My Xfinity X1 DVR Review 2026: A User-Friendly DVR With Cost Tradeoffs

Currently, new Xfinity customers can get the X1 TV box included with their plan. However, for existing customers, Xfinity typically charges an equipment rental fee for each X1 DVR cable box and voice-control remote pair. This fee is charged in addition to your base TV plan.

Costs for each Xfinity X1 box seem to vary, with multiple existing users reporting a fee of $8.50/mo per box. Personally, I was billed $12.00/mo up until January 2026, when my fee unexpectedly rose to $14.00/mo (with no explanation and no warning).

Your bill will also reflect your cloud DVR storage. New customers get 150 hours included, or 300 hours, billed at $10/mo. You can also upgrade your remote from within the DVR management area.

If you’re tech savvy, you can pay $39.99 for a self-installation kit.

Below is a screenshot of my Xfinity bill. You can see that fees are a little different for existing customers. I pay the following additional monthly fees on top of my TV plan:

• $27.30 for a broadcast TV fee
• $24 for two TV boxes and remotes, at $12 each

The biggest differences between Xfinity X1 cable box and other cable box/DVR solutions are:

• Storage capacity
• Simultaneous recording
• Pricing models

X1 uses a cloud-based DVR that typically includes generous hour allotments (150 to 300 hours available) and supports multiple recordings, but it doesn’t match the massive on-device storage of some other DVR services without additional fees.

Satellite DVRs such as DISH’s Hopper 3, offer hundreds to thousands of hours of storage and many more simultaneous recordings in a single device, while DIRECTV’s Genie/Gemini Air options also provide generous DVR capacities and multi-room recording functionality.

Cable and fiber competitors, such as Cox and Verizon Fios, also offer DVRs with varying storage and tuner counts.

Even YouTube TV includes unlimited DVR, so while X1’s pricing is competitive in terms of interface experience, it lacks when it comes to raw DVR storage and recording headroom.

The Xfinity X1 platform features a user-friendly interface that features a unified on-screen guide that blends together live TV, cloud-based DVR recordings, and streaming apps. The menus are fairly intuitive and the platform integrates recordings, apps, and content discovery in a single interface. This makes it easy to find a show, whether it’s on on demand, Netflix, or upcoming on a live TV channel.

The Xfinity X1 voice remote complements the user experience with its conversational search and control features. Though it’s important to note that some users have reported that their systems sometimes feel “sluggish” and lag, so your experience may vary depending upon your location and connection.

Xfinity X1 makes it easy to switch between live TV and streaming apps. Simply hit the  “Xfinity” button and it lets you pick between menus:

• Guide
• Saved
• On Demand
• Search
• Apps

The latter is where you’ll find a wide array of apps, from Netflix, Peacock, and Disney+, to Hulu, AMC+, Prime Video, YouTube, and countless others.

In practice, the Xfinity X1 voice remote feels light years ahead of the remotes of the early 2000s. You can easily navigate the X1 platform’s menus and content without typing or button cycling.

But the best part? You can speak commands into the remote instead of entering text manually.  And there’s no need to memorize rigid commands because the X1 remote’s voice function supports natural language search for shows and channels.

The X1 remote also includes Aim Anywhere RF technology. Cue the angelic sounds because you don’t need to point it directly at the box for it to work. Just hit the buttons and point it at the floor if you want. It’ll still work!

X1 voice remotes also include features such as 5-minute skip and accessibility support.

Here’s a look at a few of the most popular features:

• 5-minute skip: This lets you jump ahead or backward in 5 min increments during live TV or during DVR playback.
• Aim Anywhere functionality: The Xfinity X1 remote uses radio frequency (RF) instead of infrared technology, so the remote doesn’t require a direct line of sight to the cable box. Aim anywhere! It still works!
• Natural language search: Use the voice feature on the remote and speak in normal, conversational queries such as, “I want to watch Good Morning, America,” or “Show me romantic comedies.” You can search across live TV, on demand content, and even in apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Peacock.
• App launching: Speak into the remote to launch an app or show within one of the supported apps.
• Accessibility commands: The X1 voice remote lets you activate accessibility features such as closed captioning, audio descriptions, and voice guidance without the need to navigate menus.