By akademiotoelektronik, 21/01/2023

Freebox Delta: We tested the new Free box that is very expensive

7.5/10

Freebox Delta

49,99€On aimeOn n’aime pasVerdict :

Subject to the wildest rumors, the Freebox Delta was the most anticipated box in the past three years.Was the wait worth it?The answer is very clearly mixed.The device has undeniable qualities, such as its NAS server, its environment for the Player part, its possibilities in terms of home automation ... But despite very good ideas, the Freebox Delta is a product "in the making" because there is stilla lot to review.Especially that at this price, we could hope for an exemplary product.

The new Freebox Delta being intended to take advantage of many updates, we will probably have to change this test, both in the editorial and the graded note.

With its new Internet box, Free has decided to hit a big blow, both in terms of the material components used, as well as that of software functionalities.The Freebox Delta is undoubtedly possible the most powerful internet box on the market at present, while offering a string of services that we do not find elsewhere.But is that however the most interesting financial box speaking and what can we expect, she who has suffered from a bad reputation since its release because of a substantial number of bugs?We have tested the device from every angle and give you our conclusions.So, do we fall for the new freebox delta?

1-Yes for the server modem

First of all, it should be remembered that the Freebox Delta actually consists of two devices: the server on the one hand, and the multimedia player on the other hand, which was designed in partnership with Devialet.The two devices are quite heavy, especially because one hides six speakers, and the other can accommodate up to four 2.5 ″ discs (SSD or hard drives, you choose).Let us first be interested in the server, which brings real innovations.

At the rear on the sides of the Delta, there are 4 ethernet ports at 1 gigabit, 2 USB-C ports, one of which allows to connect the freeplug, 1 USB 3 port.0, as well as a real good big novelty: a port in 10 gigabit.It is therefore possible to significantly boost transfers between the box and the other equipment of the house, provided you have all the appropriate equipment.And it is therefore possible to reach a flow of more than 8 Gb/s (and not 10 GB/s, as one might think), provided of course to be eligible for free optical fiber.Note that we have not yet been able to test the news on a fibrated line, and that our tests were carried out on an ADSL line with an downward speed of 18 Mb/s.

The installation of discs is carried out in the simplest way there is: a small valve on the back of the device allows access to its entrails, and to quickly insert storage units there.There is nothing to screw / unscrew, everything is done in a handful of seconds, as on a latest generation NAS.By the way, the opening makes it possible to observe the "heart" of the beast: its Snapdragon 835, the same which recently equipped our high -end smartphones, its 2 GB of RAM and its 32 GB of flash memory.Admittedly, we can discuss the fact that the 835 is a two -year processor already, and that Free could have made the effort to opt for a Snapdragon 845 (the 855 not yet released at the time of the finalizationDelta).But the difference in power between the two models would not have brought much for such a device, which is also not intended to perform heavy tasks in calculations.

Free, SFR, Orange, Bouygues, who has the best box?

Finally, the server is Freebox Delta is a little technological gem, which reacts a quarter turn and which above all, does not plant as much as you might think.Let us insist on the fact that we mention here the server part of the box.To the player, this is another story, as we will see.Let us bring two downsides, however, to this very positive assessment.The first concerns the front control of the server.This one does not always react very well, and you have to take it 2 or 3 times before it complies.A detail.The other is more problematic and more technological: the 4G aggregation announced by Free is far from being the Panacea announced.Recall that this technology in theory allows to coupled both the classic web connection in XDSL and 4G.One does not replace the other when the latter is deficient, but the two work in concert in order to offer a more substantial and descending speed more substantial.Free announces a flow rate of up to 200 Mb/s, enough to offer a speed similar to that of a (small) fiber connection.But the disappointments rain on the web as to this technology: random operation, connection losses, limitation to 250 GB/month, poor flows, impossibility of receiving TV through this ... For our part, we never succeeded in ourselvesConnect to 4G throughout our test period.No luck ... it's a shame, but we will not fail to test this feature from another access point as soon as possible.

2 - Yes for its control interface

The Delta administration interface is similar to that of Revolution.For those who do not know it, remember that this environment makes it possible to control the entire box, and that it adopts the form of a mini operating system, similar to what can be found on aNAS for example.There are diagnostic tools (temperature of discs, motherboard, internet condition, flow curves, etc..), a file manager, a port manager (Switch function), etc..We also take advantage of a very good parental control module, which allows you to manage time slots and the type of authorized connection.

There are also some additional options compared to the Freebox Revolution: the record manager allows the four supports to be administered and mounting them in RAID 0, 1, 5 or 10.In our test configuration, we opted for a raid 5 assembly and there too, the operation was carried out with disconcerting ease, so that even the least seasoned can quickly set up the NAS of the device.

3 - Yes and no to the Devialet Player

Now let's talk about the other device delivered with the Freebox Delta: the Devialet Player.The device is delivered with two remote controls: the first is rather classic with its control keys, while the second has a touch surface.

On the hardware side, we have noted (and we are not the only ones) a small design defect in the USB-C connection, which allows you to connect the freeplug and feed the device.The one tends to unplug at the slightest jolts and therefore extinguish the box.

The Devialet reader reload the remote control by induction.In theory, it is possible to recharge other devices, such as a phone ... We have tested this feature using an iPhone X and a Galaxy S9+: out of the twenty successive trials that we have carried out,The operation only worked ... only one once.

The audio part of the device, entrusted to Devialet therefore, theoretically allows you to free itself from an audio kit.As mentioned above, there are 6 speakers inside, which explain the Bewelling of the Player.The sound that comes out is really good, but at 480 € per device, we were entitled to expect more.We compared it with a "real" audio kit formed, among other things, an RX-A830 amplifier from Yamaha directly connected to the device and have perceived a small difference, especially at the levels of the bass, in favor of the kit.

Good point on the other hand for the software part: the interface is really very clean and we can easily find ourselves when it is a question of accessing the TV (do not forget to create a shortcut on the home screen), to program a recording, to launch an application, etc..The player also acts as a multimedia player and can play files in 4K HDR.The software used to read videos has recognized almost all of the formats that we have imposed on it.Note that we have known a few concerns: the sound launched, but not the image.Fortunately, it was isolated cases and a simple interruption of the program and a new launch made it possible to watch the video properly.

4 - Yes and no for home automation and the two assistants

One of the other novelties of the Delta concerns its two vocal assistants: that of the Freebox on one side, and Alexa on the other.Yes, it is now possible to speak to the Free Internet box and ask it to launch a program or an application, even to control certain home devices, etc..The two modules work pretty well, even if it is undeniable that that of Amazon is getting much better than that of Free in terms of functionalities.Alexa's skills are indeed a huge advantage.The choice on the part of Free to have integrated two assistants rather than one remains a great mystery.Although free recognition makes it possible to launch most of the commands (turn on the TV, turn it off, change the channel, lower the sound, put on pause, start a recording ...), we would have preferred not to juggle between "Ok freebox "and" alexa "to launch this or that order.

It should also be noted that the new free box is also very oriented home automation, since the operator also offers an optional security pack, which consists of a remote control, an opening detector, a cameraof safety and a movement detector.All for 59 €.The device is also compatible with Somfy and Philips Hue equipment and allows you to manage them either using the Vocal Assistant Freebox, or via a dedicated application (Free announces that other brands will also be compatible).Our test house being equipped with Somfy blinds in all rooms, we hastened to test this feature.The recognition and configuration of each roller shutter has been rather simple: a small application allows you to add as many blinds as you want, and then control their opening and closing.Their control must however be carried out individually.Impossible to close all the components of the house at once via the application, this does not work.The vocal assistant also posed a problem for us.If we were able to ask the Freebox to open or close the living room shutter (the first room we have configured), it has constantly stubborn as soon as we asked him to do the same with theStores of other parts.Clearly, it was not possible for us to orally control more than one electric shutter.

5 - No, because the price is really too high

With this new Internet box, Free clearly goes upmarket.The operator, who has established all its reputation by breaking the prices of its ADSL and mobile packages, has increased its price range well.Where the Freebox Mini 4K is sold € 34.99/month (and even € 14.99/month the first year), the Freebox Delta is worth € 49.99/month, without even offering a preferential offer perfirst year.And you also have to add € 480 to obtain the Devialet player, payable cash or in 48 monthly payments of € 10 each.There too, this is a great first for free: it is imperative to "buy" the player.Impossible to rent it and return it at the end of the contract.

In short, the Freebox Delta is currently the highest internet offer dedicated to the general public, all access providers combined.If there are packages at more than € 50/month (at SFR, for example, with the premium THD formula at € 56), it is never a question of having to add the price of a reader to 480€ €.So certainly, since the presentation of its box last December, Free has seen its copy and offers today a “Delta S” formula: for € 39.99/month, we take advantage of the server that couple XDSL+4G,10g fiber, location intended to accommodate 4 hard drives, etc..And we are not forced to add the 480 € of the Devialet reader ... since there are none!Because in this formula, we must abandon all hope of enjoying TV, as soon as it is a simple internet + telephony package.And therefore, we cannot take advantage of the free subscription to Netflix.One wonders who this lightened version of the Freebox Delta S can be addressed.Like the very short freebox Delta, will say the worst languages ...

A big thank you to our collaborator Seb, without whom this test would not have been possible 😉