Sling Media Slingbox 500

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 8 expert reviews

Excellent:

0
Good:

5
Average:

2
Bad:

1

Pros:

IR blasters are built into the box's body.
Beautiful 1080p video streaming.
Finally works over Wi-Fi.

Cons:

At close to $300, it's fairly expensive.
Smartphone- and tablet-viewing apps cost extra.

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Last revision on May 20, 2020

Reviewers Liked

IR blasters are built into the box's body
Beautiful 1080p video streaming
Finally works over Wi-Fi
Includes plenty of cables in the box, including both HDMI and component video
Simplified setup
Slick design
Streams video from your TV or DVR (or any analog source) to your PC, tablet, smartphone, and some streaming boxes at resolutions up to full 1080p HD

Reviewers Didn't Like

At close to $300, it's fairly expensive
Smartphone- and tablet-viewing apps cost extra
It duplicates some of the features found on TV anywhere apps you may already be using
As always, streaming capabilities are only as good as your home bandwidth
SlingPlayer mobile apps all cost extra
Ties up the television to which the Slingbox is attached to
HDMI port is mostly useless thanks to encryption issues
Sluggish channel changes
Favorite channels don't sync between mobile and desktop
Several features not available at launch

Competitors and Related Products

Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets.

Expert reviews and ratings

Owners of Sling Media's top-of-the-line Slingbox 500 can now use their place-shifting set-top box to enjoy media from their smartphone on their HDTV. Sling Media activated the new feature, called SlingSync, via a firmware update to the Slingbox 500...

By Macworld on April 02, 2013

As noted, Slingbox works with the SlingPlayer app, available through a number of devices. At press time, Netgear's NeoTV, Sony's Internet Player with Google TV, and the WD TV Live streaming media servers (among others) support the SlingPlayer app, which...

By soundandvision.com on March 08, 2013

The Slingbox 500 is a streaming media device that streams video from your TV or DVR to your PC, smartphone or tablet at full 1080p HD resolution. It does this all without any monthly fees and without the need for annoying external IR blasters. One...

By TechReviewSource on January 03, 2013

While you'll pay a premium for its extra features, the Slingbox 500 is an excellent way to watch your TV or DVR video content...

By CNET Australia on December 22, 2012

While you'll pay a premium for its extra features, the Slingbox 500 is an excellent way to watch your TV or DVR video content...

By cnet on December 21, 2012

UPDATE, 12:00PM Friday, October 19: This review was changed to clarify the level of video quality over component cables, and the available streaming media types from a USB drive.When was the last time you watched live TV? Save for sports, most of us...

By Wired on October 18, 2012

The nicely updated Slingbox 500 remains the best way to watch cable TV channels and recorded content on the go from PCs and mobile devices, but the Slingbox concept is beginning to show its...

By PC Mag on October 12, 2012

The Slingbox 500 lets you watch high-def TV on the go in 1080p and features integrated Wi-Fi, but certain features aren't yet fully...

By LaptopMag on October 09, 2012

Sling Media has added features to its newest model -- the Slingbox 500 -- that make the device suitable for boardrooms, classrooms and other settings where some participants might be in a faraway place. Slingbox devices remotely control any cable or...

By CRN on June 20, 2014

Ever, since I got my first Slingbox Classic back in 2006 (right in time for the Football World Cup at that time), I was thrilled by Sling Media's easy-to-use place-shift technology which allowed to stream your linear home TV and recorded TV shows to a...

By The Unwired on June 24, 2013

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Sling Media Slingbox 500

Overview

Pros & Cons

Reviews

Price: $475

TechSpot Metascore

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewers Liked

Reviewers Didn't Like

Competitors and Related Products

Roku 3

Sling Media Slingbox Pro-HD

Amazon Fire TV

Google Nexus Player

Expert reviews and ratings