What is Google TV Streamer and how is it different from Chromecast?

For over a decade, Google’s Chromecast has been faithfully turning old, dumb TVs into smart TVs, breathing new life into TVs that had passed their prime. From the Amazon Fire TV Stick to the Apple TV, Chromecast has faced stiff competition in a crowded market. It’s no surprise then that Google decided it was time for an upgrade, phasing out the Chromecast in favor of the sleeker, faster, AI-powered Google TV streamer.

The Google TV Streamer is more than just an entertainment device; it’s also a smart home hub, with a built-in Thread Border router and Matter support, allowing it to easily connect and communicate with smart devices throughout your home. Unlike the Chromecast, the Google TV Streamer isn’t an HDMI dongle that hangs behind your TV. Instead, it’s a sleek streaming box that sits next to it. In many ways, Google’s new streamer is more than just an upgrade to the Chromecast; it’s an entirely new, high-end device designed to change the way you interact with entertainment and your smart home environment.

What is Google TV Streamer?

With so many essential streaming services on the market, organizing your apps can be a challenge, even on the smartest TVs. Google knows this, and with the Google TV Streamer, it set out to make streaming and smart home management more intuitive. The device is Google’s next-generation 4K HDR streaming player with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for an enhanced viewing and listening experience. While it has impressive specs, including a 22% faster processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage, it also does the little things like help you find your lost remote with the Google Assistant-powered “find my remote” command.

By getting rid of the dongle design, Google has made its new streamer more like a traditional set-top box, like the Apple TV 4K or Roku Ultra. This design should improve Wi-Fi performance, since the set-top box won’t be placed behind your TV. The streamer has an Ethernet port, so you can plug it directly into your router for faster, uninterrupted streaming. Google has also redesigned the voice remote, making it more ergonomic with a textured back that makes it easier to hold. The remote has a customizable button that you can program to open your favorite app or the home panel. Google has also included its Gemini generative AI to help you out by providing tailored recommendations based on your viewing habits, which the company likens to having a personalized TV guide.

How is Google TV Streamer different from Chromecast?

Considering everything it offers, it’s no surprise that the Google TV Streamer costs more than the Chromecast. You’ll have to spend about twice as much to upgrade, as the Google TV Streamer costs $99.99 compared to $49.99 for the Chromecast with Google TV. For that extra money, you get a much faster device with Google AI and smart home integration. As mentioned earlier, you also get a faster processor, more storage and memory in the Google Streamer than the Chromecast, and a set-top box design instead of a dongle.

With the new streamers, Google has created a future-proof device that should be able to keep up with changing streaming demands and smart home technologies. Google TV streamer users will be able to use Gemini to do things like create generative AI screensavers that will display when the device is in ambient mode. In addition to making recommendations based on your past viewing habits, Gemini can display summaries and reviews of shows you’re considering watching. Since the devices are compatible with Google TV Streamer Matter and Google Home, you can access smart home features like temperature settings, adjust lighting, or watch live feeds from connected security cameras from the dashboard.