Google's original Chromecast helped popularize streaming on TVs when it came out in 2013. The $ 35 device allowed you to "stream" videos from apps on your phone like YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix for viewing on a big screen TV. This is a common feature in televisions, but subsequent iterations of the dongle have new features such as: 4K streaming. On Wednesday, Google gave the Chromecast the biggest upgrade yet. It's called Chromecast with Google TV and I had a couple of hours to play with it.
Available now for $ 50 (£ 60, AU $ 99) the new Chromecast is the first to include a physical remote control with Google Assistant for voice control. There is also an updated on-screen menu system, powered by Google TV, the company's new name for its Android TV operating system. Google TV is similar to its predecessor and offers access to thousands of apps, including Netflix. Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, HBO max and Spotify (but not Apple TV Plus).
Chromecast with Google TV offers all the important functions competing streamers. In addition to 4K HDR Video supports it too Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on compatible TV and sound systems. The remote can control the volume and power of a TV or soundbar, so I can (mostly) throw my TV remote overboard. I can hold down a button and speak into the microphone for the Google Assistant, which allows the digital helper to control your smart home, search for content, open apps, view the weather, and do other things.
Hands-on: Quick setup, but some initial quirks
In my short time with the new Chromecast, it has proven itself to be admirable. Setting up the new Chromecast and remote control functionality on an LG OLED TV was a breeze. The Google Home The app on an iPhone did most of the legwork - saving me the hassle of searching and pecking to enter login information using an on-screen keyboard.
The video quality was as good as I expected: Dolby Vision worked fine on the OLED and other shows, including the Yankees Indians game on YouTube TV, clearly played. Volume control on mine Sonos Beam The soundbar worked as expected but doesn't support Atmos so I haven't been able to test this feature yet.
Some other quirks and observations:
- Ask the Google Assistant to play Avengers: Endgame brought up Disney Plus but asked to see Avengers: Infinity War took me straight to TBS (which has the cable rights) on YouTube TV. I didn't even get the chance to choose Disney Plus, which allows for higher quality 4K streaming with Dolby Vision.
- Asking Google Assistant questions while watching YouTube TV not only breaks the action, but the assistant's response covers a large portion of the upper-left portion of the display.
- The Enter button on the bottom of the Chromecast remote is great for switching your TV to Chromecast, but it won't work for switching the TV to other inputs (e.g. a game console).
- The Yankees Indians game on YouTube TV took over 10 seconds to open from the Now tab before I actually got to see Giancarlo Stanton playing Shane Bieber on my TV.
The streamer comes in three colors - Snow White, Sunrise Pink, and Sky Blue, the version I used - and like previous models, it's designed to hide behind your TV and not be seen. The power is now also supplied via USB-C in contrast to micro-USB.
I couldn't test Google Stadia, the company's streaming video game platform as it is not available in Chromecast with Google TV at startup. Google says there will be support for Stadia "in the first half of 2021," and for now recommends that those who want to play Stadia on a TV buy the Chromecast Ultra, which is still $ 69 (£ 69 .99 AU $). However, it lacks a remote control or the Google TV interface.
The regular Chromecast, which also lacks a remote control and Google TV software and can only stream up to 1080p HD, is still available for $ 30 (£ 25, AU $ 59).
A change in vision
With the new Chromecast, Google seems to have reversed the course of its original vision of the phone as a remote control. With the new version, you can still transfer apps from your phone, tablet or computer. However, the option to use a dedicated clicker makes the Chromecast with Google TV a potentially more attractive product. The upgrade happens at the perfect time: during a pandemic when everyone is Streaming more than ever.
The new Chromecast with Google TV costs $ 50 with the remote and will take on two of CNET's most popular 4K streaming devices, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Roku and Amazon are currently dominating the smart TV and streaming device landscape. Both platforms have over 40 million users each.
At first glance, the new Chromecast offers everything it needs to lead some of these users into the Google camp - including an advantage in terms of app support. Google TV also has an important new app: HBO max, that is currently missing from rivals Roku and Fire TV. There is also an app for peacock, another new streaming service that Fire TV lacks. On the other hand, both Roku and Fire TV have those Apple TV app and access to Apple TV Pluswhile Google TV doesn't.
I'll be testing the new Chromecast against the competition in the next few days. Look for a full review of CNET soon.