Google TV Streamer is the next big update to the Chromecast line

Until now, Google’s Chromecast line has largely focused on making it easy to watch shows and movies on your favorite big screen. But with the new Google TV Streamer, Google finally has a proper set-top box for watching content that also supports a much wider range of smart home controls.

Design: From Dongle to Wedge

Perhaps the biggest change to the Google TV Streamer is the move from a simple dongle that hangs from your TV to a completely standalone device that sits on your media console. Google says its wedge-shaped design is meant to blend in easily with your décor when you’re sitting in front of the TV, allowing for better reception from the included remote and other smart home devices (more on that later).

Google has also given the TV streamer a massive hardware upgrade over 2020’s Chromecast with Google TV, including a 22 percent faster processor, twice the RAM (4GB instead of 2GB), and four times the storage (32GB total). That might not sound like a lot, but considering the previous model often ran out of space to download basic streaming apps, it’s a much-needed improvement. Streaming resolution is limited to 4K/60fps, though you do get support for HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and surround sound (when paired with the Google Pixel Buds).

There’s also an HDMI 1.1 port, a powered USB-C port, and a dedicated Ethernet jack for those who want maximum bandwidth for streaming. Google has also made the remote longer, moving the volume knob to the top and adding a customizable button that can be set to launch your favorite app, switch inputs, or summon the new smart home control center. And as before, there’s a built-in microphone and a button for summoning the Google Assistant.

Smart home: Becoming the right hub for your devices

That brings me to the Google Streamer’s improved smart home capabilities. Not only does it support Matter, but it also has a built-in Thread border router to easily communicate with other devices in your home. Additionally, the TV Streamer gets its own version of the Google Home dashboard (which we’ve seen on previous Pixel phones and Nest Hubs), making it easier to adjust things like smart lights, as well as the ability to watch feeds from security cameras and video doorbells.

New AI features

Finally, it wouldn’t be a 2024 Google device without a few new AI features. With Gemini, the TV Streamer can make custom recommendations based on the type of content you’re watching, and generate recaps, reviews, and even seasonal roundups of things you haven’t watched yet. There’s also an Ambient TV mode that lets you download screensavers or Memories from your Google Photos library. But if you want something a little more unique, you can also use the AI ​​to generate something awesome. In the meantime, if you lose your remote, you can ask Google Assistant (not Gemini) to help you find it, or just press the dedicated button on the back of the box.

So while I didn’t have much of a chance to dig into its features, with the new TV Streamer, it finally seems like Google has a much more capable smart home hub that’s also a real rival to the Apple TV 4K and other Android-based boxes like the NVIDIA Shield TV. The Google TV Streamer is priced at $100 and is available for pre-order today, with official sales starting September 24. It’ll be available in two colors: porcelain white and walnut, the latter of which will be available exclusively on the Google Store.