I have used Rokus and FireTV devices for many years, but my favorite streaming device is the Chromecast with Google TV. It’s easy to use, doesn’t have an overly cluttered UI, and allows easy casting of my screen and video from mobile devices. However, the device does have a few shortcomings. Does the new Google TV Streamer address those shortcomings and provide a better experience? Read on to find out.
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Google TV Streamer specifications
| Dimensions | 6.4 x 3.0 x 1.0 (W x L x H) inches |
| Weight | 5.7 oz |
| Resolution | Up to 4K HDR, 60 FPS |
| Video formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HRD10+, HLG |
| Audio formats | Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos |
| Wireless Connectivity | 802.11ac (2.4 and 5 GHz – WiFi 5), Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | USB-C (power and data), Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps), HDMI 2.1 (supports CEC) |
| Processor | MT8696 MediaTek |
| Memory | 4 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Smart home standards | Matter, Thread border router |
Things I note specifically in the specs above:
- It only supports Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are out and common on many newer devices, so it is disappointing that this device doesn’t support newer, faster, and more stable standards.
- That said, Ethernet is built-in. The Chromecast with Google TV device needs an adapter for Ethernet connectivity. I always prefer wired network connections for devices that don’t move around.
- This device has 4 GB of memory and 32 GB, compared with only 2 GB and 8 GB respectively for the Google TV dongle. This fixes one of my biggest gripes with the original Google TV device. 8GB was not enough space for all the apps I wanted, so I had to add storage via a dongle.
- The processor in this device is reportedly 22% faster than the previous generation’s CPU.
- This device supports Matter and is a Thread border router. Learn more about both in my Matter primer.
What’s in the box?
- Google TV Streamer device
- Remote with 2 AAA batteries
- USB-A to USB-C cable (1.8 meters)
- Power brick
Of note, this device comes with a power brick (the device needs 1.5 amps at 5V) but doesn’t come with an HDMI cable.
Google TV Streamer set up
The setup is straightforward and similar to other Android TV-powered devices. You log the device into your Google account (which you can do from your mobile phone) and run through the setup screen instructions.
General impressions
If you’ve been using a Chromecast with Google TV the interface and experience are largely the same. The remote can be configured to control the volume and power on your TV and/or A/V receiver, making it possibly the only remote you need (it is for me).
Speaking of the remote, it is a little bigger than the original remote as you can see below:
The layout is a little different. The original remote has volume buttons on the side, but the Google TV Streamer puts the volume buttons on the front of the remote. Additionally, the locations of the home and voice assistant buttons are swapped, and the voice assistant button is now a microphone.
One last thing is that the device has a star button in place of the original remote’s input button. That is a user-assignable button that you can program to do other things.
Although the user experience is the same, the device is notably snappier than the Chromecast with Google TV. That extra processing power and memory make a difference. Responses to all button clicks are instantaneous. On the original device, sometimes there are lags.
Alternatives to the Google TV Streamer
There are a lot of other good streaming devices out there. You can still get the original Chromecast with Google TV at half the price without half the features. You may prefer Roku, FireTV, or Apple devices. Here are some of the most popular streaming devices to consider:
Final thoughts
Once upon a time, my favorite streaming devices were all Rokus. Then the Chromecast with Google TV came out and topped the list (although I still like Rokus and have a Roku TV). The Google TV Streamer has now taken the top spot as my favorite streamer, as it has addressed the primary complaints I had about the former top device. I highly recommend it!
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