The All-time DVRs for Cable TV and OTA 2022

We don't like wasting time, and then nosotros compared the best DVRs from TV providers and tertiary parties for the well-nigh efficient use of lazy-fourth dimension possible

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Yous're probably looking for the best DVR and so yous tin tape all of your Kansas City Chiefs games or cooking and baking shows on Food Network.

We establish a few DVRs that could satisfy your DVR storage needs, including smooth features that make it easy to admission your recordings. Of course, in that location's pricing and the fact that not every DVR is perfect, simply nosotros've focused on DVRs that are worth your time.

Let's get into the details of our 5 favorite DVRs.

The all-time DVR for cable Goggle box is the TiVo Bolt VOX

What we like near the TiVo Bolt Vocalism

The Bolt Phonation is a cable DVR and streaming device in one, and information technology's no shock the original DVR champion reigns supreme.

This DVR lets y'all record upward to 150 HD hours of Tv set shows and movies. That means yous tin tape 30 episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 10 episodes of Paw Patrol, and about threescore movies.

And with 4K Ultra resolution, you can stream your Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. If you're similar me, y'all like your marathon-watching weeknights after work.

A cool feature the TiVo Bolt has is SkipMode. Who doesn't love skipping commercials about cat litter or the next cool car that'south supposed to get you "the daughter"?

Other DVRs may have fast-forwarding, simply y'all cease upwardly missing the beginning of the scene, rewinding, and then fast-forwarding...yeah, it gets tedious.

QuickMode is great because you can breeze through a testify 30% faster with sound at regular pitch. If you spaced out during dialogue or a plot explanation, you tin quickly back up and take hold of it without re-watching the whole thing at regular speed. Plus, no helium voices!

And lastly, the fluid interface uses OneSearch. So, if y'all want to sentinel Deadpool or Star Wars: Rogue One but aren't sure which service it's available from, you won't have to jump between apps.

What nosotros can't similar well-nigh the TiVo Bolt VOX

Most a yr ago, nosotros didn't like the TiVo Commodities's extra fees for the DVR service. But now, they include the DVR service with the DVR itself.

So when you pay that $330 for the TiVo Bolt VOX (or half-dozen payments of $55), you take DVR service for life.

No need to pay monthly or yearly fees! So honestly, we don't take

Who should get the TiVo Bolt Vocalization?

The TiVo Commodities Vox is for those who want a DVR with lots of storage space without paying for a cable or satellite TV beak or your cablevision provider'south set-superlative box and DVR fees.

If you don't want to fuss with your equipment, and if you want something that works and will concord its value, this is definitely the mode to go.

The best Boob tube provider'south DVR is the DISH Hopper 3

What nosotros similar well-nigh the DISH Hopper 3

DISH Hopper

pro half-dozen tuners

pro Voice remote

pro 500 hrs. of HD storage

The Hopper Duo is only $five per month, but paying $10 per month for the Hopper 3 might exist worth information technology for yous if y'all'd rather accept 3x the storage space.

The Hopper Duo can record 125 hours of programming and record two shows at once, simply the Hopper 3 boasts 500 hours of storage, records up to 16 streams, and tin can connect all of your TVs from the main unit. That's the biggest storage space of amid all cablevision and satellite Television services.

It'southward a ridiculous amount perfect for rampage-watching shows like Sabbatum Night Alive, The Kitchen, and Prepare My Flip.

If you lot're looking for Over-the-Air recording (free broadcast signals that can be picked up by antennas), you lot volition need a split USB antenna. Only other than that, the Hopper 3 is good to go. It will even send signals to your Joey units (additional receivers), so the whole domicile is hooked upwards.

What really makes the Hopper leap(!) out is its special features: AutoHop, voice control, and remote finder. AutoHop skips commercials with a single button, no guesswork needed. The vocalisation control remote means you don't have to select and blazon private messages into your search, while the remote finder is a lifesaver for anyone who has spent more time looking for the remote than watching their show.

The Hopper iii is Bluetooth compatible with headphones and other devices, which is overnice if y'all want to watch Telly privately. That way, if others are asleep or studying, you tin can still catch up on your shows.

What we can't like about the DISH Hopper three

It'south hard to say anything negative about the Hopper 3, since it has merely about everything that we demand from a DVR. Peradventure because information technology'south the current gold standard, we don't accept much to complain about—except that nosotros wish it was admittedly free.

Who should become the DISH Hopper 3?

If you're looking for a new service with a great DVR, the DISH Hopper iii tin be a great option.

If you already have DISH, you might as well stick with or upgrade to the Hopper 3 instead of getting the TiVo Bolt VOX. If you'd like extra storage infinite, just add an external difficult bulldoze.

The all-time DVR for sports is the DIRECTV Genie

What we like about the DIRECTV Genie

Sports fans love DVRs. Who is always sitting on their couch the exact 2d of tip-off?

We similar to suspension the game to take hold of snacks or use the bathroom, merely DVRs are as well great when life interrupts your flow and you need to assistance someone in with the groceries or drop the kids off at exercise.

If you're coming home late from work or just want to avoid ads, you can start recording, give yourself 5–10 minutes of prep-time, striking play, and watch the game "live" with all the conveniences of playback command.

Most DVRs lets you set up a DVR recording from your mobile app, and DIRECTV isn't any different. With the DIRECTV Genie, you can also interruption and rewind live HDTV for upward to ninety minutes. So even if you forgot to set the recording earlier you went to work, you can however catch up. Instant replay goes six seconds dorsum, and so you don't have to wait for the highlight reel, either. You've got a xxx-2d fast-forward push button that cuts past ads, boring halftime shows, and scoreless runs.

You can record up to five programs at one time with the Genie, so you can record an NBA game, MLB game, a film, and two TV shows all at once.

DIRECTV Genie

pro NFL SUNDAY TICKET

pro ninety-minute rewind

pro 200 hrs. of HD storage

What we tin't like near the DIRECTV Genie

The Genie doesn't have as much storage as the Hopper iii, but it still beats out most other DVRs. More chiefly, it'due south enough for the vast majority of us.

Another minor complaint is the included remote control isn't equipped for voice recognition. While you tin can use a device like your phone or tablet, we'd prefer the dedicated unit to take this feature. That mode, nosotros can use our spare device to wait up other things, like player or game stats—or pizza delivery services near u.s.a..

But DIRECTV's remote does have user-friendly buttons. Press "R" to record a bear witness, fast frontwards and astern 30 seconds with the accelerate buttons, and skip back half-dozen seconds if you didn't take hold of that groovy Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes connection.

Who should get the DIRECTV Genie?

Whatever of the DVRs on our listing could work for sports, sure, only if yous're a football fan, DIRECTV is the only provider of NFL Sunday TICKET.

On top of that, the Genie gives you real-time scores of major games with the printing of a single push. We recommend the Genie for a lot of uses, just it excels at sports.

The runner-up cable DVR is the Xfinity X1 Cloud DVR

What we like well-nigh the Xfinity X1

X1 DVR

pro Phonation remote

pro Cloud storage

pro Tons of costless on-demand titles

A few things we like nearly the X1: nosotros tin pull up NBA games hands, we tin can observe more than movies from actors we like, and we can stream from our favorite services.

With your voice remote, you lot tin say commands like "Turn on NBA Boob tube" and the X1 volition grant yous your wish. Plus, the X1 guide gives you player and team stats, and so your sports experience is even more fluid.

To observe more movies from Margot Robbie, just hover over a Margot Robbie moving-picture show in the guide, then click info. Here you'll notice Series and Motion-picture show Info to find more information about the actors. Then you tin even ready up recordings based on your favorite actors or directors!

Simply of course, the DVR is what nosotros're interested in. The X1 lets y'all record 60 HD or 300 SD hours. That's not a lot compared to the Hopper 3 or Genie, simply if y'all don't want satellite Television set, then Xfinity is the best cablevision TV option.

Xfinity's X1 is really a deject DVR, which substantially means y'all can sentry your recordings on whatsoever device. You and your family unit can also record half-dozen shows at once.

You lot can stream from Peacock, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and YouTube, too as savor music from Pandora, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

What we tin't like about the Xfinity X1 Cloud DVR

Unfortunately, Xfinity'south X1 DVR comes with a few fees.

Each Boob tube box is $7.50 per month, and DVR storage service starts at $10.00 a calendar month for 150 hours and $xx a month for 300 hours.

And so, on superlative of your monthly Xfinity packet nib, you could be looking at at least a $17.50 bill for the X1 feel. This isn't likewise bad, just your pricing can rack upwards if your kids wants a set-top box in their bedrooms and if you lot'd rather take 300 DVR storage hours instead of 150.

Who should get the X1 Deject DVR?

If you're subscribed to Xfinity, we don't see whatsoever major reason to switch to a unlike DVR.

If you lot're not subscribed, so nosotros must say Xfinity is our summit cable TV choice.

While more storage and special features would be nice, the X1'southward ease of apply and mobile abilities have been beneficial. All the same, if you're not looking to sign up for internet too, we'd advise looking at another DVR considering the functionality is severely reduced when you're not connected to the cyberspace.

If y'all want more details, bank check out our X1 DVR Review.

The best OTA DVR is the Mediasonic Homeworx

What we like virtually the Mediasonic Homeworx

The Mediasonic Homeworx is a converter box that acts as an OTA DVR when y'all adhere your external antenna and a USB hard drive to watch your recorded live TV channels in 1080p definition. Consumers have said the OTA signal can internet yous about 100–120 channels when they connected their HD antenna to the Homeworx device.

With the Homeworx, yous can store equally many hours equally your USB hard drive allows you (yes, you'll have to connect one to this DVR). Then you tin record Mod Family, NFL games, and Mickey Mouse Funhouse.

What can I spotter over the air?

In our area, we found OTA networks like CW, PBS, PBS Kids, and then a handful of movie and shopping channels. A lot of people will discover value in beingness able to tap into news networks and local sports. Couple that with the big four (NBC, CBS, ABC, and Play tricks), and you lot'll have a decent library of channels.

What we can't like about the Mediasonic Homeworx

Yous get what y'all pay for with this $27 OTA DVR device.

If you're looking to record movies to store in your DVR for months, you're going to need a USB hard drive. If yous'd like to tape more one show at once, yous'd be better off with the TiVo Bolt VOX. Yous'll besides need a reliable internet connection, so make sure to check our list of fastest internet providers.

Who should get the Mediasonic Homeworx?

While nosotros prefer better DVR features, the Homeworx is a great solution for people who aren't sure they want to beat out out the cash for a TiVo Commodities VOX or DISH Hopper 3, but want more than than just a Netflix or Hulu subscription.

What makes a good DVR?

Everyone wants decent storage space

Capacity is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB)—and more is always ameliorate. 500 GB seems to exist a good starting indicate for storage, but recollect that the ratio of storage compared to recording hours isn't the same beyond brands. If you run into storage bug, most DVRs have an eSATA port for an external difficult drive.

Always go off of specified hours, even though those are merely estimates by the company and will vary based on programming.

A DVR with user-friendly recording features makes life easier

Recording is pretty universal across DVRs: either choose a single episode or select an entire series to record. This ways you lot won't have to fix your DVR every single week to keep up with Pardon the Interruption or The Voice—just once.

Some DVRs even automatically record recommendations based on your viewing. The DISH Hopper 3 automatically records primetime television. While this may appear helpful, it may have upwardly a good chunk of storage without you realizing it.

Some DVRs expand your storage with cloud storage or an external difficult drive, so proceed that in mind as well when making your conclusion.

The number of shows you can record at in one case matters with big families

Make sure the number of recordings and watching streams covers your needs considering if yous have 5 people in your firm and merely four streams, someone is going to have to compromise.

With the DISH Hopper 3, yous tin become upwards to sixteen recordings going at one time (which is ridiculous). When you utilise additional units like the Joey, Genie Mini, or TiVo Mini, you're increasing the number of individual streams to TVs, but rarely (if ever) do these devices add together storage.

Nosotros want to exist able to intermission, fast-forward, and skip

While pausing and rewinding are standard, fast-forwarding is a little less mutual because of licensing agreements. Companies make money from ad revenue, and advertisers pay merely if they see results. Thus, Boob tube service providers concur to disable certain content from fast-forwarding.

That being said, nosotros absolutely love when fast-forwarding is bachelor. Meliorate even so, we love when nosotros can skip immediately to the end of a commercial. TiVo has SkipMode and DISH has AutoHop, both of which automatically get to the stop of a commercial and remove the guesswork on your end, preventing possible spoilers—or at least some frustration.

Recap: Which DVR is the best for you?

Some people might non want to fuss with a DVR, simply they don't know the power it holds. You lot can become the curator of a vast library of Television set, command fourth dimension with a remote (or even your voice), and instantly pull-up sport stats with a single button. Proceed in mind, y'all can practice all this on your burrow. Future's here, folks—it's time to get a DVR.

  • TiVo Bolt VOX: The Bolt gives you 150 hours of DVR storage, and although information technology looks pricey at $330, you'll never have to worry about paying monthly for a fix-height box or DVR service. Y'all'll be able to record TV shows and movies for the rest of your life with no strings fastened.
  • DISH Hopper 3: If you want the about storage a Telly service DVR can give you, get the Hopper 3. It's going to be difficult to fill up 500 hours of DVR storage, and information technology can besides be a blessing in disguise because your family will never take to fight over who can record what.
  • DIRECTV Genie: Perfect for sports fans considering of DIRECTV'southward NFL SUNDAY TICKET, the Genie comes in second for satellite TV. You can record all of your Dallas Cowboys games for the season and you'd still never fill the 200-hour DVR storage.
  • Xfinity X1: The X1 has some pretty cool features, like finding movies with actors we like, but the X1 comes with a few fees. Xfinity is the best cable Telly provider, merely you'll just accept to budget for the DVR service.
  • Mediasonic Homeworx: The Mediasonic Homeworx is an inexpensive one-time buy, but don't forget yous'll demand to provide your own antenna and external difficult drive to receive as many channels as you maybe can and record your favorite Tv series.

FAQs

What is a Cloud DVR?

A Cloud DVR's storage is based on a visitor'southward server, but it is accessible by users just well-nigh everywhere. Recollect of it as "off-site" storage for your DVR, which ways you tin can switch devices and keep your library.

Can I aggrandize my storage with a hard drive?

Virtually DVRs tin can expand their storage. Make sure it has a SATA port if you're planning on adding an external difficult drive.

What is OTA TV programming?

OTA is short for Over the Air. In many locations, you can receive gratis (Hard disk) programming—all you need is an antenna. It's a great way to relieve money and however keep upwards on the large networks, likewise as a few movie channels and family favorites similar PBS.

While Over the Air isn't perfect for everybody, fans of network TV and sports can find a lot to watch. The following DVRs on our list are OTA compatible: TiVo Bolt Vocalism, DISH Hopper 3, DIRECTV Genie, and Mediasonic Homeworx.

Chantel Buchi

Written by

Chantel Buchi

Chantel is all about finding the best tv or streaming service to watch as many football games as possible to continue her Fantasy Football team in check. Prior to being a Goggle box and Streaming Tech Reporter for Reviews.org, she worked for NFL Network and The Alliance of American Football. Before that, she received a B.A. of Communication at the Academy of Utah and an Chiliad.S. in Sports Journalism at USC. Go Utes and Fight On. Contact her at chantel@reviews.org

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