Would you stream TV or stick to the tried and tested cable connection? With the growing availability of home Wi-Fi, it’s now possible to stream TV programs over the internet. You may use a smart TV or a device such as Xfinity Flex from Comcast.
You can watch all your favorite TV shows on a bigger screen and not on smaller devices like mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. Besides, streaming is the best substitute for cable or satellite TV. This article discusses Xfinity Flex in greater detail with the view of helping you understand what it is.
What is Xfinity Flex
Xfinity Flex is a 4k streaming device and service provided by Comcast to its Xfinity internet subscribers. Apart from the device, customers get access to various free TV, music, and movie app. It also provides the vast Xfinity on-demand library, numerous free channels, and paid streaming service providers such as HBO Max all in one place.
You can use Xfinity Flex to stream more than 10,000 movies and TV shows from numerous free and paid service providers. Its popularity stems from the fact that it is available free of charge. Unlike other streaming services that restrict the number of subscription services, Xfinity Flex gives you all the apps you need in one place.
Pros
- Available free of charge
- Streams in 4K UHD
- Enables voice search on apps
- Fast and easy to install
- Free peacock premium
Cons
- It may include lots of commercials
- Impossible adding or removing apps
- It doesn’t have a DVR
What Does Xfinity Flex Cost
You get Xfinity Flex free of charge if you’re already subscribed to Xfinity Internet. Subscribers get one box as part of their internet package. If you need more boxes, you have to pay $5 for each one of them. Each Xfinity Internet account can have a maximum of three boxes.
Once you connect the box to your TV, you can access free and paid streaming services. Charges for streaming services vary based on the service to which you’re subscribed. If you aren’t an Xfinity Internet subscriber, you must pay for the box and sign up for internet services.
Xfinity Flex Streaming Services and Apps
With Xfinity Flex, you get several free live TV channels such as Xumo, Tubi, Sky News, and ESPN3. Apart from that, several live TV and on-demand livestreaming services come as part of the application included in the Xfinity Flex service. You have to subscribe and make regular payments to the following services:
- HBO: HBO is an expensive option at a 14.99/month subscription fee. Before you can start making monthly payments, you’ll get a seven-day free trial. It has a complete catalog of movies, documentaries, and original series, making it possible to pick what you like the most. This is the go-to streaming service if you’re a fan of binge-worthy shows like The Wire, Silicon Valley, Game of Thrones, and Chernobyl.
- Amazon Prime Video: After a 30-day free trial, you’ll pay $12.99/month to stream content on Amazon Prime. It provides content such as movies, TV shows, in-theater releases, educational TV, and kids’ movies. However, you cannot access additional services like Starz and CBS All Access from Amazon Prime on Flex.
- Netflix: With an $8.99/month and above Netflix subscription, you have access to a library with numerous TV shows and movies. The costlier plans provide better picture quality and options for simultaneous streams. You can watch the latest movies, new TV shows, and classics all in one place, with popular offerings being You, Tiger King, Ozark, and Breaking Bad.
- Hulu: Hulu, the latest addition to Xfinity Flex, starts at $5.99/month. It provides access to content from across the world, including shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and Little Fires Everywhere.
- Showtime: Showtime is one of the few streaming services that do not require you to enter into a contract. At a flat rate of $12/month, you can watch popular titles like Shameless, Homeland, and Billions. Occasionally, the platform streams live boxing matches.
If TV isn’t your idea of having a good time, listen to lots of music on platforms like Pandora, Amazon Music, NPR One, and iHeartRadio. Unfortunately, fans of Sling TV cannot view it via Xfinity Flex. It will likely add more streaming services to cater to the needs of its customers.
Do you already have an Epix, Cinemax, HBO, Starz, and Showtime? You have to unsubscribe and sign up for the services via Comcast. Otherwise, you may not be able to use it on Xfinity Flex. For Netflix and Hulu, you can use your current credentials to access TV shows.
Xfinity Flex Features
The Xfinity Flex content service comes with several features, making it stand out from all the rest. Here is an outline of what you can expect:
- 4K HDR: If your internet speed is at least 25 Mbps, you can stream videos in 4K HDR. With Xfinity internet packages, you have to contend with speed caps. The least you can have is the Performance Internet plan starting at $39.99/month.
- Connectivity: Xfinity Flex allows you to connect to your TV using an HDMI cable. Additionally, there is a power cable for hooking the box to electricity. With the ethernet jack, you can connect it directly to your router instead or Wi-Fi.
- Voice Control: It has a voice-activated remote powered by two AA batteries. After pressing the microphone button, you can use the voice command to find movies or open specific streaming apps.
- Parental Controls: You can block content on the Xfinity Flex platform through simple steps. Select Settings, go to Parental Controls, and then TV Rating Locks. Lastly, select TV-MA. You can only open the app after entering a PIN.
- DVR: Xfinity Flex has DVR cloud storage for preserving shows and watching later. If you upgrade to Xfinity X1, you’ll get 500GB cloud DVR storage. Its combined TV/internet package costs at least $69.99/month. Additional live TV offers include TNT, NFL, NBC, FOX, and CNN.
Conclusion
So, can you subscribe to Xfinity Flex? It is an unavoidable option for those looking for Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire alternatives. The only condition is that you must be a paying Xfinity internet customer. Premium streaming services do not come cheap and require a monthly subscription. With so many apps to offer, Xfinity Flex provides everything you’ll ever need to watch. If you want DVR storage, consider an Xfinity X1 upgrade.