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TiVo Bolt+ is a boost in storage and tuners, but sheds over-the-air option

The black box is back -- but smaller, faster and with 4K support.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Joshua Goldman
2 min read
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TiVo

TiVo's Bolt+ might be the shock your home entertainment system has needed.

Just about a year ago, TiVo introduced the Bolt, a single smaller, speedier box for watching and recording cable or over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts, as well as streaming over-the-top (OTT) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube and more.

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But for those in need of an expansive multiroom solution, the Bolt came up short in tuners -- it has just four -- and storage maxed out at 1TB, enough for about 150 hours of HD content. The Bolt+, on the other hand, has six tuners, so adding a TiVo Mini extender or two (each of which uses one of the Bolt's tuners for streaming live TV) still leaves you extra tuners for recordings. And with 3TB of storage you can record up to 450 hours of HD programming.

Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of being able to watch and record OTA broadcasts. Otherwise, the Bolt+ gets all of the Bolt's performance and feature enhancements, including SkipMode for blowing past commercial breaks with a single button press, in- and out-of-home streaming of your recordings, and 4K support for Netflix and YouTube.

Also, TiVo would really like to remind you the Bolt+ (and the cable/OTA Bolt for that matter) support Plex, just in case you had it in your head that an HDHomeRun would be a better option.

The TiVo Bolt+ costs $500, not including the monthly service fee. It will be available on September 15 through TiVo's site, Amazon, Magnolia stores and custom install dealers across the US.