Can we agree that “Google Chromecast with Google TV” was pretty bad branding? Well, it’s over now – meet the Google TV Streamer (4K). Better? At least it’s less repetitive. And it comes with hardware improvements: faster chipsets, faster networking, even smart home connectivity.
Google says the streamer has a 22% faster processor, which is a little less than we expected, given that the Chromecast 4K model is from 2020. Another notable improvement is doubling the RAM (up to 4GB) and quadrupling the on-board storage (up to 32GB).
Google TV Streamer (4K) in Porcelain and Hazel color (Google Store Exclusive)
Also, if you want to use a wired LAN you no longer need a silly Ethernet adapter, there’s a port on the device itself. Even better, it’s a gigabit port (the Chromecast + adapter could only do 100Mbps). Also on board is a single USB-C port for power and (optionally) data. Now that the device is bigger, we would have appreciated an additional USB port, but that’s not to be found. There’s no microSD card slot either.
The Google TV streamer has an on-board HDMI 2.1 port and Gigabit Ethernet jack
The HDMI 2.1 port supports 4K HDR at 60fps output with HDR10(+), Dolby Vision and HLG. For audio, there are the usual Dolby standards including Atmos. We’re sure you’re curious to know if Google has finally added AV1 support… It should have been added, as it’s now a requirement, but there’s no mention of codec support on the official specifications page.
The remote control has been slightly redesigned and now supports “Find my remote.” You can press a button on the back of the Google TV streamer and the remote will start beeping. It can also be activated with voice commands, but you’ll need a Pixel phone or a Google Assistant-enabled smart speaker for that. The remote’s ergonomics have been improved, including things like adding a grippy texture to the back.
Slightly redesigned remote control
Wireless connectivity is almost the same – Wi-Fi 5 (ac) at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, as well as Bluetooth 5.1. The interesting change here is the addition of Matter, which turns the streamer into a Google Home hub. And it also acts as a Thread border router.
A new customizable button on the remote can be programmed to open whatever app you choose (such as launching the Google Home panel) or switch inputs. Smart home functionality includes checking Nest doorbell cameras and controlling the new Nest Learning Thermostat.
Google Home Features • Find My Remote button
Google didn’t miss the opportunity to integrate its Gemini AI into the TV streamer. The AI is used for content recommendation, which works across all your subscriptions (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, etc.). It also writes things like full summaries and reviews of movies and shows or season-by-season breakdowns.
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is on pre-order starting today, priced at $100. You can find the Porcelain version on Amazon and Google’s online store, the Hazel colorway is exclusive to Google. Note that this will be a long pre-order as the TV Streamer will only ship on September 24.
