The streaming device of Google, Chromecasthas been with us for over a decade. Since 2013 There have been three generations of Chromecast that have sold about 55 million units and have allowed their users to convert ‘dumb’ televisions into Smart TVs or improve the ones they already had with Google functions, but in 2024 it will definitely be gone. The company has announced what will replace it in its catalogue, a new streaming device designed to be placed in front of the television, not behind it, and which is a reimagining by Google of this popular gadget.
Goodbye to the Chromecast name. The new device is Google TV Streamerit is much more attractive and adds a good handful of options to what Chromecast already offered and in which AI plays a fundamental role. TV Streamer also brings functions of smart home and serves as a control center for Mattera unified standard for smart home devices, and Google Home. All this together with a radical design change and ‘elegant, blending into your home decor without attracting attention,’ the company says.
Better hardware and a new remote control
Google TV Streamer uses as operating system Android TV and improves its hardware performance. It now has 4GB RAM, 32GB storage space, has USB-C, HDMI 2.1 and Ethernet ports with capacity up to 1,000 Mbps. In terms of wireless connectivity, it supports Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 5. It offers a resolution up to 4K at 60 frames per secondDolby Vision, HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos among other video and audio formats. It weighs 160 grams and its size is 161 mm long, 75 wide and 26 thick.
It also comes with a remote controlwith integrated microphone, which has been redesigned and offers better ergonomics to make it easier to hold in your hand, as well as an optimized button layout that now features a customizable one for the user to assign their favorite application, switch inputs or open the Google Home home panel. The remote control, through which you can control TV Streamer by voiceit also makes it easier to find it if it’s lost. From any other device with the Google Assistant, just say to find the remote and the Google TV Streamer will beep.
Google TV and AI
As expected, the device comes with Google TV. This app provides a unified interface to access platforms such as YouTube and streaming services to which the user is subscribed. Google TV now has the help of the Gemini AI to make it easier for the user to fight against the well-known choice fatigue and a better user experience. Google AI uses user preferences to Select content suggestions from across all your subscriptions, create recommendation lists for each member of your household, and provide full summaries, reviews, and season breakdowns of each series or movie’s content while you’re watching it..
With the ambient modethe TV can be used to display images from Google Photos or create a unique screensaver with generative AI, using voice commands to express what the user wants.
Smart home
Google TV Streamer supports Matter connectivity and also includes a border router Thread Integrated, a technology that allows smart home devices such as locks and motion sensors to be connected quickly and securely. This makes smart home devices work with faster response times and greater reliability.
It also allows Bring Google Home to the TV Screen and control functions from there such as checking the cameras in the house, if you have them, adjusting lights and temperature, closing blinds and other home automation functions. It automatically synchronizes with the Google Home application, so it works with thousands of devices.
Price and availability
Here we come to the bad news for the consumer. The successor to the Chromecast has quite a few more features but also It is quite a bit more expensive than that one. The Chromecast can be purchased in the Google store for €39.99, if it is with FHD resolution, or €69.90, if it is 4K. With TV Streamer we go to the 119 €. It is likely that in the future there will be slightly cheaper versions, but for now we are looking at a product that is significantly more expensive than its predecessor. It will go on sale next September 24th.