Google Chromecast 3 Deals Sometimes a product is so ahead of its time that it can last for years without needing a major overhaul or going out of style. That was the case with the iPhone and iPod, and so is the Chromecast, Google's HD streaming video player that will make any TV smarter and easier to use almost instantly. Released in 2018, the third-generation Chromecast works by plugging directly into the HDMI port on the back of your TV, drawing power from its USB port, and can then act as a receiver to stream video links sent from your phone or tablet. The magic happens when you press the Google Cast button built into most video streaming apps that sends a link to the Chromecast and immediately starts casting. It's an incredibly intuitive system when in use and avoids the need for a discreet remote control.
- Google Chromecast 3 in Bed Bath & Beyond for € 29.99
While the Chromecast offers a lot of value for its absurdly cheap price of €35 (£30, AU$59), there are a few things that could be improved, including, most importantly, the fact that it doesn't stream 4K content. For that, you'll need the Chromecast Ultra, the Roku Streaming Stick+, or the twice as expensive Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Plus, as we mentioned above, this is not really different from what appears to be 2nd generation streaming, according to Google's own reasons, it's not around 15% slower than the version More recent. None of these issues diminishes the appeal of the Chromecast. It's still one of the best streaming devices we've ever used and should be a staple in any avid fan's entertainment center.
Chromecast against the competition
The Chromecast calling card has the ability to sync with your mobile phone, tablet, and PC. Few devices work as well with your electronic devices as Chromecast, and all those that require you to purchase a particular family of products.
Amazon Fire TV Stick (Image credit: Future) Chromecast vs Amazon Fire TV Stick: Chromecast is by far the cheapest streaming stick and may outperform Amazon streaming sticks, thanks to its new and improved Wi-Fi antenna -Fi 802.11ac. Amazon's transmitter comes with a remote control, but it also relies heavily on an Amazon Prime subscription to work to its full potential. That said, if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you won't be able to watch the service on Google's cast device: Amazon's mobile app doesn't support the Google Cast feature.
Roku Streaming Stick (Image credit: Roku) Chromecast Vs Roku streaming devices: This is the story of David and Goliath. The circular Chromecast does a lot of what Roku streaming devices do, though it relies more on your phone, tablet, and PC to keep up. Roku is known to have thousands of content channels and a universal search feature that allows you to search multiple sources at once, in addition to 4K. Google adopted the latter in the latest version of its Chromecast app, but it doesn't have as many channels as Roku. If you're looking for a full-size streaming stick with access to all the streaming services, Roku can't be beat. If you're looking for a simplistic solution to put audio and video on your TV, Chromecast is the way to go.
Apple TV 4K (Image credit: Apple) Chromecast vs. Apple TV 4K: The newer Apple TV 4K, like Amazon's streamer, favors its own ecosystem, at least in terms of hardware. On the software side, Apple has opened up its TV app store to third-party developers, making it a bit more comprehensive than Chromecast. It also includes a new remote control and 4K capabilities, though that will set you back at least $179 / £169 / AU$249.
Integrated
If you've seen a Chromecast in recent years, you probably know what to expect here: a small unit no more than two inches in diameter that can be hidden behind your TV in secret. (The exact dimensions, should you need them, are 51,9 x 51,9 x 13,8 mm.) There's just a MicroUSB port on the back of the unit that you'll need to connect to your TV's USB port or the wall using the included wall adapter, and a single button that will restart the Chromecast if you hold it down. It's basic, but it works. That said, the latest Chromecast takes that simplicity further than ever, extending subtlety to the device's plastic casing: the 2nd-gen model was available in bright red, blue, and yellow, while the 3rd-gen didn't. was available. in nearly black, dark charcoal, and off-white chalk. The subtle palette switching is nice, but since the Chromecast spends its entire life behind your TV, it probably doesn't matter much. What matters a bit more in terms of design is the flat HDMI cable that runs from the Chromecast: it's long enough to slip into the port without interfering with other cables, and it allows the Chromecast to connect within a few inches of the TV. Also, the supplied USB cable is 69 inches long and can easily be plugged into a power outlet if your TV doesn't have an open USB port. However, the most important part of the Chromecast design is not something that can be seen on the outside. Inside, the Chromecast uses an improved 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi antenna which is likely responsible for the 15% performance improvement Google is touting, but we'll cover that below.
(Image credit: Google)
Configuration and interface
For now, let's talk about how easy it is to set up a Chromecast: Once unboxed and plugged in, you'll be prompted to go to the App Store on iOS or Android and download the Google Home app. Once installed, all you need to do is press "Add a new device" and choose the Chromecast from the list of devices waiting for setup. Finally, once you've assigned a name and room to the Chromecast, you're ready to cast. To stream from an app, you need to find the cast button that looks like a Wi-Fi network signal next to a TV. Tap on it, and you can cast whatever you see on your phone to the Chromecast. Surprisingly, you're not actually streaming from your phone to your TV — the Chromecast takes a link to that content and plays it on its own. This means that you can use your phone for anything else without affecting the flow in any way. Interestingly, when you're not actively casting something to the Chromecast, it goes into a screen saver mode that displays images curated by Google. These will automatically change over time and serve as a pretty wallpaper when the Chromecast isn't in use. Speaking of usage, one great feature of the Chromecast is that once it's set up, anyone in your household can use it if they turn on guest mode. This can be very useful if you invite people over to a party and want them to have some control over the tunes, and it's much easier than trying to track a remote control across a crowded room. One last point to mention here is that the Chromecast works very well with Google's series of smart speakers. If you have one, just say the stuff "OK Google, play the latest episode of Clueless Gamer on Chromecast" and have Conan O'Brien appear on your TV, which is, admittedly, pretty cool.
(Pictured: XNUMXnd Gen Chromecast with Google Home) (Image credit: Google)
Contents
So what can you really watch with Chromecast? Well, at this point a lot. Basically, all the major streaming services have a cast button built into them. This includes major services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as tons of smaller streaming services like Crunchyroll and Twitch. If you're in the UK, expect support for Sainsbury's Movies and TV, Blinkbox, BT Sport, NowTV, Napster and of course BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport. use daily. Better yet, if you're using the Google Chrome browser, you can cast your entire web browser to the screen by going to settings in the top right corner and clicking "Cast..." The only problem with Chromecast content selection is that it can be hard to find more apps when looking to expand your streaming video arsenal; That's because while other streaming devices have a store dedicated to finding new services, all Google has is their Home app. To find new services in the Home app, you need to go to the Browse section and scroll down. to search for new services. Along the way, you'll see content recommendations for services you already use that may be helpful, as well as a full list of all the apps installed on your phone that are compatible with Chromecast. Of course, streaming shows and movies isn't the only thing Chromecast can do. There are also music, gaming, and utility apps that simply look better on a big screen, and most major audio streaming apps like Tidal, Pandora, and Spotify are Chromecast-compatible. You can find a full rundown in our best Chromecast apps roundup, but it's worth paying attention to Plex, Big Web Quiz, Deezer, and AllCast, all of which are great when you're looking to mix things up.
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If you're wondering what the difference between Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra is, it all comes down to performance. The former, reviewed here, is for 1080p streaming, while the latter can play native 4K content. This is very important if you have a 4K TV and want to see things as faithfully as possible. But if you can live without the added clarity, Chromecast still works with 4K TVs, so don't worry too much about that. The same is true if you compare the old 15nd gen Chromecast to the new XNUMXrd gen model - there's about a XNUMX% difference in speed between the old model and the new model, but in practice this is almost the case. imperceptible. Speaking of performance, with the right connection speed, the Chromecast is very fast. Once we found a video, we were able to put it on...