Box.
- OS: Google TV
- Launch: Friday, November 21, 2025.
- Processor: Amlogic S905Y4 chipset
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 8GB internal
- Ports: HDMI, USB-C power
- Price: £99
Features of the PLEIO TV box
Below are the PLEIO features you should know about before buying:
1. Free broadcast channels without an aerial
PLEIO is the first standalone set-top device to support Freely. On this app, you will access linear channels like BBC, ITV, and others. This will be streamed over your broadband link rather than through a rooftop OTA aerial.
What’s more, when you buy the PLEIO puck, you get a three-month trial of PLEIO’s paid subscription included out of the box, after which the optional subscription costs £9.99 per month. That paid tier is not the Freely service itself. Freely is free to use and remains available without paying.
Instead, the PLEIO subscription is Netgem’s add-on bundle that unlocks 150+ extra FAST channels and 250+ cloud games. Both are available on the puck during the trial and gated behind the monthly fee afterwards.
2. Android TV 14 Google TV software
PLEIO runs Android TV 14, so you will get the breadth of the Google Play ecosystem. You can access gaming, streaming, FAST apps, and more.
If you already have an Android phone, this is a familiar UI experience. You also get integrated search across services and Chromecast-like casting from phones or Chrome.
3. Picture and audio quality
PLEIO supports Dolby Vision and HDR10. When you stream any Dolby Vision–mastered content from supported apps, your TV will use dynamic metadata to render your scenes more accurately than static HDR10.
This especially matters most on cinematic content, where you have high contrast and bright highlights
Stars, explosions, and complex lighting scenes will appear with better highlight handling when your TV also supports Dolby Vision. Still, the actual picture quality relies on your display set’s own mapping.
The small box has Dolby Atmos and 5.1 passthrough. When your receiver supports this standard, PLEIO will hand off the audio stream intact. The result is spatial audio and improved immersion.
4. PLEIO TV box Connectivity
The new gadget includes Wi-Fi 6 support, which helps when your home has many wireless devices or heavy bandwidth contention. It works by reducing local interference and may give you steadier throughput compared with older Wi-Fi generations.
If your router does not support it, this box still works on legacy networks, but without the same stability. Or you could opt for the gigabit LAN port.
The small-factor gadget also has Bluetooth for pairing audio peripherals. But remember, the technology introduces compression and latency. If you plan serious gaming or mission-critical streaming, stick with your wired Ethernet and wired audio.
5. Cloud gaming and included controller
PLEIO bundles Netgem’s cloud gaming and ships with a gamepad. The service offers casual arcade titles and a catalog of cloud-playable games. These are not AAA console exclusives, but there are several hundred titles available, included as part of a subscription tier.
The user experience for cloud gaming depends on network stability more than raw device power. With wired Ethernet, low-latency controller pairing, and a stable ISP, you’ll get a satisfying experience for many cloud titles.
6. PLEIO TV box storage, ports, and physical design
PLEIO is a compact box designed to hide behind a TV or sit on a shelf. This new gadget typically includes an HDMI 2.1 and a USB port for peripherals/drive access on some units. It also has an Ethernet and a USB-C, and a barrel power connector.
The box has an internal storage of 8GB and a 3GB RAM. You can sideload apps, keep many apps, files, or use large cached programs.
7. Remote control, UI, and accessibility features
The gadget ships with a dedicated remote that includes voice search (Google Assistant), quick app shortcuts and navigation controls. Voice on the remote works like other Google TV remotes. It is so quick to find content, control playback, and basic smart-home commands.
8. Google services, personalization, and tracking
The home screen will include Google-powered discovery and personalized recommendations. That means Netgem + Google will surface suggestions based on viewing history and account data.
If you’re privacy-conscious, disable ad personalization, activity controls, and watch-history settings. You can opt out of all these and still retain basic functionality.
Downsides and considerations of the PLEIO TV box
The gadget has these disadvantages:
- Sold-out: The first waves sold out quickly, and initial sales largely went through Amazon and ISP bundles. You have to wait for restocks or seek ISP bundles for availability.
- Subscription for extra services: While Freely’s core service is free, PLEIO costs £9.99/month for premium extras after the three-month trial.
- Passthrough complexities: Atmos passthrough is supported, but actual behavior depends on your TV and AVR’s eARC/HDMI negotiation. If you rely on complex AVR setups, test for lip-sync or downmix issues.
- Firmware parity: Android TV features roll out from Google and the OEM; Hence, some updates may arrive later on PLEIO than on flagship Google-branded devices.
How to get the PLEIO TV Box
If you missed the first run, don’t panic. Restocks have been reported and some ISPs are offering the puck as part of their router/broadband bundles. Here is where to purchase the gadget now:
- Official Netgem page: The manufacturer page lists registration and “where to buy” links; sign up there for restock or preorder notifications.
- Amazon UK: The first wave sold via Amazon; keep an eye on the product page and set alerts.
- Broadband ISPs and local partners: Some providers, such as Wightfibre, Connect Fibre, brsk, and others named in coverage, are bundling PLEIO with certain broadband plans or offering it with promotional deals.