Google’s streaming hardware is moving off the HDMI port and now hopes to sit prominently on your TV cabinet. The upcoming Google TV Streamer (yes, that’s the name) still maintains that Chromecast pill shape, but ditches the dongle form making it a bigger, more powerful streamer with better specs. Plus it doubles as your smart home hub for even more smart home tech like the newly-redesigned Nest Thermostat.
Effectively, Google is ditching dongles in favor of these larger pill-shaped streamer boxes. The $100 TV Streamer boasts a faster CPU, 4 GB of RAM (double that of the Chromecast), and 32 GB of storage compared to the dongle’s 8 GB.
Why would you need those specs on a streaming device? Google says this device is going to be far better at handling multiple streams at once, such as with live sports on YouTube multi-view. It’s certainly a beefier option, though it’s disappointing that there’s no cheaper, HD configuration like there is with Chromecast. Still, everything else should just make it faster to boot up and load your various streaming apps.
The Google TV Streamer supports 4K HDR with the full gamut of Dolby Vision, as well as HDR10, and HDR10+—which the Chromecast didn’t. It also costs $50 more than the 4K Chromecast, so while you’re not paying the price of an Apple TV 4K box you’ll be spending quite a bit more than before for the latest Google TV features. The company told Gizmodo it’s planning to sell the Chromecast for now, but the dongle will eventually die out in favor of the TV Streamer.
The dongle may not be completely done for—not yet anyway—though the new box will have a few exclusive UI features that may or may not come to previous devices. The Streamer’s getting exclusive access to a big-screen version of the Google Home panel that will let you access your home’s cameras or smart lights. The device is also Matter compatible, which should mean a more connected smart home suite.
The TV Streamer, however, doesn’t come with any mounts. It’s meant to lay flat on your TV console and blend in with your surrounding decor, so long as you appreciate the off-white porcelain color (the hazel color is exclusive to those who buy on Google Store). Just know there are only three ports, a USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet. You’re really not supposed to hide the box, especially since it’s 6 inches long and is supposed to be your living room smart home hub.
Perhaps the most important feature for us scatterbrained folk is the ability to use Google Assistant to find your lost remote. There’s a dedicated button on both Google Home and the TV Streamer itself to ping your remote, which then beeps so you can find it wedged between the sofa cushions. You’ll also find the remote’s been redesigned to add a more prominent Assistant button and offer a dedicated volume rocker right on the front face.
If you’re playing the Google AI drinking game, then time to take a shot. The Mountain View tech giant is forcing Gemini AI to serve on its streamer. For one, users can expect AI-generated summaries and breakdowns of content when getting it through Google TV. Google’s UI will also summarize reviews of each show or movie. You can also change up your ambient mode using a voice prompt.
There’s certainly a market for 4K streaming, but for folks like me who only stream in HD the price on this updated box is too thick a bone to chew through. At the very least, Google will support older Chromecasts to some degree, but it hasn’t made any specific promises on that front.
The $100 TV Streamer is going on preorder starting Tuesday and it will start shipping Sept. 24.
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