Google revealed the new Chromecast with Google TV and is making big changes to Google's streaming output. Chromecast with Google TV is still an HDMI dongle that adds connected intelligence to your TV. Like the Chromecast Ultra, it offers support for 4K/HDR10, HDR 10+, and Dolby Vision playback, as well as DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, and 5.1 surround sound handling. But what's different is that instead of relying solely on streaming functionality, the Chromecast with Google TV is built on top of the Android TV platform, with a whole new content-focused layer called Google. TV located upstairs. So what exactly does Google TV have to offer, and what can we expect to see added (and omitted) from the latest Chromecast? Read on for everything you need to know about Chromecast with Google TV below.
Come to the point
- What is it? A Google streaming device with Google TV on top
- When can I get it? September 30th
- How much is it? € 49 in the US, € 59.99 in the UK, with higher global availability to follow
Chromecast with Google TV: price
Chromecast with Google TV launches September 30, priced at € 49 in the US, € 59.99 in the UK, with wider global availability. It will be available in three colors, Snow (white), Sunrise (peach-orange) and Sky (egg blue blackbird), with 49% of the plastics used in its construction being recycled.
Chromecast with Google TV - Specs and Features
Let's start with Google TV. It is a streaming platform focused on personalized recommendations and ease of discovery. Google TV consolidates all your subscriptions, from Netflix to YouTube to Amazon Prime Video, in a new "For You" tab. This is then broken down into movie and TV subdivisions, categories, new releases, and more. Over time, Google TV will get used to your preferences and suggest things based on your interests, like sci-fi movies or cooking shows. Free video content from apps will also appear here. There's also a watch list available, which will work with the Google TV app to help you line up what you want to watch later, on the go. As a leap from a regular Chromecast, the difference is even more striking as Google TV supports built-in apps, just like Android TV. More than 6.500 apps will work on the new Chromecast, as long as they're already designed for Android TV. Media and apps coexist, with everything from Peloton to Masterclass ready to launch. Google TV can also better bring together all Google apps and services. For example, you can use the new Chromecast with Google TV to check Nest security camera feeds or join a Google Meet video chat. It ties into the larger Google Home smart home ecosystem, which means using it with the Google Assistant voice assistant could make it the central hub of your connected home. As for those with existing Android TV devices? If your device is already running Android TV 10, you can expect to see some of the new features coming to your device in the coming months as well, but older devices may be out of luck. In any case, it is up to the device manufacturer to invest or not in the update. Going forward, Google expects all Android TVs and devices manufactured after 2022 to run the new layer of the operating system.
Chromecast with Google TV: remote control
This is the first time a Chromecast has come with a remote. The remote has a dedicated Google Assistant voice button and a built-in microphone, which can be connected to Nest doorbells (so you can ask 'who's at the front door' and show them on the screen), buttons to turn the doorbell on and off TV, a home button, a TV input control, YouTube and Netflix shortcut buttons, and volume buttons. It works with two AAA batteries.
Chromecast with Google TV: what's missing?
The only notable thing missing here is Google Stadia. Google's game streaming service is not compatible with the new Chromecast. Not only is there still no native app for Stadia, but it can't even support Stadia's casting feature that even a standard Chromecast can. Some early testers had luck with Android app sideloading, but it's not a foolproof built-in solution. This omission will be corrected with an update in 2021, but the fact that it won't be there at launch says a lot about the bumps in the road Stadia has already had this year since its first release to the public.