The Google Chromecast has long been one of the best hardware solutions for streaming movies and shows on the TV. With the category’s constant evolution, though, it’s probably high time the Chromecast got a much needed refresh. Turns out, the outfit was planning to replace it entirely with the Google TV Streamer.
Instead of a simple dongle, the new device is a full-fledged set top box designed to slot into your media console setup. With its bigger size, it’s able to fit better hardware, allowing it to deliver faster load times, smoother navigation, and overall improved performance over the Chromecast of old, all while delivering new features not previously available from Google’s streaming devices.
The Google TV Streamer is a set top box designed housed in a slim, sloped enclosure designed to minimize its profile. This compact size should allow it to slot into your media setup easily, so you can put in front of your big screen TV, under it, or somewhere in the vicinity without creating any sort of distraction. The new set top box form factor also allows it to pack upgraded hardware compared to the last-gen Chromecast, including a faster CPU (22 percent performance improvement), more RAM (4GB over 2GB), and a larger storage (32GB over 8GB) for downloading a crapload of apps. Yes, that doesn’t sound all that much, either, but it’s a definite upgrade from the paltry specs of the previous device.
It can stream video up to 4K at 60 fps, with support for HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, while also offering spatial audio, but only when paired with Google Pixel Buds. You can connect to the network wirelessly over Wi-Fi, although it also has Ethernet port if you want an even more stable connection.
The Google TV Streamer comes with a minimalist remote that has a large rocker wheel on top and a few select buttons, including a customizable one that can be set to perform any custom action of your liking (e.g. launch your favorite app or bring up a specific interface). It also has a built-in mic that you can use to communicate with Google Assistant. That voice assistant, by the way, isn’t the only AI running on this thing, as it gets full access to the outfit’s Gemini AI, which the system uses to create custom recommendations based on the content you enjoy, complete with summaries and breakdowns to give you a better idea whether you might like a particular program or not.
Aside from creating a more complete entertainment experience for the viewer, the device also comes with support for Matter, so it should be compatible with a whole lot of newer smart home products. There’s also a built-in Thread border router, which should allow it to communicate directly with other Thread-compatible devices. Yes, it may be a big deal now, but it definitely futureproofs your set top box for the eventual deluge of Thread-enabled smart home gadgets.
The Google TV Streamer is now available for preorder. It comes out September 24th, priced at $99.99.
