Following over a decade of service, Google is dropping the Chromecast in favor of the new Google TV Streamer. It makes sense as Google’s bespoke TV interface faces more competition against some of the best streaming devices from Roku, Apple, and Fire TV.
Beyond its name change, what are the major upgrades that make the Google TV Streamer stand out against its long-lived ancestor in the Google Chromecast? AI is at the forefront of most innovations these days, and the new $99 Google TV Streamer is no different, plus a refreshed redesign gives it a slight edge (literally) against the competition.
Fans of the beloved Chromecast don’t have to fret, as Google did confirm it will continue to support those existing devices with security and software updates, though for how long exactly isn’t clear. That being said, let’s take a peek at all the things the Google TV Streamer now does and if an upgrade might be worth it.
Design
Google is taking a similar approach with its TV Streamer to that of the Roku Ultra or Fire TV Cube in dropping the dongle design for a small set-top box chic. It comes in a slanted form that looks almost like a Wi-Fi router and will be available in Porcelain and Hazel, the latter of which will only be available in the U.S.
The remote is also getting a full redesign, which will be felt most prominently in the change in button layout as well in a new textured back for further ergonomics and comfort. The back and home buttons are now found directly next to each other below the d-pad with all of the audio buttons situated below them (and volume control is now on the face of the remote as opposed to the side).
Design-wise, it looks quite functional and is seemingly easy to slot in most places near your TV without hassle, unlike other bulkier options. Interestingly, the Google TV Streamer sports an HDMI 2.1a port despite being limited to just 4K 60Hz, which means that modern consoles or even the best gaming PCs won’t gain access to ALLM or VRR, as well as eARC for wider audio support.
The Google TV Streamer will also be one of the first among Google's streaming devices to use an Ethernet port, which also leverages Wi-Fi 5. Rounding out its I/O is a USB-C port for power and it will come equipped with Bluetooth 5.1, making it easy to pair with some of the best wireless earbuds.
Improved performance
With 32GB of memory, the Google TV Streamer has four times the storage of the Chromecast, which should be more than enough space for loads of apps and extra content. It pales in comparison to the Apple TV 4K, which has 128GB, though.
And if the internal storage capacity wasn't enough, Google's also fitted its new TV Streamer with 4GB of RAM. While it might not sound like a lot on paper, that's already double that of the Chromecast with Google TV 4K and well over that of the original Chromecast's 512MB.
Google claims its new streaming device will be 22% faster through its upgraded processor, which should do well in quelling concerns surrounding previous Chromecast devices and their sluggish performance. It hasn't yet detailed what kind of chip the TV Streamer uses or who provides it, but its improved nature should give legacy Chromecast users a sigh of relief.
Where previous iterations leverages the Amlogic chipset, Android Authority claims the new device will be powered by a MediaTek MT8696 processor, gifting the streaming device similar support functionality as seen on its previous designs, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. A similar chip can be found inside the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, among the best streaming devices, making it a worthwhile pick for Google's newest product.
Gemini and AI
Google Gemini gives the TV Streamer some legs thanks to its suite of AI integrations, which come in the form of custom recommendations that follow your watching habits. Gemini can also parse down a variety of information on shows, including reviews and synopsis, as well as even full season-by-season breakdowns so you never have to get roped into re-watching every episode ahead of the next release.
Following in line with similar offerings such as the Roku Pro Series TV's Backdrops mode and Fire TV's own Ambient Experience, the Google TV Streamer can also blend seamlessly into its surroundings with beautiful, user-led AI generated art. Of course, you could always opt to use pictures in your Google Photos library, but then how would you be able to create a unique coloring book for a screensaver?
Although not a part of Google's Gemini integration, the TV Streamer can also help you find the remote if you ever lose it in the couch via Google Assistant and a dedicated Find My Remote button on the rear of the Google TV Streamer.
Smart home integrations
It comes as no surprise, given how your smart TV is fast becoming the center of your smart home, that a slew of these features would find their way onto the Google TV Streamer. Google's newest streaming box will not only come Matter-ready but will also have a built-in Thread border router that should make it far easier to communicate with devices across your home.
And that's not all, as it will also come with smart home panel akin to that in the Google Pixel Tablet, giving you a slew of control over all your connected devices, including smart thermostats, video doorbells, home security cameras, and more. You'll also find its doorbell notifications quite handy in the midst of those summer get-togethers, which even give you real-time feeds of your front door directly on the connected TV.
Will the Google TV Streamer become one of the best smart home hubs? It's a bit too early to tell, but extras like motion sensors and smoke alarms could make it quite the all-around smart home device.
Should you upgrade to the Google TV Streamer?
Compared to its Chromecast forebears, the Google TV Streamer is looking like quite the upgrade. Will the much cheaper Chromecast be missed? I'm sure there are loads of fans out there, but with nearly a decade of service in its wake and little else to offer in the face of the ever-rising Google TV name, it's safe to say Chromecast is long overdue its makeover.
And what a makeover it is at just $99, gifting you everything from AI-bred art as screensavers, control over your entire smart home ecosystem, and access to a wide swath of some of the best streaming services with little friction to boot.
Stay tuned for our full review to see how the Google TV Streamer stacks up against some of its toughest competitors.
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