What you need to know

• Chromecast with Google TV users report issues with their remotes after a supposed update.
• Remotes struggle keeping a connection with the streaming dongle, often failing multiple times without a clear response/acknowledgement from Google.
• Google's Chromecast hasn't been flawless, as 2025 held some problematic issues with the streaming product.

Chromecast with Google TV users are hitting official channels this week, stating their remotes aren't having the best time.

A thread appeared on Reddit in the past twenty-four hours, stating the Chromecast remote has been ruined following a recent patch (via 9to5Google). The user explains that they have two Chromecast with Google TV dongles, and the remotes for each of them have started failing. They state, "Recently the remote kept disconnecting." The user tried their own brand of troubleshooting, but to no avail.

Swapping dongles hasn't worked, nor has switching the remotes around or leveraging an HDMI extender (to make sure the remotes had clear sight). Switching TVs also hasn't worked. The report adds, "There is nothing that hasn't been tried. All options result in a constantly disconnecting remote that occasionally will not reconnect."

At their wits' end, the user claims these issues started after Google's latest Chromecast update. It's unclear how widespread this issue is. Some users responding to the thread haven't had issues, while some, such as user horizon_fleet, state their Chromecast can't find their WiFi network. They were able to get things working by restarting it after disconnecting it from a power source.

A separate thread on Reddit mentions similar struggles, but no one's found a concrete solution that works flawlessly.

Other issues

Google's Chromecast hasn't been flawless this past year. In 2025, the company grappled with issues users continuously reported, such as a few bugs that surfaced after its Android 14 update. Users reported a selection of issues like missing audio, remote, and external storage problems. On top of that, users were missing important settings from their devices. It was a sour note on an update that users had been waiting on for almost a year.

Issues kept rolling in for the Chromecast, as an "Untrusted device" error prevented content streaming from phones to 2nd-gen Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices. It took Google a little while to respond, but it acknowledged the issue and vowed to roll out a fix for affected users.

Hopefully, users struggling with Chromecast remote problems will see a fix coming from Google soon.

What you need to know

• Some first-generation Chromecast devices are no longer appearing in apps like YouTube and HBO Max.
• Google officially ended Chromecast support in 2023, but many apps continued working until now.
• Apps like Spotify and Disney+ still work, suggesting support is disappearing app by app.

It's been over 13 years since Google introduced the first-generation Chromecast, and it looks like the device might finally be bidding adieu to all of us.

Despite being more than a decade old, the original Chromecast has remained a surprisingly good streaming device. In fact, it was the only Chromecast that didn't really run apps or have a full interface — it simply cast content directly from your phone to the TV. And for just a $35 price tag back then, it ended up becoming a huge hit for Google.

Google officially ended support for the first-generation Chromecast back in 2023, but even after that, many apps continued working with it just fine. However, it now looks like the device may finally be reaching the end of the road.

Some users on Reddit are reporting that their 2013 Chromecast no longer appears in apps like YouTube and HBO Max (via 9to5Google). Interestingly, some apps like Spotify and Disney+ still seem to work normally, but YouTube and HBO Max no longer show the first-generation Chromecast as an available casting device.

It's still unclear exactly why this is happening, since neither Google nor HBO has released any official statement, but it definitely feels like Google may have quietly pulled the plug on the original Chromecast.

Google had already warned users back in 2023 that owners of the original Chromecast "may notice a degradation in performance," but it now seems like we're finally seeing the real end of support. Google still hasn't officially commented on the situation, but we'll update this once the company says anything publicly.

Until then, there unfortunately isn't much users can do. If you're still using the original Chromecast from 2013, it might finally be time to upgrade to a newer Chromecast or switch to another streaming device altogether.

Android Central's Take

Honestly, the original Chromecast still feels more elegant than a lot of streaming devices today. No ads, no remote, no bloated UI, just casting. It's sad seeing Google quietly pull the plug on one of its simplest and best products.

What you need to know

• Samsung is rolling out a free update that brings native Google Cast support to select smart TVs.
• The update is arriving on some 2023 and 2024 Samsung TVs, expanding beyond 2026 models.
• Users can cast from Android devices and Chrome without needing a Chromecast.

Samsung is rolling out a free upgrade for its smart TVs that finally brings Google Cast support.

While Samsung makes some of the best smart TVs on the market, one limitation has been its use of the company's own Tizen OS. While you still get access to most major apps, running Tizen OS (or One UI Tizen on newer Samsung TVs) means you miss out on one of Google TV's most useful features: Google Cast.

Thankfully, that is changing now, as Samsung has started rolling out updates for its older smart TVs from 2023 and 2024 that bring support for Google Cast. The feature was already confirmed for 2026 models, but it's now making its way to older TVs as well.

A Reddit user reported that their S90D OLED TV showed a new 'Continuity' screen indicating Google Cast support (via SamMobile). Samsung hasn't officially announced the rollout yet, so it appears to be happening quietly. It's also unclear which models are supported so far.

Once the update reaches your Samsung TV, you'll be able to cast content directly from your Android phone, tablet, or even the Chrome browser on your laptop without needing a separate device like a Chromecast or Google TV Streamer. You'll be able to cast apps like YouTube, Google Photos, and more straight to your TV when they're on the same Wi-Fi network.

We haven't seen the update arrive on our Samsung TV just yet, but it may take a few weeks, depending on your region or specific TV model, to roll out to your device.

What you need to know

• Apple TV on Android now supports Google Cast, letting users stream shows and movies to big-screen devices easily.
• The new Cast icon in the Apple TV app lets users select Chromecast or Google TV devices for instant playback.
• Apple's move contrasts Netflix's removal of Cast support, since Apple allows casting on all compatible devices.

Apple today (Dec. 16) announced that the Apple TV app for Android is gaining support for Google Cast.

This means that similar to how you've been able to cast content from your Android smartphone to big-screen devices like smart TVs (and even projectors) in apps like Disney+ and YouTube, you'll now be able to cast TV shows and movies from the Apple TV app on Android as well.

With the feature rolling out, you'll now see a Cast icon in the top right corner of the app. Tapping it shows a dialog box with all available Chromecast and Google TV devices. Then you simply select the device you want to stream to and playback will begin. As with other Chromecast playback, you'll be able to control everything directly from your phone.

The feature is already rolling out starting today. We were able to use it on the Google Pixel 10 Pro with the latest version of the Apple TV app (version 2.2.0). If you don't see the Cast icon yet, just update the app through the Google Play Store.

Casting from Apple TV app on Android is now possible

Apple notes that this feature will make it easier for users to stream "award-winning" shows and movies like Severance, Slow Horses, The Morning Show, Pluribus, and F1 The Movie.

It's also worth mentioning that Apple TV is slowly becoming a serious sports-streaming app with support for Major League Soccer, Friday Night Baseball, and Formula 1 races in the U.S. This expansion is great for users who don't own Apple devices but still want to stream content on the big screen.

The rollout comes at an interesting time. Recently, Netflix removed the Cast option from its app for Google TV and Chromecast devices that include remotes, but Apple has no such restriction.

The company has added support for Google Cast on all compatible devices, including the Google TV Streamer, Chromecast with Google TV, and a wide range of Android TVs.

What you need to know

• Netflix has begun removing Cast support on newer Google TV and Chromecast devices, forcing users to use the app.
• Many users report the Cast button disappearing in the Netflix app, with official confirmation now issued.
• Netflix says most TVs and streamers no longer support casting, except for older Chromecast models without remotes.

Netflix seems to have started killing off support for casting on many Google TV and other streaming devices, leaving users with no option but to use the app directly for watching Netflix content.

In addition to offering full apps for their services, one of the legacy ways most platforms have supported streaming on devices like Chromecast and Google TV is through Cast. Apps like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Crunchyroll support this method. It has also been a user-favorite, since it's easy to start casting from your phone to the big screen while keeping playback controls on your phone.

However, with most streaming services now offering full-featured and complex apps, casting support has taken a back seat. Even Google hasn't focused much on Chromecast lately, and now it appears streaming services are pulling back as well, with Netflix reportedly removing Cast support on newer Google TV and Chromecast devices.

As spotted by users on Reddit (via Android Authority), many have reported that the Cast button in the Netflix app has disappeared when trying to stream to Chromecast devices. The first reports surfaced around November 10, 2025, and Netflix has now officially confirmed that it’s retiring the feature on at least new devices.

Netflix quietly backs away from casting support

In its official support page, Netflix writes that "Netflix no longer supports casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices. You'll need to use the remote that came with your TV or TV-streaming device to navigate Netflix."

This applies regardless of which Netflix plan you're on, including ad-supported and Premium. The only exception for now is older Chromecast devices and TVs. Newer devices like the Google TV Streamer or Chromecast with Google TV, both of which come with remotes, will no longer support casting Netflix from your phone.

It's a major shift that could influence other streaming platforms to follow, but for now no other service has removed casting support on their devices.

Everyone may be flocking to find the best Black Friday smart TV deals, but why drop all that cash when a simple streaming device could get the job done for less? With Amazon's Black Friday sale in full swing, you can score 25% off the price of the Google TV Streamer 4K, meaning buyers can get high-quality, Google-backed 4K TV streaming for just $75.

The Google TV Streamer comes with a sleek, minimal design that offers a welcome improvement from the previous Chromecast device. While this unit comes with 32GB of onboard storage, buyers can also utilize the built-in USB-C port for expandable storage in addition to using it for power.

• Amazon's Black Friday sale is LIVE: see the full list of deals

Like most streaming boxes, the device uses an HDMI port to connect to the user's TV, while it also includes an Ethernet port if you prefer to use a wired internet connection to Wi-Fi. It's also compatible with a wide range of Google's smart home devices, acting as a smart home hub that can be used in tandem with the voice remote.

The deal is also available in the device's two colors, including the lighter Porcelain and the darker, gray Haze option. Google also says the TV Streamer device offers as much as 22% faster performance than the previous Chromecast device, along with adding support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio profiles.

✅Recommended if: you're looking for a good deal on a Google TV streaming device that can also support 4K resolutions; you want something that's easy to set up and use, and one that comes with a voice-compatible remote control; you liked previous Chromecast devices and you want access to Google's latest TV streaming features.

❌Skip this deal if: you'd prefer to save money and go with something cheaper, like a non-4K Amazon TV Fire Stick or an off-brand device that retails for even cheaper; you need a TV streaming device that can hide behind your TV rather than being set on a flat surface.

As expected, the 4K edition of the Google TV Streamer features resolutions of up to 4K, along with an Ethernet port for optimal streaming speeds, and a voice-compatible remote control that's sleek and user-friendly.

For those who liked previous Chromecast and Google TV options, this device will feel fairly familiar given the similar OS, and it's still compatible with several Google smart home and other devices.

The 4K TV Streamer comes with 32GB of storage, a USB-C port for power and additional data transfers, an HDMI port, and access to a variety of popular streaming services.

Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday

What you need to know

• Google was spotted rolling out its "Home Panel" smart home control center for the Chromecast.
• In a support document, it explains Chromecast with Google TV users will need to ensure their Home app features all their devices to work properly.
• Users will find support for lights, cameras, locks, speakers, and more.
• Home Panel originally debuted with the Google TV Streamer, but the company promised it would hit Chromecasts and other devices.

Google is reportedly rolling out a huge TV Streamer smart home feature to its past-gen streaming dongle.

A post by 9to5Google highlights the sudden appearance of Google's "Home Panel" rolling out for Chromecast with Google TV users. The publication claims it's spotted the update's rollout over the past couple of days. Moreover, Google has published a support page for the feature, likely confirming its wider rollout for users. The main purpose of this feature is for users to control "compatible" smart home devices from their TV.

Google states users will find support for lights, thermostats, locks, cameras, plugs, vacuums, TVs, and speakers.

As this hits more TV sets, the post states users should see a welcome screen upon their Chromecast with Google TV's "initial launch." The Home Panel is an opt-in feature, and users can agree to it from this welcoming splash screen. However, you can always turn it on/off by heading into Settings > Account & Sign in > User Profile > Google Home.

Interested parties should ensure their smart home devices are connected in their Home app and that they're TV is using the same Google account. The Home Panel will display any connected lights and cameras first with your "Favorites" and others listed below.

A Smarter Google TV

Google also highlights a few issues users might encounter, such as an error message when opening the Home Panel or an inability to access its settings. It states these issues may occur if your Google account is new, in which case you'll need to wait ~36 hours. If these issues persist, you should check out these steps.

As previously stated, the Home Panel arrived as a core feature with the Google TV Streamer's launch last August. The streaming "box" is Google's next-gen product, aiming to step in for the old Chromecast. Shortly after its launch, Google updated its TV experience by introducing Gemini for show summaries, season breakdowns, and more. More importantly, the TV Streamer's Home Panel was highlighted as a new feature coming for older Chromecasts.

However, the feature was originally popped into the company's Public Preview test realm. It gave users a chance to sign up and test the feature before its eventual wider availability. Google was also testing the Home Panel with TCL and Hisense.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• The “Untrusted device” error early this month primarily affected older Chromecast and Chromecast Audio users and caused a significant inconvenience.
• Google now has provided specific firmware versions (1.56.467165 for 2nd gen Chromecast and 1.56.467166 for Chromecast Audio) and instructions for users to update their devices.
• For users who’d factory reset their devices, the search giant advises updating the Google Home app and setting up the affected devices again to resolve the issue.

Early this month, several older Chromecast owners reported issues with their devices as they were seeing “Untrusted device” errors. The issue was particularly faced by 2nd-generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio users. While the search giant has already addressed the issue, it is now finally rolling out a fix.

Earlier this week, the Google Nest Team, in a corresponding support page, apologized for the inconvenience and disruption caused and further notes that they are “committed to ensuring all users are back up and running as quickly as possible.”

For users who’ve faced the issue and their devices still don't function as intended, the Google Nest team advises them to check the firmware version of the device — firmware version 1.56.467165 for 2nd gen Chromecast and firmware version 1.56.467166 for the Chromecast Audio — and follow with an accompanying instruction page.

Further, if their device doesn’t match the corresponding firmware version, users need to reboot their devices and start the update process, which seemingly should make the broken devices function normally.

When Google addressed the issue last week, it recommended users not factory reset their Chromecast devices. However, for those who have already done that, here's what you need to do.

Users are asked to update their Google Home app to the latest version (3.30.1.6 for Android and 3.30.106 for iOS) and set up the 2nd gen Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices again. The said app update roll out appears to have begun already, and users might be seeing the version in a couple of days.

We recommend users stay updated with the latest firmware and app versions to ensure they have a flawless streaming experience.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

Update (Mar 11, 9:32 am. ET) After several older Chromecast users faced issues with casting over the weekend, Google Nest Team has acknowledged the issue and has assured that it is working on a fix. Meanwhile, Chromecast 2nd gen and Chromecast Audio users are recommended not to factory reset their devices.

What you need to know

• An “Untrusted device” error prevents content streaming from mobile devices to second-gen Chromecast and Chromecast Audio models.
• Affected users were unable to cast content from apps like YouTube, with no option to proceed beyond the error message.
• It is likely a bug affecting second-gen Chromecast models, potentially requiring a server-side fix from Google.

Some Chromecast owners who wanted to watch something over a weekend might have faced issues with streaming content from their devices. Several complained about having an “Untrusted device” error for older-generation models.

In particular, the second-gen Chromecast and Chromecast Audio owners have been the ones who have faced the error when they tried to cast content from their handsets (via 9to5Google). With the above error upping up more frequently, it gave users the impression that their devices couldn’t be verified and that outdated firmware could be the issue.

Did Google just brick the 2nd gen Chromecast? from r/Chromecast

The issue has been reported by several users on Reddit and had occurred while casting something from their mobile handset through streaming apps like YouTube, for instance. The “Untrusted device” error only gave users an option to close the window, without giving any option to go forward. However, other features like screensavers using Google Photos, art, and photography seem to have been working normally as before.

Interestingly, it appears to be a bug, and, going by the user complaints on Reddit, the affected users include only second-gen Chromecast and Chromecast audio users, while the first and third-gen users didn’t have any issues on Sunday (March 9).

Reddit users have also started assuming that Google might have bricked their older Chromecast with the new error message, pushing them to buy newer models. Some have already started looking for alternatives to stream freely. However, it seems like the search giant might be issuing a server-side fix soon for the said models.

The publication further notes that Google hasn’t mentioned ending support for reported 2015-released Chromecast devices and, while some think the new error could be an indication of dropping support as it did with the first-gen model back in 2023.

As mentioned, the outage of the said second-gen Chromecast models is likely a bug, which was uncalled for. And we hope that Google might be releasing a fix as early as possible.

Update

In an accompanying support post regarding the outage reported, Google Nest Team has stated, “We're aware of an emerging issue impacting Chromecast 2nd gen and Chromecast Audio devices, and we are working on a fix.”

Those who are experiencing the outage are also advised not to factory reset their devices as a fix is already on its way. Even if they have already done so, the team would provide instructions to set their devices back up as early as possible.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• Google is done selling the Chromecast with Google TV on the Google Store.
• The Chromecast with Google TV HD and Chromecast with Google TV 4K are both listed as "no longer available."
• Google planned to let stock of Chromecasts run out for good after announcing the Google TV Streamer last year.

If you want a Chromecast with Google TV, it's time to hunt one down: both the Chromecast with Google TV HD and its 4K counterpart are no longer available for purchase on the Google Store. The $50 and $30 Chromecast with Google TV streaming dongles are being discontinued in favor of the new Google TV Streamer, as the company announced last year. As spotted by 9to5Google, the official Chromecast with Google TV product page on the Google Store says both models are "no longer available" as of Thursday, Feb. 20.

Google announced the Google TV Streamer back in August 2024, and it's a $100 set-top box with Google TV and more features — effectively replacing the Chromecast. At the time, Google said it would still provide support and updates to the Chromecast with Google TV. However, it would only continue to sell the streaming dongle until current stock was exhausted.

It seems as if Google is officially done selling the Chromecast with Google TV, at least through direct channels. It looks like you can still find Chromecast with Google TV HD and Chromecast with Google TV 4K at some third-party retailers, like Walmart, but who knows for how long. Soon, Google will have finished selling Chromecasts for good.

The device replacing the Chromecast with Google TV, the Google TV Streamer, is a bit controversial. At $100, it's significantly more expensive than the Chromecast with Google TV — priced at $30 (HD) or $50 (4K) — which was appealing to budget buyers.

That's because most smart TVs nowadays match the functionality of a budget streaming stick, per the company. However, the Google TV Streamer also isn't quite as powerful as other set-top boxes, like the old Nvidia Shield. We reviewed the device positively overall, but noted it still fell short in a few key areas.

The Google TV Streamer runs Android 14 for TV, an update that existing Chromecast with Google TV devices haven't received yet. While your Chromecast with Google TV will still get future updates, there won't be any new ones to buy now that Google has officially shuttered the brand.

What you need to know

• A Google representative has shared some exciting details on what's coming to Chromecast with Google TV.
• The streaming device's older 4K and HD models will eventually get Android 14, though some new features available on the Google TV Streamer might be absent.
• While the timeline still needs to be determined, it is a major update from the current Android 12 version.

Google recently stepped up its streaming game with the new Google TV Streamer, replacing Chromecast. But that doesn’t mean the company is ignoring updates for older Chromecast devices.

According to Android Authority, the Chromecast with Google TV will receive the Android 14 update, even though it’s been discontinued. The publication received this affirmation from a Google product manager at the Made by Google event last week, where the new Pixel 9 models, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and the latest Pixel Watch 3 were also showcased.

The latest development comes after the recent launch of Google TV Streamer, which runs Android 14 out of the box, making it the first TV device to do so. However, it's important to note that older Chromecast models won’t get all the new software features available on the TV Streamer.

According to the publication, one feature of the Google TV Streamer that won’t be available on older Chromecast devices, even with the Android 14 update, is the ability to connect to the Thread border router. This tech lets you quickly and securely link smart home devices like locks and motion sensors.

The Android 14 for TV upgrade marks the second major upgrade for Chromecast with Google TV (4K) when it eventually rolls out as it shipped with Android 10 and later got Android 12. 

On the other hand, the HD version launched later and shipped with Android 12. Besides, the 4K model is set to get security updates until September 2025, while the HD model will receive updates until September 2027.

While Android Authority has learned that Chromecast with Google TV will indeed receive the Android 14 update, it’s still unclear when exactly it will arrive. Hopefully, it’ll be sooner rather than later.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

Google has a new streaming box called the Google TV Streamer 4K. It replaces the older Chromecast with Google TV, which replaced the older Chromecast models. Think of it as the successor to the small dongle that started it all with all the software and extras added along the way.

Google also bumped up the price substantially, charging $100. That's pretty steep compared to the $30 the previous model cost. However, it could be worth it, as it has better hardware that can support advanced media codecs and integrate Gemini AI models. That depends on what you need it to do. 

It's not for me, though, because I'm not the target market, and Google knows it. This device was made for most people who do not need a "professional" device.

I'm still using the Nvidia Shield TV Pro because I want to do more than stream media from online sources. I have 8TB of storage attached to my Shield and use Plex, so I can stream my own media through the Shield. Yes, you can technically plug external storage into the Google TV Streamer, but the Shield was made to do this, and even has Plex built into the device's software.

Others do even more with devices like the Shield Pro—there are plenty of different ways to use a good "Pro" TV box, and having one that runs Android means there is plenty of ready-made software to help you do it.

People who use these advanced features aren't necessarily super-nerds. There is a market for hardware and software that makes setting up your own media streaming device pretty easy.

That doesn't mean very many people do it, though.

That's the thing with Google. The company does things we think are dumb, like killing off services and products or replacing a product everyone loves with something new and more expensive. It does it because it knows what people do with these services and devices.

Google decided that people would see the value in a new Android TV device with better hardware that offers a better experience. It also decided that building a device that does more—and costs much more—is not something that would sell as easily because that market isn't very big. You could spend more money and try to make the TV Streamer into a home media streamer, but it wasn't designed to be.  

And this isn't just a hunch. When you use any device or service, the companies behind them know what you're doing, when you're doing it, and when you stopped. Other metrics, like how you used it, help tell the company what people are really doing. Nodoby at Google is keeping track of what you watch on your Google TV because it doesn't need to know; data from a single user is useless in this case. Google looks at the overall stats to help decide how to proceed.

When a company decides to make a new or revised product, it considers what most people want. In this case, I think the company made the right decision because almost nobody reading this will set up a Plex server or turn a streaming box into a game console. People want something that is easy to use and works well.

Google's biggest problem was deciding how cheap they could sell it. A "new" Shield TV Pro is $199.99 and that's a really good price if you have a use for it.  The somewhat new Chromecast with Google TV HD is just $30, and that's a steal if you want something to plug in, hook up to Wi-Fi, and just watch "stuff." This new Google TV Streamer aims to be the middle ground with better hardware that costs more.

In addition, Google added some cool stuff, like a home control panel and support for Thread and Matter. You could say that some of this should have been there from the beginning, and I would agree, but this unifies Google's ecosystem of home products, and Google knows people wanted that to happen.

I can't decide if the Google TV Streamer is something you should buy without knowing why you want it. I'm thinking about it because the new home control features have me curious about how well it works. It's not going to replace my Shield TV Pro, though, because it's already paid for and does exactly what I want it to do.

What you need to know

• Google may be gearing up to release a streaming box called the Google TV Streamer, according to 9to5Google. 
• The upcoming device’s specs may have been revealed in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
• While the form factor matches that of the Apple TV, the specs might signal that the Google TV Streamer isn’t a high-end device.

There have been plenty of rumblings about the future of Google TV over the last few months. First, we learned that a Chromecast with Google TV 4K successor was imminent. Then, Walmart’s sub-brand Onn launched a new Google TV 4K Pro device, and it quickly became the best Google TV box you can buy. Now, we know that the Chromecast with Google TV 4K replacement isn’t another streaming stick — it’s a streaming box, more akin to the Apple TV.  

9to5Google first uncovered the existence of a new set-top box, dubbed the “Google TV Streamer.” Unlike most streaming boxes, which have a small surface area and a taller design, the Google TV Streamer is like a flat wedge. It looks like it’ll fit into the Google Home and Google Nest ecosystems well since it looks like part of a Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max. If you imagine hard enough, you can even spot the resemblance to the Pixel Tablet speaker dock, as 9to5Google pointed out.

The Google TV Streamer would mark a shift in Google's strategy and streaming efforts. The entire point of its streaming sticks was to conveniently plug into the back of a TV and stay out of the way. Products like the Chromecast with Google TV HD and Chromecast with Google TV 4K were made to be relatively cheap, low-powered, and virtually invisible once installed.

By comparison, the Google TV Streamer isn’t trying to be hidden. It looks like one of the larger streaming boxes we’ve seen lately, at least in terms of service area. It also could be trying to provide more power and a premium feature set. Early reports about the Chromecast with Google TV 4K revealed that the product’s successor would almost certainly include a chip upgrade, perhaps with more RAM and storage. Now, the new form factor for the Google TV Streamer likely means it would offer more ports. 

That much may have been confirmed in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) first spotted by 9to5Google. The FCC ID, HFS-GRS6B, is associated with Quanta Computer, Inc. — not Google. However, as 9to5Google notes, Quanta Computer has produced Google products in the past, including the Pixelbook, Pixel Slate, and Pixelbook Go. 

The filing notes that there is at least an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a USB-C port. The wireless device referenced in the listing runs Android since the Android Debug Bridge was used for testing. Additionally, it features a Thread radio that can be used to interact with other smart devices.

That makes the Google TV Streamer sound like a higher-end version of the Chromecast with Google TV 4K, but there are other attributes that point to the contrary. For example, the Wi-Fi 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n and Wi-Fi 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac support referenced in the regulatory filing is far from the latest and greatest. There also isn’t ultra-wideband (UWB) support mentioned, which would prevent the Google TV Streamer from working with software features like Tap to Cast. 

The Google TV Streamer will have to prove it can compete with Apple TV

Now that the Google TV Streamer appears to be taking the set-top box form factor, the Apple TV is a natural competitor. Apple’s streaming box uses Apple silicon chips that are old, but still dwarfs the low-end processors found in current Chromecast streaming sticks. That helps the Apple TV 4K play games, deliver solid software experiences, and support plenty of video and audio formats. Apple’s form factor also supports Ethernet for faster streaming speeds.

It’s nice to see that Google may be following suit by offering more ports on the rumored Google TV Streamer. Ethernet is a huge plus, and facilitates a better experience overall. You won’t have to worry about buffering while trying to watch video content, or whether your Google TV box is too far away from your router. A wired internet connection still trumps wireless, and that’s why Ethernet would be a great addition to Google’s next streaming device.

However, there are reasons to be concerned about Google’s ability to compete with the Apple TV. For starters, we don’t know what processor will be inside the Google TV Streamer, and that will have a big impact on real-world performance. Plus, the omission of modern Wi-Fi specifications and UWB support makes me wonder what kind of price point the Google TV Streamer will target. Is it a higher-end Google TV device, or is it just a Chromecast with Google TV replacement in a different form?

The answer to that question might determine whether the Google TV Streamer will give the Apple TV a run for its money. Google has an event coming up shortly, so here’s to hoping we see more about the company’s smart home plans there. We’re looking forward to potentially seeing a Google TV Streamer debut, but a revamp of the Google Home and Nest product lines would be nice, too.

What you need to know

• Google announced a new casting feature that allows you to move your Spotify and YouTube Music between your Pixel phone and docked Pixel Tablet.
• Chromecast built-in is officially welcoming TikTok to the party, bringing all those viral hits straight to your big screen as well as the ability to cast live TikTok videos in the future.
• Chromecast is spreading its wings to more devices, including the 2024 LG TV series, and later this year, it's crashing into LG Hospitality and Healthcare.
• Soon, Matter devices will be simpler to add to your home network when LG TVs, a few Google TVs, and other Android TV OS devices serve as Google Home hubs.

At CES 2024, Google spilled the beans on a bunch of updates and fresh features for Chromecast, all aimed at making transferring media between devices smoother than ever.

Perhaps one of the most surprising announcements is Google's decision to make casting from short-form video apps like TikTok a native experience. Currently, casting TikTok videos from your Android phone to TV requires several steps, starting with mirroring the entire phone to the big screen.

Soon, the Cast icon will appear on every screen with playable content in the TikTok app's top right corner. And with auto-play enabled, it smoothly rolls into the next video without you lifting a finger.

Hitting more devices

Chromecast will also come to additional devices. The shiny new LG TVs hitting the shelves in 2024 will be flexing with built-in Chromecast. The Google TV squad is also growing, now with more members like the fresh Hisense ULED and ULED X Series, along with the latest TCL Q Class models and the hot-off-the-press QM7 line.

Google is also on a mission to prepare your smart home setup for the Matter takeover. Coming soon, LG TVs and some Google TV and other Android TV OS devices are stepping up as hubs for Google Home. So, if you've got a Nest Hub, Nest Mini, or a compatible TV, adding Matter devices to your home network and bossing them around with the Google Home app is about to be a piece of cake.

Casting to nearby devices

As for the Pixel Tablet, Google's rolling out a fresh trick to make casting from your phone a breeze. Say hello to the "Cast to devices nearby" feature, which lets you sling media onto your tablet by holding your phone close to it. This was spotted earlier last year.

When this kicks in, you can ditch the menu hassle on your device. Just make sure your Pixel Tablet is docked, and pick it as your casting target. Wave your phone in front of it, let the ultra-wideband chip work its magic, and you're beaming whatever media you want. Thanks to the ultra-wideband chip in the Pixel Tablet, it senses your device.

This feature is a two-way street. Your Pixel tablet sends music back to your Pixel phone, and all it takes is getting the phone cozy with the tablet again. But there's a catch—this cool trick is exclusive to the Pixel Pro models.

Chromecast's output switcher is getting a facelift as well, with better volume control and slick device categories. Plus, Fast Pair is hitting Chromecast with Google TV next month and spreading to more Google TV devices later this year.

Update 1/13/24: Meta has officially reinstated Chromecast support.

What you need to know

• Many users are reporting that the option to cast to a Chromecast has been removed from their Meta Quest headsets.
• Official documentation now states that "Chromecast is not fully supported with Meta Quest."
• Meta now recommends casting to a phone then mirroring to your device of choice.

Ever since the original Meta Quest, it's been easy to show everyone what you're doing in VR by casting to a Chromecast-enabled TV. Unfortunately, many users on social media have been reporting that the feature is no longer available, leaving Meta Quest players with the option to only cast to a smartphone or a computer.

We've written Meta about the issue but didn't hear back in time for publishing. Official documentation now states that "Chromecast is not fully supported with Meta Quest," leaving little doubt that Meta is slowly removing this key feature on headsets like the Meta Quest 3 for some reason.

Instead of directly casting to a Chromecast-enabled TV from your headset, Meta now wants players to first cast to the Meta Quest app on their smartphone or tablet. Once you see gameplay casting appear, Meta then recommends mirroring your device's display to the larger screen of your choice.

While this adds several steps to what used to be a simple casting process, there are a few positive points to the new process. Casing to the Meta Quest app allows VR players to still take screenshots and record videos. Casting directly to a Chromecast disabled this feature. Recording can also be done directly from the Meta Quest app on a phone or tablet.

This also means Meta Quest headsets can cast gameplay on Apple, Samsung, Miracast, and other types of devices instead of being relegated to just Google Chromecasts. Additionally, this method seems to be more reliable than direct Chromecasting, as direct Chromecasting was prone to crashing randomly.

Casting is one of the first things you should do with your Meta Quest 3 when you get it, but we're still not sure why Meta looks to be removing the feature instead of encouraging players to use the new method, instead. Until we hear for sure, stick with using the app first.

You can find dozens of different streaming devices running a variety of operating systems, but Chromecast and Fire TV are two of the most popular choices. FireTV is Amazon’s solution with its own interface and apps that work within its ecosystem. That even extends to the smart assistant, Alexa, that’s an integral part of the Fire TV experience. Similarly, Google TV on Chromecast brings a user interface and remote to the device so you don’t need to use your phone to support it. Google Assistant is also baked into the experience.

Both of these devices offer 4K streaming with HDR support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10+ with plenty of power to keep up with those resolutions. They also come with voice remotes so you can call up Alexa or Google Assistant with the press of a button to help you find the show you’re looking for.

For most people, the difference between these two devices will come down to the features, but there are still some significant hardware differences to consider.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Hardware comparison

The Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is the newer device, and the spec sheet proves it with meaningful upgrades like Wi-Fi 6 support and an increase in RAM over the last version. Compared to Chromecast, it has double the storage space at 16GB, so you can keep downloading content without running out of space.

The two biggest differences in terms of hardware are storage space and Wi-Fi. Amazon’s software is more powerful than ever, with both streaming and smart home applications available. The extra space makes it possible to download more to your Fire TV Stick 4K, so you don’t have to decide which apps to keep and which to delete.

Next up, Wi-Fi 6 is a welcome upgrade for the Amazon device, which gives it better download speeds when connected to a Wi-Fi 6 router. Wi-Fi 6 can also have better performance when signal quality is low thanks to tech like OFDMA and 1024-QAM, helping to avoid congestion. If you see a lot of loading bars on your content, it could be a worthwhile upgrade just for that.

These upgrades make this refresh one of the best Fire TV Sticks you can buy.

The remotes are also quite different, with Google opting for a compact modern look that is color-matched to your Chromecast. You can choose between a light blue color called Sky, a pinkish Sunrise hue, and a pure white shade called Snow. Google’s remote has a button to quickly call up Google Assistant, as well as one for Netflix and another for YouTube. For the most part, this is a solid remote, but as our Chromecast with Google TV review notes, it would have been nice to have fast-forward and rewind buttons.

Amazon’s remote is similarly equipped with an Alexa button in the center of the remote. The Fire TV Stick 4K and its remote only come in black. Towards the bottom, you get four shortcut buttons, two of which will be used for Prime Video and Netflix, while the other two will vary. Amazon offers more buttons and actions with its remote with a more cluttered look as a result.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Software features

By far, the biggest difference between the two is the ecosystem. That is to say, Chromecast with Google TV favors Google services like Google Assistant. You can also control your system with your Google account. This allows for tight integration with Nest products so you can see your camera feeds on your TV. The Google TV home screen features a list of your apps as well as tailored suggestions.

For the most part, it’s best to stick with the ecosystem you're most comfortable with already. If you’ve got Nest smart home tech installed, for example, the integration with Google TV will be better.

Similarly, Amazon’s interface shows you a list of your recent apps as well as suggested shows below and previews above. If you were looking for quick access to a grid of apps like you get on a Roku device, you may be disappointed. That being said, the interface is quick and easy to navigate and has all of the most popular streaming apps.

Amazon has added a new feature called Live View Picture-in-Picture, which allows you to treat your TV more like a smart home hub. You’ll be able to keep your video playing in a window while viewing your camera feeds, check the weather, stream music, and more. Amazon also allows you to use stereo Echo speakers and a subwoofer with your TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Which should you buy?

The Fire TV Stick 4K is technically superior to the Chromecast with Google TV, thanks to its added storage and Wi-Fi 6 support. That being said, if you already have products in one ecosystem, we recommend sticking with it. The Fire TV Stick works with Echo speakers, Alexa-enabled devices, and devices like cameras, so you can quickly check on the baby or see who’s at the door.

Google offers similar integration with the Google Assistant and its own line of Nest smart home tech. Google is missing some of the nicer features, like the ability to use smart speakers with your TV, but a decent soundbar would likely be a better choice anyway. If you’ve got Nest devices, you’ll see better integration with Google TV, including your security cameras and video doorbells.

What you need to know

• Sony announced that PS Remote Play is now available on Android TV devices.
• The compatibility means that users can stream their PS5 games on Chromecast with Google TV.
• The PS app update also introduced new accessibility features, multiplayer customizations and support for high-capacity SSDs. 

If you’re an avid PlayStation user, you can rejoice with a new way to stream your games via PS Remote Play. A new update for PS5 will allow you to cast your PS5 games directly to Chromecast on Google TV, as well as other devices. 

PlayStation announced a new software update this week that has arrived on PS5 consoles globally. The update includes a slew of features, including greater accessibility, audio options, and multiplayer session customizations. Most promising, however, is an integration between PS Remote Play and Google TV, which lends official support for casting a PS5 game.

The upgrade means that PS Remote Play (available on the Play Store) will be compatible with Android TV devices, allowing you to stream your PS5 games on Google TV. Specifically, though, the company notes that it works on the Chromecast with Google TV (4K model) and Sony’s BRAVIA XR A95L television model.

However, because — as Sony explains — the compatibility update applies to devices using Android TV OS 12 or newer, it’s likely that other streaming devices will be compatible. Further, the company suggests that other Android devices will be supported in the near future.

With the update, you'll be able to connect your DuelSense controller to your Chromecast with Google TV to play your favorite PS5 games.

Sony also notes that voice command options are available now on the PS app for gamers in the U.S. and the U.K., as well as the ability to react to messages with emojis and preview a fellow gamer’s Share Screen before joining a group on the app, just like you can on the console.

Elsewhere on the app, a few other updates that were initially available on PS5 beta are now available globally. These features include the ability to use a second controller for assistance or haptic feedback, which are both found in accessibility settings. Other recently arrived functions out of beta include support for devices that use Dolby Amos, as well as the ability to easily search for specific games, new party features for multi-playing, and support for high-capacity SSDs.

While the newfound compatibility between the PS Remote Play app and Android TV may not be cloud gaming, it sure extends your ability to stream your games to other TVs in your household.  

What you need to know

• Samsung Galaxy phones running One UI 6 will be able to cast apps and their displays to any Chromecast-enabled device.
• The setting was previously available in One UI 5.1 but needed a special developer code to be enabled.
• One UI 6 is currently in beta and is expected to roll out to dozens of Galaxy phones in the coming months.

Many years ago, Samsung built a screen-casting feature using a protocol called Miracast. This gave Samsung Galaxy phones the ability to cast their screens to Samsung TVs and other popular displays, but the tech didn't work with Google's own Chromecast devices. That's all changing with the next big Galaxy software update.

Samsung's next operating system update, One UI 6, is based on Android 14 and is expected to debut for dozens of Samsung Galaxy phones in the coming months. One UI 6 lets users cast their screens and any app on the phone to both Chromecast and Miracast-compatible displays, finally making it easier to cast without worrying about having compatible hardware.

Per SamMobile, the feature isn't enabled by default but can be quickly switched on by navigating to Settings > Connected devices > Smart View, heading to Smart View Labs by tapping the three dots in the top right, then enabling Chromecast support.

This feature actually debuted in One UI 5.1 but was hidden behind a special developer code so that developers could test their apps with the upcoming feature. With One UI 6, all users will be able to use the feature when enabled with the steps above. Since it's still a "labs" feature, though, you can expect some apps to act a bit funny when casting.

If you're using one of the best Samsung phones and are running One UI 5.1, you can still play around with the feature right now before One UI 6 launches just by following the above steps.

Once you're in the Smart View section, click the three dots in the top right and, hit Settings, then select About Smart View. On this screen, tap the text "Smart View" ten times until developer options appears, then enter code #00rtsp00 to gain access. Here, you'll find the option to enable Google Cast.

 Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T 

What you need to know

• Touchstream allegedly made the ability to share screens from smartphones to smart TVs before Google released Chromecasts.
• The company claims the technology was patented in 2010.
• Google released the Chromecasts in 2013, apparently infringing Touchstream's patents.
• Google denies claims and is ready to appeal the jury's decision.

Google has apparently violated a software developer's patents related to remote streaming technology, and now the search giant has been ordered to pay $338.7 million in damages, according to Reuters.

On Friday, the verdict came from a federal Jury in Waco, Texas. The lawsuit dates back to 2021, filed by Touchstream, a New York-based company alleging that its founder David Strober invented a technology in 2010 that allows videos to move from smartphones to larger smart TVs, which is basically what Google's Chromecast does.

The search giant introduced Chromecast streaming devices in 2013 after reportedly expressing "no interest" in Touchstream's technology in 2011. According to Touchstream's complaint, Google's products seemingly infringe on at least three of the company's patents.

According to Touchstream, this expands beyond the original Chromecast and includes Google devices like Home and Next speakers as well as other smart TVs that now have built-in Chromecast capabilities.

However, it's not just Google that the company is targeting, as Touchstream seems to have raised identical complaints with Comcast, Charter, and Altice, the cable providers in Texas in 2023, which are said to be pending.

As for this case, the jury ruled in favor of Touchstream and found Google's Chromecast and other search giant devices infringing patents of Touchstream Technologies.

However, Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda said the search giant would appeal the decision since it has "always developed technology independently and competed on the merits of our ideas." According to Reuters, Google had also denied that Touchstream's rights had been violated and claimed that the patents were invalid.

This isn't the only time this year Google has been ordered to pay up for patent infringement. Earlier this year, a court ruled in favor of Sonos following a long-time dispute over patents held by the audio company. Google was ordered to pay $32.5 million for infringing on one of Sonos' patents.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+ 

What you need to know

• Google is reportedly ending support for the first-gen Chromecast
• The device had a good ten year run when it comes to receiving updates.
• The last update was received in November last year.
• Users are said to notice a degradation in performance.

If you’re still on the first iteration of Google Chromecast, now might be a good time to consider upgrading to the search giant’s latest offering or look elsewhere. That's because Google is ending support and the firmware version your current Chromecast 2013 model is running might be the last.

Google has confirmed the end of support on Chromecast’s official support page (spotted by 9to5Google). The site, which traditionally showcases the latest firmware versions and releases notes of available Chromecast devices from Google, has shared the following statement:

“Support for Chromecast (1st gen) has ended, which means these devices no longer receive software or security updates, and Google does not provide technical support for them. Users may notice a degradation in performance.”

The first gen Chromecast runs on the 1.36.159268 version number, the last firmware upgrade that came with traditional bug fixes and improvements. The update was released back in November.

After serving an excellent ten-year run, it is understandable that Google discontinued the first Chromecast. This is considering the wide variety of options the search giant already provides, including the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) and the affordable Chromecast with Google TV (HD) being the latest.

Alternatively, you have many other streaming devices to choose from, both inexpensive and affordable segments.

Not just the latest ones, but support for the second-gen and third-gen models appears intact, at least for another year or more, given that Google has only decided to ditch the first one.

The first-gen Chromecast is also the only Chromecast device with an iconic key-shaped design, with one end serving with an HDMI port and the other being shaped akin to a Chrome icon. Google later adopted the round design with successive iterations.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | HBO Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+ 

Google's latest Chromecast with Google TV is one of the best streaming devices you can buy. Consolidating your services into one Google-Assistant-driven interface is pretty sweet. Chromecast with Google TV comes with a remote, but what if you can't find the remote or if you want to simply use your phone? 

You've got an app for that, and it's available widely around the globe. You can use the remote control in the app that was previously named Play Movies and TV, now known simply as Google TV. Alternatively, you can now use the Google Home app as well, but the features are limited. Just download either one and you can control your Chromecast with Google TV with your Android phone.

Note: This procedure only works if the Google TV device and your phone are both on the same Wi-Fi network. In cases where no Google TV is detected, the icon will not be where it should be.

How to use an Android phone as a Google TV remote (the long way)

1. Download and install the Google TV app from the Google Play store.

2. Launch the app.

3. Tap the Connect TV button in the lower right corner of the app.

4. The first time you launch the app, you'll need to grant location permission. Tap Allow.

5. You'll be presented with a list of available Google TV devices. Tap the device you want to control.

6. A six-digit code will appear on your TV. End the code into the app.

7. From here, you can use gestures to navigate the app. Swipe to the left to move left, etc. The Back, Home, and Assistant buttons function the way you'd expect them to. If swiping isn't your thing, you can tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

8. Tap D-pad control to switch to a D-pad.

How to use an Android phone as a Google TV remote (the quick way)

You can also add a quick tile to your Android phone to quickly access the remote.

1. Swipe down your notification shade.

2. Tap the pencil icon to edit your notification shade.

3. Locate the TV Remote icon. Tap and hold it and drag it onto your quick settings menu.

4. From there, the TV Remote icon will be available in your notification shade. Just tap it to be taken straight to the remote interface described above.

How to use Android phone as a Google TV remote with Google Home app

It hasn't been very long since Google added the Android TV remote to the Google Home app. Here's how you can use Google Home as a virtual Android TV remote control.

1. Download and install the Google Home app.

2. Launch the app.

3. Tap the Devices tab in the bottom toolbar.

3. Look for and select your device in the app.

4. Tap the Open remote button.

5. Enter the six-digit code that appears on your TV screen.

Upon entering the six-digit passcode, you'll be able to use your Android phone as a remote via Google Home. You don't get the option to switch to a directional pad, so it pales in comparison to the Google TV app. Still, it's better than nothing if you're on iOS and can't be bothered to install yet another app onto your iPhone just for remote controls.

Other test notes

As mentioned, if your phone is connected to a different network than your Google TV, the icons will not be where they're supposed to be. So that's the first thing you'll want to check.

There's a separate app called Android TV Remote, which is still available on the Google Play Store and iOS. In our testing, both apps failed to connect to the Chromecast. Unfortunately, there is no Google TV app for iOS. So, iOS users can either opt for the Android TV app or use the in-app remote within Google Home for iOS.

Two of the most popular streaming stick options are the Google Chromecast and the Amazon Fire TV Stick, both of which are priced at around $40. Streaming isn't always perfect, though, and if you're suffering from a poor connection or just having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi altogether, an Ethernet adapter could save you a lot of trouble by hard-wiring you directly into your connection.

The latest Google Chromecast lineup bumped up the ports to USB-C. Unfortunately, Amazon's Fite TV Stick devices are still hanging on to the dated micro-USB port for power. You'll need a USB-C Ethernet adapter if you're using the newer Chromecast devices, so choose the right adapter when making your decision. With that in mind, here are some of the best Ethernet adapters for Chromecast or Fire TV Stick.

Meet and greet the best Ethernet adapters for your streaming devices

• Back to the top ^

Stop struggling with inconsistent stream quality

There are several reasons why your home Wi-Fi might not be delivering the best signal to your Chromecast or Amazon Fire streaming device. It could be that your wireless network is over-encumbered by the number of devices connected, or it could be related to the distance between the wireless router and the streaming dongle. The walls of your home can also interfere with the signal. No matter what's causing the problem, a wired connection is the easiest solution because it eliminates interference and puts your streaming device at the head of the queue for net access.

You'll find plenty of adapters for sale that can achieve this connection: all you need is a micro-USB-to-Ethernet or USB-C-to-Ethernet adapting cable. Yet most of the adapters on this list only support 10/100 Ethernet, meaning that they deliver 10Mbps upload speeds and 100Mbps download speeds — although you'll only need to care about download speeds for streaming. This may be fine, but if your Wi-Fi can achieve higher speeds than 100Mbs, this may end up throttling your internet connection even further.

Thus, the Cable Matters Ethernet adapter stands above the crowd out of a mass of adequate adapters with the same transfer speeds. This model gives you up to 480Mbps download speed. Assuming your internet speed can reach that number, that'll be plenty fast for streaming 4K video on your Chromecast or Fire TV Stick. The best part is, Cable Matters offers two variants of the same ethernet adapter. One is for micro-USB and the other is for USB-C streaming devices.

What you need to know

• It appears that Netflix's cheaper plan with ads doesn't work on streaming devices without Google TV.
• The new ad-supported tier is also not supported on Apple TV at launch, though support is coming soon.
• Nonetheless, Netflix's ad-supported tier supports iOS, Amazon Fire TV devices, gaming consoles, Android phones, and more platforms.

Netflix's ad-supported plan just launched in select regions, but the $6.99-per-month tier may not be available on Apple TV and non-Google TV devices at launch. This means that if you want to use the new plan, you'll need to buy a new Chromecast with Google TV dongle.

This limitation was first spotted by 9to5Mac on Netflix's support page, which states that "Basic with Ads isn’t supported on Apple TV." It is not immediately clear why Netflix's cheaper tier skips that platform, but a company representative has told 9to5 that this is only temporary and that it plans to roll out support for Apple TV soon.

It will be surprising otherwise, given that Netflix Basic with Ads is accessible on iOS devices. Many ad-supported video on demand options are also available on Apple TV, making support for Netflix's lower-cost plan seem unthinkable.

Besides the Chromecast with Google TV, the new plan supports Amazon Fire TV devices, Android phones/tablets, game consoles like the PS4/PS5, and smart TVs. Meanwhile, many of the best streaming devices without the Chromecast with Google TV interface do not support Basic with Ads. The PlayStation 3 and Roku are also omitted in the list of compatible devices, though the latter's absence is apparently due to an oversight, per The Verge. It's not clear whether these devices will eventually pick up support for the ad-supported plan in the future.

While the cheaper tier sounds appealing to anyone looking to cut costs on their streaming subscriptions, if they don't mind the ad interruptions and a lower content resolution, the current limitation is a bit disappointing. 

For the time being, you may need a newer Chromecast with Google TV if you're using an unsupported piece of hardware. That said, the agony should not last long.

You'll have to forgive us for being a bit surprised at Google's decision to release the Chromecast with Google TV (HD). It's been over two years since the original Chromecast with Google TV was released, which replaced the aging Chromecast Ultra for your 4K streaming needs.

More than two years later, Google TV has slowly made its way into the best 4K TVs, giving you access to all of your favorite streaming services, and cloud gaming services (RIP Stadia). And considering that the original iteration is our pick for the best Android TV box, this begs the question, where does the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) fit?

Chromecast with Google TV (HD): Price and availability

The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) was introduced in September 2022, two years following the launch of the 4K version. Unlike its counterpart, the HD version is only available in one color (Snow) and retails for about $30. 

With that, you'll get the Chromecast dongle itself, a USB-C to USB-A cable, an accompanying charging brick, and Google's excellent remote. If you're interested in picking one of these up for yourself, it's now available at pretty much every online retailer and brick-and-mortar store you could imagine.

Chromecast with Google TV (HD): What you'll like

Out of the box, the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) already has a leg up on the one that came before it. Instead of shipping a new device with an outdated operating system, this new Chromecast comes with Android 12 onboard. In mid-October, Google leveled the playing field a bit by finally bringing the latest update to the 4K iteration, but it was still a bit odd to have the new software available on the new entry-level model first.

If you've used any of the best Android TVs released in the past year or two, then you'll find yourself right at home. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) brings the same great experience, and you can get started simply by plugging it into an open HDMI port on your TV. Of course, you'll also need to either use the included power adapter or plug the USB-C to USB-A cable into a USB port on your TV. Just make sure it can deliver enough power, or you might experience a few hiccups.

Going through the initial setup process has been made a little easier thanks to the new "Quick connect" option. Instead of manually entering your Wi-Fi network's long and complicated password (at least it should be), you can just point a phone connected to the same network at a QR code that appears on the screen. From there, it'll just be a few moments before you can finish setting everything up for the first time.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this new streaming device is that Google includes the same great remote that was first introduced with the Chromecast with Google TV (4K). This includes having quick access buttons for YouTube and Netflix, along with a dedicated Google Assistant button and even volume controls on the side.

There's really not too much to point out about the interface that you already haven't seen yourself. It's the same great Google TV that we've come to know and love over the past few years, complete with multiple profiles, and still being able to cast from your phone to whatever TV you're using.

Chromecast with Google TV (HD): What you won't

The most obvious omission when looking at the entire Chromecast with Google TV (HD) package is the lack of 4K support. Obviously, if you're considering this or one of the best streaming devices, you'll know whether you want (or need) a dongle capable of 4K streaming.

And while it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, Google also decided to cut any Dolby Vision support from its latest Chromecast. On the bright side, you will find HDR10, HDR 10+, and even Dolby Atmos support (via HDMI passthrough). However, make sure you know which Chromecast with Google TV you're actually picking up, otherwise, you might be disappointed when you get home and get things plugged in.

While I absolutely adore the included remote, which will also likely work seamlessly to control your TV, I do wish Google would make a slight tweak. With the plethora of streaming services out there, I would have liked to see the Netflix shortcut button replaced with a customizable one. I'm sure there are workarounds to this, but I would much prefer Google to let us do it from the built-in Settings app instead.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I was pretty shocked to see TikTok pre-installed on the Chromecast with Google TV (HD). Maybe there's some undocumented partnership between Google and TikTok. But when you have a streaming device that's already hurting when it comes to storage, pre-installing apps doesn't make much sense. Yes, you can uninstall the app manually, but at the very least, a screen during the setup process asking whether we wanted to have it installed or not would have been enough.

Chromecast with Google TV (HD): The competition

The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is facing some pretty stiff competition, even when compared to other Android TV and Google TV devices. Google's most obvious competitor here is the Fire TV Stick, which is $10 more expensive and is also "limited" to HD content. But I would argue that despite the various ads that Amazon constantly throws in your face, the Fire TV still feels like a more mature platform in some regards.

From there, if you look within the realm of Android TV devices, you can't ignore the .onn Android TV 4K Streaming Device. The name is somehow even more awkward than Google's latest Chromecast, but for just $20, you're also able to stream all the 4K content you want. The remote is arguably a bit better too, as there are a total of four shortcut buttons in addition to all of the TV controls you'll need and a dedicated Google Assistant button.

We would also be remiss if we didn't point out the Roku Express, which was updated earlier this year. While it doesn't hang off the back of your TV's HDMI port, there's an HDMI cable included in the box. Plus, it provides the same Roku experience that you would find on the company's more expensive streaming solutions.

Chromecast with Google TV (HD): Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You want Google TV on the cheap.
• You want to add smarts to a non-smart TV.
• You want a streaming dongle for traveling.
• You don't care about 4K streaming.

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You want to host content directly on the Chromecast.
• You are worried about storage constraints.
• You want to be able to stream in 4K.

Although I feel as though Google could have, and probably should have, released the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) at least a year ago, it's nice to see another option hit the market. So what if it doesn't have 4K, chances are you might not even notice the difference, especially if you're just watching some sports or perusing YouTube. Plus, it still does everything else that the 4K version can do, right down to including the same remote and the same amount of storage.

Speaking of which, if you really want to "beef up" your streaming dongle, you can grab a USB-C hub (with power delivery), plug in external storage, and access it all from the Chromecast. But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that Google's next streaming device is something more akin to the Fire TV Cube or NVIDIA Shield TV.

Nevertheless, if you want a cheap way to enjoy Google TV and don't care about whether you have 4K playback, the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) would be our first suggestion. And with the 2022 holiday season upon us, you'll likely be able to find it on sale, making it even more appealing.

What you need to know

• Google is likely gearing up to launch a cheaper Chromecast next month.
• The real-world images of the alleged Chromecast reveal its design.
• A newly obtained code of the suspected device shows more technical information.

Over the past few weeks, new rumors circulated the web suggesting a new affordable Chromecast from the company is also gearing up for launch. A recent report also implied that a cheaper HD Chromecast with Google TV might be around the corner just in time for the fall event, and now we have what could be our first look at the device.

Courtesy of Tecnoblog, real-world images of alleged Chromecast are out now. Alongside the shared images, the report has also mentioned that they found approval documents at the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) — implying the device launch is, in fact, just around the corner.

These images showcase the anticipated design of the new upcoming Chromecast, which looks identical to the Chromecast with Google TV, which launched a couple of years ago. With an attached HDMI cable, the alleged device is found in a white colorway and an oval shape.

Going by the images, we can see the model number G454V of the Chromecast, which ideally matches the earlier leaks outlined above. The same model numbers can also be seen in the recent FCC filing.

The upcoming Chromecast is expected to be powered by Amlogic S805X2 quad-core chip with support for AV1. In addition, the documentation also reveals the upcoming Chromecast is said to feature support for dual-band Wi-Fi next to Bluetooth LE in terms of connectivity. Since it is touted as an affordable alternative, the device will likely stream up to 1080p and not 4K.

Developer Kuba Wojciechowski further corroborates the "Chromecast HD," according to a new software build from Nest's regulatory report. Through his series of tweets, he shared his findings from the alleged build, which gave more details about the streaming device.

The build hints at a Chromecast HD device with Google TV and is based on Android 12. He further confirms the chipset and RAM, saying it will ship with 1.5GB of RAM and not 2GB. That means an update to Android 13 may be unlikely, as the minimum RAM requirement for the OS is set at 2GB.

Furthermore, he insists the Chromecast HD will support seamless A/B updates with compression, which can help avoid some of the storage problems that the current model faces. This is especially important given the "budget" nature of the dongle, hopefully allowing users to get more out of their devices.

Lastly, a diagram of the alleged Chromecast remote buried in the firmware looks similar to the Chromecast 4K model.

The MadeByGoogle fall event is less than a month away. With multiple affirmations, it looks like the new Chromecast is going to launch sooner than later to take on other cheaper streaming devices. And we already know what to expect from the launch, including new Pixel 7 models, a brand new Pixel Watch, and a series of Nest products from Google.

The Oculus Quest is an excellent device to bring to parties. It doesn't require any external sensors or wires, so you can bring it anywhere and pass it around so everyone can play. However, if you want people to see what's going on inside the headset rather than watch someone flail their arms around, you'll need a Chromecast device. Even though there is a wide range of supported devices for casting the quest, the best three options are the first three devices that supported casting, and the best of the best is the Chromecast Ultra.

Check out these great Chromecast for your Oculus Quest.

The Google Chromecast Ultra has a similar design to the Chromecast 3rd generation but has one key difference that effects Oculus Quest streaming, the ability to connect it using ethernet. By connecting the Chromecast Ultra to an Ethernet port, you're removing one wireless component from the casting equation. Even if you use it over Wi-Fi, users have reported that the Chromecast Ultra works better when it comes to casting the Oculus Quest.

When it comes to streaming media content, the Chromecast Ultra pumps in a lot more power than the standard Chromecast. The Chromecast Ultra supports 4K and HDR. If you're looking for a media device to stream 4K content and to cast your Oculus Quest, then the Chromecast Ultra is your best option.

The third-generation Chromecast is the least expensive device that's officially supported for streaming the Oculus Quest. The performance of streaming varies on a variety of factors, including Wi-Fi strength and if you're on a 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz band. 5Ghz is generally preferred for casting the Oculus Quest. While this budget-friendly Chromecast works with casting the Oculus Quest, many users have had stuttering or connectivity issues. We've used this ourselves, and it worked reasonably well in our testing. Still, if you have the budget, it might be worth looking at more expensive options.

In addition to being able to stream the Oculus Quest, the Google Chromecast 3rd Generation delivers over 2,000 apps in 1080p. It's a great budget-friendly option for people with 1080p TVs or users on a budget.

The NVIDIA Shield TV is a 4K HDR media streaming box that can also play games from the Google Play Store. It has a library of popular PC games that you can download and play and allows you to cast PC games to your living room TV. Now, with the addition of Oculus Quest casting, the NVIDIA Shield is an even better hub for gamers.

The NVIDIA Shield is the best Android TV available and one of the only devices that can stream so many different types of content. The only reason that it's not the best overall device on this list is its price. At $200 for the pro edition, the NVIDIA Shield is an expensive purchase if you're just planning to use it for Oculus Quest streaming. You can get a non-pro version for $150, but that's still expensive when compared to the other entries on this list. If you already have the NVIDIA Shield TV or you're looking for an Android TV device, this is your best option. If you're having a hard time picking between the Shield TV and the Shield TV Pro, check out our guide comparing them.

Bottom line

There are more options than ever for casting your Oculus Quest. The Oculus Quest recently gained support for more casting devices, including the NVIDIA Shield TV, Google Home Hub, and some smart TVs. It also works with all generations of Chromecast.

The Google Chromecast Ultra is the best option for Oculus Quest casting because it supports ethernet connectivity which will ensure a solid connection. It's also a better streaming device with support for 4K HDR media.

To increase your chances of seamless casting, you should attach your Chromecast through Ethernet, if possible. If you are using Wi-Fi, you should use a 5Ghz band to reduce interference. When it works smoothly, casting the Oculus Quest to a Chromecast instantly livens up a party and lets you share your VR experience with everyone around you.

What you need to know

• Google previously altered its ambient displays on Nest Hub and Chromecast products during COVID to save internet bandwidth.
• The company slowed down slideshow timing and lowered resolution to keep ambient displays from "clogging up the pipes."
• Google is reverting that practice and restoring the original timing and resolution of photos for ambient displays.

For the past two years, Chromecast and Nest Hub ambient displays — that's the term for the constantly rotating stock of pretty pictures on your TV or smart display — have been a little different than originally designed. Starting today, Google is reverting this practice and returning those ambient displays to their former glory. That means photos will be displayed at full resolution on each display and the cadence at which pictures appear will once again be quicker.

Google made the announcement in a community post, detailing the previous practice, which was intended to help save bandwidth worldwide by reducing the frequency at which photos cycle on smart displays and Chromecasts. Additionally, Google reduced the resolution of these photos for the same reason. Google says this practice is no longer necessary because of reduced internet traffic worldwide. During the pandemic, it was common to see companies like Netflix reducing the quality of video streams for the same reason.

While the resolution of photos on ambient displays will automatically be adjusted to their proper resolution, you can change the speed at which the ambient display cycles through photos. These are the steps Google outlines to do that:

• Open the Google Home app.
• Touch and hold your device's tile.
• At the top right corner, tap Settings.
• For Chromecasts, tap Ambient mode. For Displays, tap Photo Frame.
• Scroll down and under Slideshow speed, select your preferred speed (5s, 10s, 30s, 1m, 3m, 5m, 10m) 

Just this week, Google added Fitbit and Google Fit integration to Google Assistant, which will soon allow you to view your daily fitness stats at a glance on Nest Hub displays. Google is also removing the need to say "Hey, Google" on the Nest Hub Max for customers who enroll in the beta program, removing a small annoyance from the lives of Nest Hub Max owners.

What you need to know

• During Google IO 2022, Google revealed it plans to let you cast content from your phone to your car's entertainment display. 
• It will cast audio without displaying video that could disrupt drivers' attention.
• Google will also let you cast your Android phone to a Chromebook for the first time.
• Google announced a new list of casting partners in the audio and TV space, including Sennheiser, LG, Bose, Sony, JBL, Vizio, and TCL.

Amidst the flurry of Google I/O 2022 news arriving on Wednesday, Google dropped an intriguing Chromecast hint for people who spend a lot of time on the road. Google Senior Product Manager Liza Ma revealed that you'll be able to cast content from your Android phone to your car's entertainment display.

Separate from Android Auto, this new casting feature would let you send a video from your phone directly to your car's display. 

We don't know yet which cars will support the feature, or whether you'll actually be able to watch video on the display — which would be incredibly distracting for drivers. We assume it'll just play audio, or would possibly only work while parked. We'll reach out to Google for more details and update this post if they respond.

Ma also explained that you'll be able to cast videos from Android phones to Chromebooks, too. We recently spotted a similar feature in the Android 13 beta where you could broadcast a separate virtual display from your Pixel device to your laptop or desktop computer, but casting seems like a simpler and more universal solution.

With a more natural connection between your phone and the best Chromebooks, you'll be able to keep watching your favorite apps without having to find the content on both screens.

Lastly, Ma mentioned that Google is "working to extend casting capabilities to new partners and products," with a list of companies displayed behind her. The list includes Bang & Olufsen, Bose, JBL, LG, Philips, Sennheiser, Sony, TCL, Vizio — most of which sell a combination of TVs, soundbars, and speakers. In theory, all of the best Android phones will soon connect more easily with a wider range of devices.

While many new 4K TVs have Chromecast built-in, some people want the benefit of casting without having to use the Android or Google TV interface. 

With a Chromecast Ultra or Chromecast with Google TV, you can stream in 4K with the added benefit of HDR or Dolby Vision. 

We're here to help you find the best 4K TVs for Chromecast — either built-in or as a peripheral — with the LG C3 OLED TV standing at the top of the list.

At a glance

Best overall

There's a lot to love about the LG C3 from its ultra-thin design to the vibrant OLED panel. Its Alpha a9 Gen. 6 processor will upscale your cast content to 4K beautifully and naturally, something the Chromecast can't handle on its own. And it adds four HDMI 2.1 ports, which enable 4K gaming at 120Hz if you own a next-gen console like the PS5.

Generally speaking, LG's OLED TVs are a thing of beauty. They bring nearly perfect blacks and vivid colors with incredibly sharp images and crystal-clear motion. The LG C3 adapts naturally to the light in your room, hits a solid level of brightness while still offering rich black levels, and offers HDR, HLG, and Dolby Vision. There's even a new panel with "self-lit pixels" with amazing visual quality, but that version will cost you about a grand extra, more than most can afford.

For cloud gaming, the TV supports ALLM and VRR that'll lead to super-low input lag and the best refresh rates possible for your games. While casting, it even has an AI sound upscaling feature that will make stereo soundtracks sound like they're native to Atmos. The TV has Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in, so you can easily swap between streaming apps. And like many smart TVs these days, the LG C1 has a ThinQ AI-based home screen that will learn and emphasize your favorite apps and shows.

Available from 42 inches to 83 inches, the LG C3 OLED is more expensive than some other 4K TVs, plus the popularity of the 2023 model means that it can be a bit difficult to get your hands on. That said, if you can afford it, the LG C3 Series offers some of the best TVs on the market. 

Best cheap pick

TCL makes solid TVs that come at very agreeable prices. You don't get a ton of frills, nor the best picture quality, but the company's S-Class TVs come in different sizes and are more about access than they are about providing the best features. This may not be the best choice for your living room, but for other rooms in the house or as a budget-friendly starter set to get into 4K, it's a great choice.

Unlike TCL's Q-Class QD-Mini LED TVs, the S-Class models are mostly about convenience at an entry-level price. You get Google TV built-in, so it's a smart TV out of the box with access to the most popular streaming apps available without having to splurge for a streaming box. That also means you have a Chromecast built-in to expand your content options even further through your phone or tablet.

Easy to set up and place in a room that won't be your primary viewing area, this TV is pure bang for your buck. However, you put the money down for something that won't give you the best picture quality and gives you terrible sound through the built-in speakers. Despite the limitations, you can try features like the Game Mode, Dolby Atmos, and an eARC HDMI port. 

Best value

Vizio's newer V-Series Quantum TVs strike a nice balance between quality and price, continually proving to be the best value in the business. With this TV, you're getting multiple sizes to choose from ranging from 43-inches to 75-inches, all of which are full array LED with 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, the typical slate of apps, and built-in Chromecast support. Vizio SmartCast is the rare non-Android TV service to offer it, letting you save an HDMI slot for something else.

Support is wide-ranging beyond all that. You get HDR10+ and HLG formats, plus full array LED backlighting that brightens and darkens based on the content on screen. While it won't match what an OLED can do, it does close the gap enough to make a V-Series TV appear more brilliant than you might otherwise expect. It will even recognize black bars from ultra-wide content and darken them completely, and it can upscale low-res content with its IQ Ultra Processor.

With two ports supporting HDMI 2.1 for next-gen gaming and one eARC port, the Vizio V-Series Quantum will handle your next-gen consoles or Dolby Atmos output to a soundbar, while its own internal speakers have DTS Virtual X built-in. The refresh rate goes up to 120Hz, and with a gaming mode, hooking up a console should lead to some intense moments when playing your favorite titles.

Best premium pick

Here's another excellent TV for shoppers with some money to burn. Samsung QLEDs use an LCD-based technology made up of quantum dots for a stunning picture and fantastic response times while avoiding pixel burn-in. Most LCD TVs won't quite stack up against OLEDs for visual quality, but Samsung's QLED closes that gap. Of course, you'll have to attach your own Chromecast, but many shoppers will prefer Samsung's Tizen OS with Google TV on the side to Android TV. As an alternative, Samsung Galaxy phone owners can mirror their screen on the Q80D, but that obviously shuts out anyone without one.

This is a bright TV with better contrast, colors, and blacks than most other standard LED TVs. An anti-reflective finish ensures you won't see yourself mirrored when the screen is darker. Like many of its competitors, Samsung has a powerful AI upscaling engine that'll boost your non-4K cast content, plus support for HDR10+ and HLG. Unfortunately, Samsung continues to neglect Dolby Vision support, which will limit the visual quality of some of your Chromecast content.

All four HDMI ports support 4K at 120Hz, making it well-suited for gaming. For example, it has a Game Bar that lets you check your current FPS and input lag performance or even change the aspect ratio to something wider, giving you a better view of the battlefield.

Best for gaming

When it comes to 4K Android TVs, Sony-branded sets should be the first you consider. They're typically top-class and ready to go head-for-head against other popular brands like LG and Samsung. It always helps that Sony also makes one of the most popular game consoles available, and the XR80 caters to the PlayStation 5 with features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Put together, both help optimize image quality while gaming or streaming content. Not to mention you have four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K/120Hz gaming on top of that.

Sony's XR Triluminos Pro can really make the picture pop without oversaturated colors or weird skin tones. Black levels will be outstanding, presenting some of the best contrast you'll find anywhere. Even if you have lower-resolution content, you can utilize the Cognitive Processor XR to upscale audio and video but also improve color and contrast performance to 4K content. You can use the built-in Chromecast to beam over anything you want to see that's compatible, or access what you can through Google TV. There's support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and AirPlay 2, along with a few credits for movies from Sony's Pictures Core service.

This is a high-end OLED that isn't purely for gaming, but undoubtedly makes games look their best. Viewing angles are still better when you're looking at it dead on, and it may not be as bright as LED TVs in brighter rooms.

Best midrange pick

Hisense TVs don't always get the same visibility other more familiar brands might, but they get the job done and provide fantastic value in a 4K HDR TV. The U8 Series is a great example when you consider it comes in four sizes ranging from 55-inches all the way to 100-inches, all for less than many of the other comparable options out there. With that kind of variety available, you have options to consider.

There's a lot to like here, starting with higher brightness and reduced reflections that make any U8 size ideal for brighter rooms. In turn, you'll get deep blacks and excellent contrast when watching something or playing games in darker settings. That includes 144Hz and VRR support, making this a proper gaming TV if you plan to set up a console with it. The only challenge is the narrower viewing angle doesn't make it as ideal for consistently watching anything with a larger group, unless you get one of the larger screen sizes.

It has Google TV built-in, so that means Chromecast compatibility right out of the box. Cast over whatever content you like, or even mirror your Android phone screen over. Dolby Vision and Atmos come to life when you play compatible content, and with the various specs involved, the U8 Series is built with some future-proofing in mind.

• Back to the top^

The best of the best

With the Chromecast with Google TV, you get practically every streaming app and 4K+ format you could ask for, with the option to stream other content from your phone or computer. The new Chromecast is so affordable that while you could choose one of the best 4K Android TVs with the service built-in, we suggest focusing on choosing the best TV and then adding the affordable dongle after the fact.

Any of the TVs on this list will get the job done and wow you with their picture quality, but the best 4K TV for Chromecast through a balance of price and amazing quality is the latest LG C3 OLED TV. Of course, you'll still be paying a lot of money for it. Still, you get basically everything you'd want in a TV: next-gen gaming performance, excellent color contrast, a powerful upscaling processor, and plenty of smarts.

If you're hoping to pay less, there are cheaper 4K TVs to consider instead. But with most of these TV sets, paying a little more now can mean it'll look great for much longer, saving you money in the long run.

Using a Chromecast is simple enough. You can either stream movies or music natively on Google's popular dongle, or you can "cast" content from your phone or laptop to the Chromecast, even if it isn't available through Google's app store.

Now that the old Chromecast (3rd Gen) and Chromecast Ultra are largely defunct, Chromecast with Google TV is the future of Google's casting ecosystem, with Google TV making Chromecast a proper "streaming stick" to rival Roku and Amazon Fire instead of a mere extension of your other devices.

Below, we've broken down how Chromecast works, which model you should buy, what the deal is with the new Google TV OS, which devices can cast to one, any new features that the Chromecast lineup has for you to try, and whether there are any new Chromecasts coming out soon.

On that note, here's everything you need to know about your current or future Chromecast!

Price and availability

Currently, your two Chromecast options are the standard Chromecast with Google TV (4K) and the Chromecast with Google TV (HD). Our linked reviews explain what to expect from either device. 

The HD Chromecast with Google TV comes in at a retail price of just $30. Comparatively, the Chromecast with Google TV will set you back $50.

Both models are readily available from most major retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H, and the Google Store (to name a few). 

Chromecast: Which should you buy?

If you're in the market for a Chromecast but aren't 100% sure which one is right for you, try not to sweat it too much — we're going to help you decide right now. 

Your baseline option is the Chromecast with Google TV HD, which comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, a charging brick, and a remote. Setting it up is as simple as plugging it into your TV port and connecting to it with the Google Home app on your Android phone or iPhone. 

With it, you can access all of the main video streaming apps or cast to your TV. You'll find the exact same content as on the 4K Chromecast with Google TV; the only difference is in the name: the HD Chromecast can only hit a maximum of 1080p. Your 4K TV might be able to upscale the content, but it won't look as good as if it were in native 4K. 

By spending the extra $20 for the advanced version, you get 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support. This primarily matters if you own a 4K TV and you subscribe to streaming services that actually use this tech.

Both of these dongles are among the best Android TV boxes money can buy. Interestingly, your best affordable option may not even come from Google: the onn. Google TV 4K streaming box costs less than the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) while hitting the same 4K standard as the higher-end dongle (though no Dolby Vision or Atmos, unfortunately).

Otherwise, you may want to look into the best Android TVs. These all have Chromecast functionality built into them so you can spare an HDMI port for something else. Just check and make sure whether the TV supports Android TV or the new Google TV OS; many of the newer TVs are called Android TVs but really use the Google TV OS.

Casting

The difference between a Chromecast and other streaming dongles is your ability to connect different devices to your television, from Chromebooks to Android phones to your Oculus Quest. Android TV offers most of the major streaming apps, but casting lets you step beyond apps and stream nearly anything from a browser to your television.

You have two main options for casting. One is to open a media app on your phone and find the Cast icon (a rectangle with wi-fi waves superimposed on the bottom-left corner). The other is to open a video in the Chrome app and then find the Cast tab option in the browser options. 

Either way, you'll find your Chromecast or Android TV listed in the available devices, so long as both devices are on the same wi-fi network. Also, if you use a Chromebook, you can cast your entire display screen using the Cast option. 

Google TV

As its name implies, one of the main draws to the Chromecast with Google TV is, well, Google TV. It's an interface layered on top of Android TV designed to help simplify your various streaming apps and more easily discover content to watch.

The home screen of Google TV is called "For you," and on this page, you can browse through a heap of recommended TV shows and movies based on what's currently trending, what Google thinks you're interested in, and recommendations based on things you've previously watched. Selecting a title will give you more information about it, along with shortcuts to instantly start watching it on whichever service is hosting it.

Google's idea around Google TV is that, rather than jumping back and forth between multiple streaming apps, you can find all of your available content right within the Google TV interface. And you know what? It actually works pretty damn well. Google TV is dead simple to navigate, it's substantially easier to find new things to watch, and its content recommendations are genuinely useful.

Of course, you'll need the right apps in order to get the best recommendations. We have a guide on how to download and uninstall Chromecast with Google TV apps. 

You can also create a Google TV watchlist of movies and shows you want to see, and then receive notifications when that content becomes available for free on specific apps. That way, you can wait patiently for something rather than pay to rent it.

Otherwise, if you want to get a bit experimental and use unsupported apps, you can sideload an app on your Chromecast.

What's next for Chromecast?

In 2023, a code leak indicated that Google may be developing a new Chromecast with Google TV. We don't know anything about it yet, but we can hope it'll support the AV1 codec, add more RAM and storage, and could even take a page from the Nvidia Shield and improve AI upscaling, given Google's recent focus on AI. 

We also saw a rumor that Google could resurrect Chromecast Audio, a dongle discontinued in 2019 that converted a standard audio speaker into a "smart" speaker with Google integration. So we'll have to keep an eye out for that. 

In the meantime, Google is continuing to tinker with its current streaming dongles. A 2023 Chromecast update shrunk app sizes by 25% while also reducing lag, specifically "the time it takes to wake up your Google TV, the response time between your TV and button clicks on your remote, and the amount of time you see the loading animation when rebooting your device."

With the release of Android 12, Google brought forth one of the largest changes to the mobile OS that we've ever seen. Thanks to the new Material You theming engine, our devices have become more personalized than ever before, without needing to install a third-party launcher. However, the update also "broke" the ability to control Chromecast volume with your Android phone.

This came as quite a shock to many, as with previous versions of Android, you could just use the hardware volume buttons on your Android phone. But with Android 12, you could no longer control music or videos streaming to something like your best Android TV or Nest Audio without opening another app.

How to control Chromecast volume with your Android phone

The reason that Android 12 removed the ability to control your Chromecast volume using your phone came following a legal dispute between Google and Sonos. It was found that Google was infringing on some of the patents, forcing the company to re-think how it was going to implement controlling volume for casted media.

Thankfully, those problems were resolved following the January 2022 update for Pixel phones. This fix has also been implemented with Android 12L and the Developer Preview for Android 13. Suffice to say, if you own a Pixel device and are running the latest version available, you can control the volume of the best Assistant speakers just by pressing the Volume Up and Down buttons on your phone.

What if you're on Android 12?

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for those who are still running Android 12 and have yet to receive the January 2022 update. If you fall into that camp, all hope is not lost if you want to control the volume of your Chromecast.

1. Open the Google Home app on your Android phone.
2. Select the speaker or display that you want to control the volume for.
3. Drag the slider to control Chromecast volume.

This method is definitely a bit cumbersome, but it's better than not being able to control the volume of your Chromecast at all. Even still, there is another method for controlling your Chromecast volume from your Android phone.

Google Assistant arguably remains the best of the best when it comes to digital assistants. And thanks to the integration between Assistant and Nest or Home devices, you can just use your voice to control the volume. Simply say "Hey Google, turn the volume up", and the speaker will respond accordingly.

Things are getting back to normal

Admittedly, Google's need to change up how we can control the volume of our Chromecast devices has been a bit frustrating. But it seems as though we're getting back to some type of normalcy. For many, you should be able to control the volume just with your phone's hardware volume buttons. But at least not all hope is lost in the event that you are on Android 12 and haven't received Google's patch. You'll just need to rely on Google Home or Assistant to change the volume if that's the case.

Update, Jan 24 (4:45 p.m. ET): New information emerges of low-end Google TV dongle

What you need to know

• A new Chromecast with Google TV device is reportedly in the works.
• No information has been provided, although we suspect it could include support for the AV1 video format.
• Google may release the new dongle later in 2022.

The Chromecast with Google TV debuted only a year and a half ago, but a successor is reportedly in the pipeline already. The search giant is rumored to be preparing to introduce an upgraded Chromecast with Google TV later this year.

Internal documentation and code analysis confirm the existence of the device, codenamed "Boreal," according to 9to5Google. The streaming dongle could potentially be an upgrade over the existing Chromecast with Google TV, though its specifications are unknown.

That said, a new processing power and AV1 video format support may be in the cards. The latter, in particular, is being reportedly required by Google to be present in newer Android TV models, per XDA Developers. However, Google's current streaming device does not support the AV1 format.

For starters, AV1 codec should minimize bandwidth requirements when streaming videos without significantly compromising quality. More importantly, it's a royalty-free format, unlike previous standards that were costly to license, such as AVC

It remains unclear, though, whether the rumored dongle is a successor to one of the best streaming devices or simply a higher-end model. But seeing as the device has a new internal codename, we could be looking at a replacement. We can only hope that Google will also address the current Chromecast's major flaw in the upcoming dongle.

Update, Jan 24 (4:45 p.m. ET) ― "Boreal" could be a low-end Chromecast with Google TV dongle

New information has emerged about the rumored Chromecast with Google TV device. As reported by Protocol on Monday, the new device could be dubbed "Chromecast HD with Google TV."

As the name suggests, we're likely looking at a lower-end version of Google's current dongle, one that only supports 1080p/60fps and not 4K.

Protocol says the device will be powered by an Amlogic S805X2 CPU with a Mali-G31 GPU, allowing support for the AV1 video codec — something the current model doesn't support.

By launching an HD model, Google appears to be targeting other smart TV platforms like Roku and Amazon Fire TV, both of which sell a range of models in the high and low-end. This could make the Google TV platform much more accessible, as it will likely come with a sub $50 price tag.

It's not clear when such a device is expected to launch.

Chromecast with Google TV

Google's latest streaming device has everything you could want, including 4K HDR support, Dolby Vision and Atmos support, and a remote for the first time. When you combine all of that with the excellent Google TV interface and a low price, the Chromecast with Google TV becomes one of Google's best new products in a long time.

• $50 at Best Buy
• $50 at B&H

What you need to know

• Google appears to have restored Chromecast volume controls for most apps on Android 12.
• Volume controls for Chromecast media sessions were removed last year due to a legal issue.
• However, the capability remains missing on the Google Pixel 6 series.

The ability to control the volume of an active Chromecast media session using the volume rocker on a Pixel phone disappeared with the release of Android 12 due to a legal dispute. Fortunately, the volume controls have now returned with the January patch for Pixels.

Following the January 2022 update for Pixel phones, most apps now let you adjust the Chromecast volume with your handset's volume rocker. The volume slider appears without issue when casting from Spotify to a Google Nest Hub, as discovered by Mishaal Rahman.

Previously, the volume controls for Chromecast sessions were still visible in the audio settings of Android 12 phones, albeit greyed out. Late last year, a Googler confirmed that the volume controls were intentionally removed with the Android 12 Beta 3 rollout due to a legal issue. While not confirmed, the dispute was most likely related to Google's patent battle with Sonos.

The feature should now be available on eligible phones, such as the Pixel 5a, that received the January update. However, there are a few exceptions. Owners of the Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro will have to wait a bit longer to use the feature. Following a few significant issues with the December patch, the update is set to be released later this month to Google's best Android phones.

Google's January patch is now available for the Pixel 3a through the Pixel 5a. It contains a number of bug fixes, including one for the Microsoft Teams bug that prevented users from dialing 911.

Previously, the search giant was working on a fix to the Chromecast volume control issue that was supposed to be included in Android 12L, but it appears the company has discovered a workaround to restore the feature sooner than expected.

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Roku Streaming Stick 4K

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the brand's most powerful and fastest streaming stick yet. In addition to featuring a new compact design, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K boasts long-range Wi-Fi and supports both Dolby Vision and Apple AirPlay. It also comes with the Roku Voice Remote.

Google Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV features an excellent app library of free content that, combined with AI recommendations and Google Assistant navigation, makes your fave shows and movies even easier to find. Google's casting tech and 4K + Dolby Vision capabilities make the dongle hard to beat.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV are easily the best 4K streaming devices at an affordable price and are often on sale. Both devices also provide users with easy access to streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ and offer a unique experience for all types of streaming fans.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Features and specs

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K and Chromecast with Google TV provide an excellent streaming experience and support 4K and HDR10+ video quality. While Roku products previously stood out for their support of Dolby Vision, it's worth pointing out the latest version of the Chromecast with Google TV now includes support for Dolby Vision.

Both devices also include options for external storage, support casting, and limited Bluetooth capabilities. When it comes to specifics, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a smaller device, which makes it easier to hide behind your TV. However, the Chromecast with Google TV comes in various colors and boasts twice as much internal storage space at 8GB.

Regarding casting, Roku allows you to cast from apps already downloaded on both your mobile device and your Roku device and supports Apple Airplay. Meanwhile, Chromecast supports casting from Android devices as casting from apps on iOS or other platforms that support Chromecast.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Roku Channel Store vs. Google TV

As mentioned previously, both the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV give users access to pretty much every major streaming service. In fact, the only significant app Roku currently lacks is YouTube TV, which was removed in December 2021 due to an ongoing licensing dispute between the two brands.

However, it's worth pointing out that Apple users can still access the YouTube TV and YouTube apps through AirPlay on Roku, and Android users can continue using the screen-mirroring function to cast YouTube from their devices onto their Rokus.

Because Google TV repackages Android TV, users already familiar with the Android TV user interface will likely want to choose the Chromecast with Google TV. The Google TV UI is also quite a bit smarter than the Roku interface in that it studies your viewing history via its Google's Knowledge Graph machine learning to recommend specific apps, genres, and categories. Additionally, Google offers a broader selection of games available for purchase and recently added Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV, which gives users access to AAA releases.

In comparison, the Roku Channel Store tends to be more app-focused. The Roku interface also features a stronger search feature, enabling users to search for specific content across apps you do and don't already own. Roku's search function is also compatible with Echo and Google home devices. While both the Google and Roku UI features ads, Roku's ads tend to be more persistent and often center on the brand's products.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Comparing remotes

Both the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV come with improved voice remotes, allowing users to control their TV power and volume along with other perks. However, the Chromecast with Google TV voice remote has proved more versatile.

If you're someone who mainly uses the voice remote to search for content, the Roku Voice Remote is more than sufficient. And while it features dedicated buttons for Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Apple TV Plus, it's worth pointing out that it doesn't operate as a true voice assistant like Amazon Alexa on the Fire TV Stick 4K or Google Assistant on the Chromecast With Google TV. This means you can't use the Roku Voice Remote to ask for weather forecasts, sports scores, or the ages of the Kardashian-Jenner siblings.

As previously mentioned, the Chromecast with Google TV voice remote has Google Assistant built-in, which automatically puts its voice control and search functions ahead of the Roku Voice Remote. That said, the voice remotes for both the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV lack headphone jacks for private listening or support for quickly finding the remote.

Roku users can take advantage of the private listening feature via the Roku Mobile app or opt for the Streaming Stick 4K bundle, which includes the $30 Voice Remote Pro. That remote adds a headphone jack, a hands-free voice, and a remote finder.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Which should you buy?

When it comes to choosing which device wins the Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV battle, it ultimately comes down to which ecosystem you are most comfortable using: Roku OS or Google TV. At the end of the day, both devices are affordable, feature fast speeds, strong Wi-Fi connectivity, and an impressive app library, as well as support for 4K video streaming.

However, the ability to personalize Google TV and the versatility of the Google Assistant-enabled voice remote makes the Chromecast with Google TV one of the best streaming devices available on the market right now.

Chromecast with Google TV - 4K

Simple built-in voice navigation

The Chromecast with Google TV provides 4K video and casting at a low price. The device also comes with a voice remote with Google Assistant built-in, making searching for your favorite content even easier.

• $40 at Best Buy
• $40 at Google

Soundbars have come a long way in the last few years. While full-sized speakers will still sound better — sound needs space, after all — soundbars sound great for their size. That size also requires a smaller footprint in your living room and with something like the Sonos Beam, you will get great sound without a head-scratching installation process, and more. There are other great soundbars available, and we have detailed some of the best options for your home.

Best Overall: Sonos Beam Smart TV Sound Bar

With the Sonos Beam, you get a superb TV soundbar with some basic smarts. The Sonos Beam connects to your TV with HDMI-ARC, or with the included HDMI-to-Optical adapter. It only supports Alexa right now, but Google Assistant integration is coming at some point. You can control your TV with your voice if your TV supports HDMI-CEC, which most modern sets do. Controlling your TV with your voice isn't a replacement for a remote, but it's an excellent option.

Sonos' ecosystem is attractive because of how easy it is to add more of their speakers and create a surround system. You can start with the Sonos Beam and have a great soundbar. A few months later, you can pick up a couple of Sonos One speakers to add more channels. Or, you can buy a Sonos 5.1 kit with everything you need.

3D Surround Sound: Yamaha YAS-207BL Soundbar

There is surround sound, and then there is a 3-dimensional surround sound, and the Yamaha 207BL Soundbar was the first of its kind to offer 3D surround sound. With DTS Virtual:X, the 207BL will fill every inch of your room to entrench you in the action and make you feel like you are part of the movie.

Yamaha also includes the ability to stream music over Bluetooth, along with using either the included remote or the accompanying smartphone app. Plus, there is a wireless subwoofer packaged in the bundle so you can get just the right amount of bass for your favourite movie, TV show, or music playlist.

Unfortunately, while the 207BL is excellent in many facets, there are a few frustrating omissions. The first of these is the lack of integration with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. Additionally, you won't be able to pair this soundbar with other speakers, leaving you to only rely on the 207BL and subwoofer for your audio needs.

Best for small spaces: Polk Audio MagniFi Mini Soundbar

Polk is another one of those companies that prides itself on providing great audio experiences throughout your home. The MagniFi Mini Soundbar is no different and has a few tricks up its sleeves that other soundbars can't compete with.

Smart home integration is on board, as Polk has included Google Assistant with the built-in Chromecast for Google Cast. This allows you to play content directly from your smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook without having to deal with the frustrating pairing system of Bluetooth. The MagniFi Mini also includes a wireless subwoofer so that you can get that extra bass from your media, without the need for any additional wires.

As the MagniFi Mini is exceptionally compact, there is no way to mount this to your wall without installing a shelf underneath your TV. Plus, Polk has not included the ability to sync this with other speakers, even those made by Polk, so you will have to hope that this speaker gives you the desired output.

Bottom line

Soundbars come in all shapes and sizes, and there are a lot of different considerations to be taken when selecting the best one. The Sonos Beam is our favourite option with its combination of superb sound quality and ability to be paired with other Sonos speakers. This will allow you to create a genuinely immersive, surround audio experience for your home, providing the ultimate movie night.

There are some downfalls, as there is no wireless subwoofer available so the sound may not "punch" as hard as you would like. Although there is a smart assistant available with Amazon's Alexa, you may run into problems if you have to use the Optical connection, as voice commands are not accessible.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Andrew Myrick is a regular freelancer at Android Central and iMore. He has been a tech enthusiast ever since the original iPhone was released and continues to flip-flop between devices. You might as well hook him up to an IV filled with coffee to get him through the day. If you have any questions, you can find him on Twitter, and he'll get back to you.

What you need to know

• The Matter specification includes interoperability with TVs for basic controls.
• Amazon is apparently at the forefront of implementing a universal casting on Matter-enabled TVs.
• This new method will face some hurdles but could rival Apple Airplay and Google's Chromecast.

While the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) continues to build out and complete the Matter specification, work is underway for the new standard to extend its interoperability to arguably the most important smart devices in our homes — the TV. According to The Verge, this could enable a universal casting system to rival the likes of Google's Chromecast and Apple Airplay.

At the forefront of the specification for TVs is Amazon, which doesn't have its own cast system despite its massive presence in the smart home industry.

Speaking to The Verge, Chris DeCenzo, Principal Software Development Engineer at Amazon Lab126, notes how there are several disparate and proprietary protocols, calling it "a complete opportunity loss for everyone."

Just as Matter will bring interoperability between smart home devices and the various ecosystems that control them, the TV specification aims to do the same. This would allow users to control their TVs using any device, regardless of the type of smartphone, remote, or even voice assistant.

Of course, there are hurdles to implementing this. Until TV makers build Matter support into their products, it will be up to app developers to support Matter in their apps for it to work. Additionally, there's no guarantee that big TV makers will add support, with big players like Vizio, Sony, and Roku, who aren't part of the Matter Working Group.

The Verge notes that even Google and Apple, some of the biggest companies in the group, aren't required to use the TV specification. A spokesperson told The Verge that Google Assistant "will support Matter (eg. on/off, play/pause, app launch etc.) at parity with our current Works With Assistant offering," but that Chromecast will remain the preferred method for casting between its products, including the best Android TVs.

The Matter SDK is set to be finalized sometime in the first half of 2022, along with the first device certifications. While many current smart home devices will be updated to support the new standard, the first Matter certified products likely won't hit the market until later in 2022.

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Last year, I bought two Chromecast with Google TV as Christmas gifts: one for my mother to use in the kitchen and another for a very, very dear friend in Waco because his Vizio's apps were just too damn slow. Both are still very happy with their Google TVs — and considering I use mine 4-12 hours a day, I'm still happy as a clam with mine. (I listen to reruns while I work, it helps keep certain parts of my brain entertained while the rest tries to get things done.)

However, a somewhat fatal flaw hides underneath that adorably intuitive remote and easy-to-use Google TV interface, one that makes me think twice before I recommend it to others. For all of Google TV's phenomenal algorithmic powers, its itty, bitty storage space can easily spoil the experience if you use more than a couple of streaming services.

This morning, the December update for the Google TV arrived on my Chromecast. I went into Settings to install it, wondering how many apps I'd have to delete to get enough space for the download this time. After all, I'd had to delete four apps and clean out the cache just to install three measly app updates this summer. Thankfully, I'd cleared out the cache again recently enough for this update to install, but that "oh, here we go again" shouldn't be your first instinct when your device gets a new update.

For the vast majority of my time with the Chromecast with the Google TV, the internal storage has been completely full with only the following apps installed:

• Disney+
• YouTube
• Amazon Prime Video
• VRV
• Funimation
• Hulu
• Netflix
• Twitch
• HBO Max
• Solid Explorer
• Paramount+
• YouTube Music
• Button Mapper
• Peacock

Those 14 apps take up over 3GB of the 4.4GB of space available after the Google TV operating system is installed. They used to take 3.8GB of storage before Twitch finally got its act together and slimmed down its Google TV app from 900MB to 200MB. And once you actually start watching content on your Chromecast with Google TV, cached files easily fill the rest, even if you don't install any games or fitness apps.

In order to hit that oh-so-importable $50 price point, Google had to make compromises somewhere with the Chromecast with Google TV. However, going with only 8GB of internal storage — over half of which is taken up by the system itself — is a short-sighted solution, one that can't be fixed with an update.

You could technically expand your storage using a USB-C hub, a Power Delivery charger to provide more juice, and either a microSD card or an external drive, but the reality is that it just won't get you the space for apps that you need. Adding on a hard drive lets the Google TV access local media when the network is down, but the storage wonk on the Chromecast with Google TV's permissions setup makes writing to external storage exceedingly difficult.

The worst part is that Google could have learned from its competitors' mistakes and victories. Early Fire TV sticks were bemoaned for having to delete apps to make room for a party game like JackBox, and even early Android TV boxes were strapped for storage outside the original NVIDIA Shield TV. The 2019 Shield TV might only be 8GB, but it includes a microSD slot on the device itself for this very reason: as you install more apps, you can add a card and make room.

The 2GB of RAM already hamstrings the experience of moving between apps, but the 8GB of storage means that the Chromecast with Google TV is operating on a knife's edge. If it's just balancing on that little sliver of free space right now, it can only tip further and further towards stutters and "No space" warnings.

This week's update has changed the way the Chromecast with Google TV handles storage, freeing up a few hundred megabytes of data for most users, but even those data savings can be erased if you add a couple new apps. Or if a new feature arrives that requires more on-device data, like the personalized profiles we've been waiting on for months; if the Chromecast has to store recommendations, watch history and continue watching data, expect more system data to be used up, just as each profile on a Chromebook does.

It's too much to hope for Google to announce a Quest 2-style re-release with 16GB of storage instead of 8GB; instead, we have to hope that the Chromecast with Google TV 2 has proper storage space in 1-2 years when we see its next refresh. For the most hard-core TV and movie addicts on your Christmas list, you might need to look towards another streaming device, but for your dad or your best friend you nerd out over Hawkeye with, it'll still be a great upgrade over their old Chromecast or failing smart TV apps.

Oh, and if you're buying one for a living room or in a family that tends to lose remotes, buy a spare remote. They come in three colors, so buy a pink or blue one to tell them apart.

What you need to know

• Chromecast with Google TV has picked up a new update that improves its storage capacity.
• The streaming device also makes it a lot easier to remove unnecessary apps.
• However, the update does not include the recently released Android TV 12.

The Chromecast with Google TV was a highly anticipated follow-up to Google's legacy streaming dongle, that is, until it started to rear its ugly head. For example, it doesn't take a while before the streaming device runs out of internal storage space, but Google is now addressing that issue with a new update.

Its standout improvement is the ability to manage the device's storage and free up space for more important stuff. This is courtesy of the new "Uninstall apps" option found in the "Free up storage" section. With this feature, you can now quickly remove apps you no longer need without having to open each app.

Google is also giving some relief to users who have had to deal with the device's meager 8GB of storage. According to 9to5Google, after installing the update, owners of one of the best streaming devices noticed that their storage gained 200MB to 300MB of free space.

There are a few performance upgrades as well, including improvements for HDR playback and Dolby Vision support. Chromecast with Google TV also now plays HDR HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) properly instead of converting to HDR10. The update also includes miscellaneous bug fixes and the October 2021 Android security patch.

However, if you're expecting to see Android TV 12 on the streaming device after its first stable release last week, you're in for a disappointment. That update is currently available only to developers, and it could take a while before it arrives on the Chromecast with Google TV.

Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV has all of the features you'd expect from a modern streaming device, including 4K HDR support, smooth performance, and an excellent remote.

• $40 at Best Buy
• $40 at B&H

Amazon vs. Google. Fire TV vs. Google TV. This is a conversation we've been having since even before either the Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs. Chromecast with Google TV were announced. So let's try and decide once and for all which is the best choice.

Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Breaking it down

As is the case with many of the best smart home products and the best streaming devices, the decision you make comes down to personal preference. But before diving too deep, let's take a look at the differences between the Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs. Chromecast with Google TV from a hardware perspective.

Both of these streaming devices utilize a single HDMI port on the back of your TV and make use of a standard USB-A plug to provide power. Amazon is well-known for including an excellent Voice Remote with the best Fire TV Sticks, and with the 4K Max, we get the all-new third-generation Voice Remote. Along with including quick access to Amazon Alexa, there are shortcut buttons on the remote to open Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+. The included remote also makes it easy to control your TV itself, such as adjusting the volume or simply turning the TV on and off.

Moving to the Chromecast with Google TV, this marks the first Google streaming device to launch with a remote. Until now, you needed to rely on your phone to control whatever ended up on the TV. That's no longer the case, although it still does function like a traditional Chromecast. Nevertheless, the included remote features a dedicated Assistant button and just two shortcuts for YouTube and Netflix.

In terms of what these streaming devices are capable of, it's pretty much a tie. Both offer HDR10 / HDR10+ support, along with Dolby Vision, and can handle up to 4K UHD content. Amazon and Google both included 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, which is something we wish both devices would improve upon with future releases, but the storage should be adequate for most.

One of the biggest reasons you might consider the Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs. Fire TV Stick 4K is the addition of Live View Picture-in-Picture. Amazon claims this feature will arrive on future Fire TV devices, but for the time being, the 4K Max remains the only device to include it. With Live View PiP, you can see who's at the door without needing to stop what you're watching just to answer the door. While it's not called the same thing, the Chromecast with Google TV includes the same functionality, provided that you are using one of the best security cameras.

The differences only begin to appear once you get into the finer details. For example, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is compatible with the best Wi-Fi 6 routers. This means that you'll enjoy faster internet speeds, reducing the number of potential bottlenecking that might otherwise have occurred. Since the Chromecast with Google TV is a bit older than its Amazonian counterpart, it's limited in Wi-Fi connectivity. But on the bright side, the Chromecast does offer support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz network connections.

The two also offer similar cloud gaming options with Google Stadia and Amazon Luna. Google Stadia however is set to shut down in January 2023 so Amazon comes out ahead here. Amazon Luna is the newer option of the two and works better than ever with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. If cloud gaming is your main reason for upgrading, Fire TV comes out ahead though it may be worth checking out some other options with a bigger focus on gaming such as Nvidia Shield TV.

Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs. Chromecast with Google TV: It's all about preference

So let's get down to brass tacks. You really can't go wrong with either of these streaming devices, as they both give you access to the best streaming services. The only real leg up that the Fire TV Stick 4K Max has is that it's Wi-Fi 6 compatible, but the Chromecast battles back with 5GHz network support.

Another area to keep in mind is price. Outside of the holiday season, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max can be had for around $55, while the 4K version of the Chromecast with Google TV comes in at $50. But during the holiday season, both of these can be found for much lower.

So the final question that remains is whether you want an Alexa-powered streaming device or a Google Assistant-powered streaming device. Amazon Alexa has the benefit of using the best routines, but the Chromecast puts the power of Google in the palm of your hand. It's tough to make a discernible choice, but if we had to go with one, it would have to be with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

Amazon's offering gains the final advantage due to the timing of its release. The Wi-Fi 6 compatibility is a huge deal for many, as you won't experience bottlenecks even if multiple people are streaming and playing online games at the same time. Alexa is arguably more versatile simply because of the ability to download those routines, and there are so many different Echo speakers to choose from that your head could spin. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a fantastic streaming device and one that you should consider.

What you need to know

• 65% of responses indicate that our readers are most interested in Android/Google TV.
• Subsequent responses were in favor of other "portable" smart TV platforms.
• Many of these devices are currently on sale for Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday is finally upon us, meaning there are plenty of smart home deals happening right now. With some of the best streaming devices currently on sale, we wanted to know what you already use or were interested in buying this year.

From the responses, most readers appear to be interested in Android/Google TV, which makes sense. The platform offers just about all the streaming apps and services you can think of, voice commands with Google Assistant and uses AI to recommend content for you based on what you already like. And if you're already using Assistant-enabled devices around the house, devices like Chromecast with Google TV will fit right in.

You can buy TV sets with Android/Google TV built-in like the Sony Bravia XR, which is currently on sale at Amazon. However, if you're just looking to transform your current setup with something inexpensive, there are some sweet deals on the Chromecast dongles.

Coming in second is Roku, which is still a popular platform despite the drama surrounding the impending loss of the YouTube app. IT offers cheap streaming players like the limited-edition Roku LE and more.

The same goes for Amazon Fire TV players, which are still seeing some impressive discounts.

Apple TV was a less popular option, which is fair considering the streaming players aren't the cheapest and the Cyber Monday discounts are pretty lacking. LG's WebOS, Samsung's Tizen, and Vizio's SmartCast platforms were also low on votes.

It seems like the more affordable smart TV platforms are the popular options during the biggest shopping season of the year, which makes sense seeing as we're all trying to save a few bucks.

Streaming everything from movies to music has become so normal for many people that having an excellent streaming device is almost essential. Cyber Monday is a fantastic time to pick one up for yourself or someone else. Amongst all of the options out there to pick from, Google has some of the best. So keeping an eye out for some awesome Chromecast deals is a wise plan.

Google's Chromecast was one of the first devices to simplify sending content from our phones to our TV. All by simply plugging in a small HDMI device and connecting it to Wi-Fi — all the way back in 2013. Since then, there has been a lot of evolution for that little dongle, and the latest version is the Chromecast with Google TV. This iteration of the streaming device brings all of the functionality of the original Chromecast we love, bumps up the quality to ultra-high-definition 4K, packs in a wonderful interface, and brings its own remote control.

Until the Chromecast with Google TV, whatever device was casting the content to the TV was also the remote. While that is an OK idea, in theory, it was often clunky and sometimes didn't work at all. The newest version fixes all of that. Now the content and control are contained within the Chromecast with Google TV. You can sign into all of your favorite streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, and more using the Google Assistant-enabled remote.

The interface for finding and watching your favorite shows is clean and easy to navigate using the remote's physical buttons. If you want to find a certain show or actor, you can press the Google Assistant button and use your voice to search for it. Not only that, you can use that same button to control all the awesome smart home devices you get during Cyber Monday too!

Of course, if you want, you can still use the Chromecast with Google TV just like a regular Chromecast by sending content to it from your phone or other devices. Depending on your needs, a standard Chromecast may be a better fit for you, and if that's the case, there are also some great deals going on for those.

Where to find the best Cyber Monday Chromecast deals

Chromecast devices are available widely through many retailers. However, one of the most glaring omissions from the list of stores running discounts on these amazing gadgets is Amazon. While the retail giant isn't carrying the Chromecast, you will be able to find discounts at many other stores — including Google itself.

• Best Buy: The Geek Squad is already offering great deals on all of the Chromecast models
• Walmart: This store is well-known for its fantastic discounts and the Chromecast will get some great ones
• Google: Sometimes the best deals come directly from the source
• B&H: There are be some truly excellent deals on Chromecasts at B&H

Streaming everything from movies to music has become so normal for many people that having an excellent streaming device is almost essential. Black Friday is a fantastic time to pick one up for yourself or someone else. Amongst all of the options out there to pick from, Google has some of the best. So keeping an eye out for some awesome Chromecast deals is a wise plan.

Google's Chromecast was one of the first devices to simplify sending content from our phones to our TV. All by simply plugging in a small HDMI device and connecting it to Wi-Fi — all the way back in 2013. Since then, there has been a lot of evolution for that little dongle, and the latest version is the Chromecast with Google TV. This iteration of the streaming device brings all of the functionality of the original Chromecast we love, bumps up the quality to ultra-high-definition 4K, packs in a wonderful interface, and brings its own remote control.

Until the Chromecast with Google TV, whatever device was casting the content to the TV was also the remote. While that is an OK idea, in theory, it was often clunky and sometimes didn't work at all. The newest version fixes all of that. Now the content and control are contained within the Chromecast with Google TV. You can sign into all of your favorite streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, and more using the Google Assistant-enabled remote.

The interface for finding and watching your favorite shows is clean and easy to navigate using the remote's physical buttons. If you want to find a certain show or actor, you can press the Google Assistant button and use your voice to search for it. Not only that, you can use that same button to control all the awesome smart home devices you get during Black Friday too!

Of course, if you want, you can still use the Chromecast with Google TV just like a regular Chromecast by sending content to it from your phone or other devices. Depending on your needs, a standard Chromecast may be a better fit for you, and if that's the case, there are also some great deals going on for those.

Where to find the best Black Friday Chromecast deals

Chromecast devices are available widely through many retailers. However, one of the most glaring omissions from the list of stores running discounts on these amazing gadgets is Amazon. While the retail giant isn't carrying the Chromecast, you will be able to find discounts at many other stores — including Google itself.

• Best Buy: The Geek Squad is already offering great deals on all of the Chromecast models
• Walmart: This store is well-known for its fantastic discounts and the Chromecast will get some great ones
• Google: Sometimes the best deals come directly from the source
• B&H: There will be some truly excellent deals on Chromecasts at B&H

Google Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV crowds onto Roku's turf with an excellent app library of free content, combined with AI recommendations and Google Assistant navigation to make your faves easy to find. That, along with Google's proprietary casting tech and its 4K + Dolby capabilities, makes the new streaming dongle hard to beat.

Roku Ultra (2020)

Roku Ultra 2020 upgrades on older models with improved Wi-Fi range, Dolby Vision, and AirPlay support, which bundles onto a whole host of other features that makes Roku a favorite for many. The Roku Ultra has our favorite remote control, and plays nicer with non-Google speakers and tech, but is twice the price as its rival—unless it's on sale.

The Chromecast vs Roku battle is more neck-and-neck than ever before. Chromecast with Google TV adds a traditional streaming service and remote control along with the Chromecast Ultra's top-class specs while the new Roku Ultra 2020 adds Dolby Vision, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 streaming, and other OS improvements. The few differences between these new dongles make either a worthy purchase, but we'll break down which has an edge over the other in specific areas.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Features and specs

Barring any sales, the new Roku Ultra 2020 is twice the price of Google's new HDMI dongle, which we praised in our Chromecast with Google TV review. Taking that pricing difference seriously, we'll consider whether you should justify spending double for Roku versus Chromecast, based on what both devices bring to the table.

Chromecast with Google TV is a longer dongle meant to hang from your TV HDMI port, while the Roku Ultra 2020 is large enough that it is meant to sit on your entertainment center. The Roku Ultra's extra width makes room for extra USB and Ethernet ports, which enables external storage and a more consistent internet connection if your Wi-Fi is shoddy. If you're far from your router, Roku also claims it improved the Ultra's wireless connectivity by 50% over the 2019 model, so either option will serve your purposes.

The unique feature that Chromecast brings to the table in all its iterations is Google Cast support, letting you stream most video apps and any browser content to your TV with a couple of taps or clicks. Previous Roku Ultras could only offer native streaming through its apps, but the 2020 model adds Bluetooth streaming. Of course, waiting to pair your devices before streaming from them isn't nearly as immediate or convenient as casting, but Roku came as close as it could. It also benefits from AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, something Chromecast lacks.

Both devices can play practically any content in its native format. 4K and Dolby Vision streaming work on either device, as do Dolby Atmos soundtracks if you own a compatible Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Google TV versus Roku Channel Store

Until now, you had to judge the thousands of free, organized Roku channels against Google Cast, which could only cast from a smaller list of Android apps and couldn't cast at all from iOS apps. Now, with Chromecast with Google TV, you get access to the thousands of streaming apps as well, putting the two platforms on mostly even footing.

Google TV repackages Android TV, taking the backbone of thousands of free Android apps and adding a new organizational system that prioritizes content. Google TV studies your viewing history via machine learning and presents a range of recommendations designed to appeal to your interests from every streaming app you install, while also offering genre categories of shows from your installed apps.

Roku is more app-focused, which some users might prefer if they want to search a particular library. At the same time, they have a robust search feature that helps you search through your apps to find the show you need, as well as reveal results from apps you don't own if you can't find it elsewhere. Plus, you can search for or play content using your Echo or Google Home speakers.

Rather than get into the nitty-gritty of the obscure free channels one service or the other is missing, we'll simply say that both have the main channels you'd expect, including Apple TV. Both the Roku and Google platforms also previously featured the YouTube TV app, but the app was pulled from Roku in 2021 as the result of an ongoing feud over renewal terms between the two brands.

Google initially responded by allowing Roku users to access the YouTube TV experience via a shortcut in the YouTube app, but announced in October 2021 that its contract with Roku will expire on Dec. 9, 2021, and that the YouTube app will also be removed from the Roku Channel Store. Per Google's statement, current Roku users should still have access to the YouTube app after the Dec. 9 deadline, but new devices will not be able to download either YouTube or YouTube TV.

At the same time, Android TV / Google TV has a decent selection of games you can buy, including acclaimed series like Final Fantasy or Telltale Games. Stadia was also added to Chromecast with Google TV in 2021, which gives users access to AAA releases. Conversely, Roku's games aren't even worth mentioning.

Chromecast with Google TV will give you better native access and features for Google content. For example, purchased Google Play content is put front and center, you can check Nest security feeds through Google TV using Assistant commands, and you can showcase your Google Photos as a slideshow. If you subscribe to YouTube TV, you'll get a live guide of all available channels.

Roku also gives you a live channel guide of its free content and is generally a better choice for iPhone, iPad, and HomeKit users.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Comparing remotes

In our previous Chromecast vs Roku article, we praised Roku versus the Chromecast Ultra for having a remote control while casting only worked with a phone. Now that both platforms have a remote control, let's compare what they offer.

The Roku remote has dedicated, configurable shortcut buttons to open your favorite channels; volume and power controls for your TV; a headphone jack for listening privately to content in case you need to mute your TV and speakers; and a remote-finding button on the Roku dongle itself that makes the remote chime until you can find wherever it's hidden. That's pretty much all you can ask for in a remote!

With the Chromecast with Google TV remote, you have a circular navigation pad; Home, Back, Input, and Power buttons; and dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and Google Assistant. The latter works thanks to the built-in mic that will pick up your commands. However, you can permanently turn off the Google Assistant function if you're not comfortable with it. The circular pad may be slightly more comfortable for moving between apps than the elevated D-Pad you'll find on the Roku.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Which should you buy?

To return to our original question, does Roku Ultra justify its much higher list price than Chromecast with Google TV? While we think Roku has put out a dongle it should be proud of and has little room for improvement, that doesn't mean the answer is yes.

Casting is simply much more convenient than Bluetooth, Google TV and Roku's Channels are fairly comparable for the most used platforms, and a built-in voice assistant is always better than making users buy a separate smart speaker just to enable voice commands. Apple users will appreciate Roku's better compatibility with its tech, and Roku's remote control can't be beaten, but Chromecast with Google TV's price for 4K video can't be beaten, either. That being said, it's worth poiting out that the Roku Ultra is on sale for $69 through Nov. 13. So if that's the direction you're leaning, you should buy now before the deal ends.

What you need to know

• Volume controls for Chromecast media sessions are disabled on Android 12 devices.
• The feature was apparently removed from Android 12 after the third beta due to a "legal issue."
• A "fix" for the issue could arrive with Android 12L next year.

Last month, Google finally released the stable version of Android 12 to its Pixel phones. The update brings a ton of new features, along with a revamped user interface. Unfortunately, however, Google has still not enabled volume controls for Chromecast media sessions on devices running Android 12.

As per developers on the IssueTracker thread, Google removed the feature with Android 12 Beta 3 in August. While it was initially believed to be a bug, a Googler later confirmed that the cast controls were "intentionally not shown". The Googler added that the feature would be added back with Android 12 Beta 5.

While the volume controls for Chromecast sessions do appear in audio settings on Android 12 phones, they are greyed out. According to a newer post from a Googler on the IssueTracker thread, the feature was pulled from Android 12 due to a legal issue. While it hasn't been confirmed, the issue may have something to do with Google's patent battle with Sonos. Google is currently working on fixing the issue and expects it to be included in Android 12L.

Google is expected to release the Android 12L update for its best Android phones in Spring 2022. Until then, Pixel users will have to tap on the Chromecast notification to control the volume. Once you tap on the notification, you can adjust the volume using your phone's volume buttons or the volume slider that appears on the screen.

It remains to be seen if the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will also receive the update, since Google recently announced that is working on a final update for the two phones. The update is expected to be rolled out to the Pixel 3 series sometime in the first quarter of 2022. Currently, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL aren't included in the list of devices eligible for the Android 12L beta program.

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Long before the Pixel smartphones and Google's big push for self-branded hardware, the Chromecast was a well-known entity in the streaming landscape as one of the best and most affordable ways to get video on your TV. Whether it was the $35 regular Chromecast or the more expensive Chromecast Ultra with 4K, the idea of having a cheap dongle that can play anything from your phone was a concept millions of people got behind.

As streaming media has expanded over the last few years, though, the Chromecast has started to look and feel a bit dated. Compared to the likes of Amazon's Fire TV Sticks, the best Rokus, and the Apple TV, the lack of a remote and proper user interface have hindered the Chromecast's functionality.

That has finally changed.

Chromecast with Google TV is the most radical update we've ever seen in the Chromecast series, bringing it up to feature parity with the competition while ushering in a brand new user interface. It may not be the upgrade Chromecast loyalists were hoping for, but for the rest of us, it's basically the best Android TV box you can buy in 2021.

Chromecast with Google TV Price and availability

The Chromecast with Google TV launched on September 30, 2020. It replaced the aging Chromecast Ultra with its debut, making it the most capable Chromecast you can currently buy.

You'll pay a retail price of $50 to get your hands on the Chromecast for yourself, with it being sold at retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and the Google Store. Sales for the Chromecast with Google TV are few and far between, so don't expect any big discounts even though it's been available for over a year now.

Chromecast with Google TV What I love

Let's start with the boring stuff first — the Chromecast's hardware. This isn't something you'll be actively looking at all the time, but Google did a good job of ensuring it looks nice and has all of the specs/features you could ask for in a 2021 media device.

The Chromecast itself is made out of matte plastic and connects to your TV with the attached HDMI cable. A USB-C port on the back connects to the included power cable, which then plugs into the AC adapter that powers the thing. There's support for 4K streaming up to 60fps, HDR10 and HDR10+ are both supported, and you'll also find Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Google offers three colors to choose from, including Snow, Sunrise, and Sky (aka white, pink, and blue). Not only does your color choice determine the color of the Chromecast itself, but it also changes how the included remote looks, as well as the included batteries. Such a small Google touch. And this is the first-ever Chromecast with an explicit visual interface and a remote.

Google did a phenomenal job with the remote. All of the buttons are very clicky, it is comfortable to hold (albeit a touch slippery), and you have power, input, and volume buttons for your TV thanks to HDMI-CEC and IR blaster configurations you can configure in Settings. Just like all modern Android TV boxes and televisions, you'll also find a Google Assistant button that you can hold down to talk to the Assistant at any time. Asisstant works much faster here than it has on previous Android TV boxes, and the contour of the Assistant button makes it easy to feel for even in the dark of your living room movie marathon.

By now, you've also probably noticed the YouTube and Netflix buttons. Some people might hate having branded buttons like this, but I'm personally fine with it. As someone that actively uses both services, I appreciate the quick access. You can't officially remap the Netflix button — but it's not hard to do it yourself, but if you press and hold on YouTube button, you can switch between opening the main YouTube app or YouTube TV, YouTube Kids, or YouTube Music. It's a nice touch.

In all of these core regards, the Chromecast with Google TV is fantastic. It's easy to set up, it moves through menus and apps without a hitch, video content looks excellent, and the remote doesn't hinder any of the enjoyment you get from all of this (I'm looking at you, Apple TV).

However, that's just one part of this gadget. Now that we know what the Chromecast side of things brings to the table, we have to talk about the Google TV experience. Ready for a spoiler? I really, really like it.

Android TV is technically the operating system powering this new Chromecast, but the interface you interact with has been completely overhauled. The main goal of Google TV is to heavily emphasize personalized and recommended content so that it's easier to find something to watch. There are also now dedicated pages/home screens you can navigate through, and they include the following:

• Search — Recommended commands for the Google Assistant and movie/TV show genres to browse through specific types of content.
• For you — Your main home page, showing top content picks, your installed apps, and other recommended content based on your watchlist, various genres, and more.
• Live (optional) — An integrated live channel guide that will only show up if you have YouTube TV installed and enabled.
• Movies — Browse through various movies to watch.
• Shows — Browse through various TV shows to watch.
• Apps — All of your installed apps, along with integrated Play Store access for downloading new ones.
• Library — Movies and shows you own through Google Play (now Google TV).

Source: Android Central

Source: Android Central

I know a lot of Android TV die-hards were bummed when they saw this new layout, but in my experience a year on, it's been a fantastic upgrade.

This interface makes it substantially easier to discover shows to watch. The recommendations have been decent right off the bat, and I'm sure that'll only get better as time goes on. Not only can you add shows/movies to your watchlist, but you can also indicate once you have actually seen it and whether or not you liked or dislike it. It can all be a little overwhelming at first with three separate pages giving you ideas of what to watch (For You, Movies, and Shows), but it's markedly better than the half-baked app channels the regular Android TV interface has.

A quick note on Google TV vs. Android TV

If you're a little confused about what Google TV is and how it differs from Android TV, here's a quick explainer. The core operating system of the Chromecast is still technically Android TV, based on Android 10, but Google's added the Google TV software experience on top of it. In other words, any apps that you used on Android TV will work just as you'd expect on Google TV. Google TV started out exclusive to the new Chromecast, but Google expanded the interface to third-party hardware over the course of 2021.

Furthermore, Google rebranded the current Google Play Movies & TV app to be called Google TV. It works mostly the same, showing you content you can buy from Google directly and stuff you can watch through third-party services. The only real change here is that it's getting a fresh coat of paint and is being marketed more heavily as a companion app to the Chromecast with Google TV.

Once you do finally find something that you want to watch, clicking on the title shows you a small description, the Rotten Tomatoes score, auto-plays a trailer in the background, and surfaces the best way for you to watch it. Clicking on Solo: A Star Wars Story, for example, will make Disney+ the first way to watch it. If I select another title that's available on Netflix, Hulu, or something else, that'll be the service it shows on that first button.

Source: Android Central

Virtually all of the recommended shows you see on the For You page (except for the Trending on Google section) come from apps/services you've indicated you subscribe to. If you see something that's only available to rent or purchase, you'll see a small lock icon next to it and its rental price. Thankfully, Google's done a good job of integrating all of the major streaming apps into this Google TV experience. It began with about three dozen apps and has been steadily expanding over the last year, but it's still missing more niche services.

I've thoroughly enjoyed everything else about Google TV. I love that it's integrated throughout the entire interface instead of being a standalone app the way Apple handles its TV application, it's ten times easier to find new shows to watch, and adding a show to your watchlist from Google Search also adds it to your Google TV watchlist (which is fantastic). None of these features would matter if Google had a bunch of missing gaps with supported services, so having almost all major streaming apps integrated from day one brings us an actual completed product rather than a work-in-progress. Coming from Google, that's a big deal.

Chromecast with Google TV What could be improved

Google just about knocked it out of the park with the Chromecast with Google TV, but even so, there are some minor revisions I'd like to see for the Gen 2 model.

While I like the general design and feel of the remote, not having dedicated fast forward, rewind, or play/pause buttons is annoying. I'd be more than willing to have a slightly longer or wider remote if it means getting that added functionality, and I hope it's something Google considers. It'd also be great to see things like backlit buttons and a lost remote feature, but considering the price of the Chromecast, it's understandable why some of those things didn't make the cut. You can use thrid-party Bluetooth remotes and game controllers — and if you use a controller, in many apps the triggers work as fast-forward and rewind.

The only big problem with the Chromecast with Google TV is the storage. Google had to keep costs down somehow, and that's likely why Google made the decision to only ship the Chromecast with 8GB of storage. You only get half of that for your apps and files, though, which means that you can fill it up quickly and not have any room left for new services or even for app updates. Of course, this is only a problem if you use a wide variety of streaming subscriptions, and most folks only pay for 3-6. If you are a streaming addict like me, you may want to look for a device like the NVIDIA Shield TV with more storage.

Stadia wasn't available at launch, but it was added this summer, just as the user profiles promised at launch were finally added in October 2021.

Chromecast with Google TV The competition

The Chromecast with Google TV is an absolute joy to use, but before you make any purchasing decision, keep in mind that it's faced with a heap of fierce competition.

One of the most direct competitors is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which delivers 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision/Atmos for the same $50 price. You also get an Alexa voice remote with volume controls for your television, and there's the same 8GB of storage for all of your apps. The main difference between the two is the software they run, with the Fire TV Stick putting a greater emphasis on Prime Video content above all else. It also supports Amazon Luna for game streaming, whereas the Chromecast will get Stadia support down the road.

Another option to consider is the TiVo Stream 4K. Similar to the Chromecast, it's an Android TV-powered device with 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It's running the regular version of Android TV, but it comes with the exclusive TiVo Stream app that's similar to Google TV in its ability to show personalized content from services you subscribe to. And, you guessed it, it only costs $49.

Finally, we have to mention the NVIDIA Shield TV 4K. This was previously the go-to Android TV recommendation before the new Chromecast came out, and there are still some things it does better than Google. Its remote is more functional, there's a microSD card slot for easily expanding your storage, and NVIDIA's 4K AI upscaling feature is surprisingly awesome. Its software interface is still the old Android TV, and while it's possible it'll get upgraded to Google TV in 2021, nothing has been confirmed quite yet. There's also the higher price tag to consider, with the $150 asking price likely being too much for some shoppers.

Chromecast with Google TV Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

You want to stream content in 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision

All of the three key components to high-quality streaming are present on the Chromecast with Google TV. It supports 4K at 60fps, HDR10 and HDR10+ are present, and there's Dolby Vision for shows that take advantage of the format. It also supports Dolby Atmos for dynamic audio with supported setups.

You want to simplify the way you use streaming apps

Most streaming devices have good user interfaces, but the new Google TV layout manages to stand out as something special. From curating all of your content into one place and personalizing recommendations the more you use it, it's something that's greatly appreciated in a world where new streaming apps are launching all the time.

You don't want to spend a lot of money

At just $50, the Chromecast with Google TV is an easy recommendation for just about any budget. Plus, at the rate Google frequently discounts its products, it shouldn't be uncommon to find it on sale for even less.

You should not buy this if ...

You want 4K upscaling

NVIDIA's 4K upscaling feature on the Shield TV really impressed us, making HD content look just as good as native 4K stuff. Unfortunately, that's not a feature you'll find on the Chromecast with Google TV.

You need more than 8GB of storage

Google gives you 8GB of built-in storage for apps/games, and while that should be enough for most folks, power-users may need more room. With no microSD card support, you won't be expanding storage on the new Chromecast any time soon.

You watch a lot of Apple TV+

The app selection for Android TV has gotten much better in recent years, but there are still some gaps here and there. Right now, the most notable absence is the Apple TV app. If you watch a lot of shows from Apple TV+, you'll want to consider getting something else.

4 out of 5

As interested as I am in other Google products like the Pixel 5 and Nest Audio, I found myself most looking forward to the Chromecast with Google TV leading up to its announcement. I've always felt kind of bad for Android TV. It's a solid platform with lots of potential, but Google just never seemed to care much about it. It's been a long wait for a first-party streaming device from the company, but it was well, well worth it.

The Chromecast with Google TV isn't as fully-featured or spec-heavy as something like an NVIDIA Shield TV, but as a device that's designed to stream video content and help you find stuff to watch, it's amazing. As confusing as the branding around it may be, Google TV is an exceptional leap forward for Google's presence in the living room. Especially in a world where it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with new streaming services and licensing deals, Google TV does something legitimately helpful to address that confusion.

We'll see how this Chromecast holds up as other hardware starts getting the Google TV interface for themselves in the coming months, but even then, it'll still stand out as an affordable $50 streamer with 4K, a great remote, and fast performance. Google did just about everything right with this one, and if you ask me, Roku and Amazon should be paying close attention.

Review Changelog, October 2021

This article was originally published in January 2021. It was updated in October 2021 with the following changes.

• Added changelog.
• Updated pricing and availability.
• Added 1 year review.

Chromecast with Google TV One year later review

We're now 15 months past the release of the Chromecast with Google TV, and I've been using mine for at least four hours every single day. I still love the remote — I bought a blue one from the Google Store for a little extra style — and most apps are still as smooth as they were on day one. However, there is one Achilles heel that gets stabbed every time I update those apps.

Google shipped this Chromecast with only 8 gigabytes of storage. Once they install the operating system and you're past the initial set-up — before you've even installed any of your apps — you're down to 4.4GB. I have 14 installed apps taking up 3.6GB, 8MB of photos (screenshots), 84MB of cached data, and 6MB of miscellaneous, leaving the "available" data on my Chromecast at 0B.

There is literally no room left. The last time I installed an app update, I had to delete two apps to make room. This may not seem like much on its face, but consider that this is a streaming TV stick. You want all your streaming apps on it so that they're all there, logged in and ready for a quick six-hour movie marathon. Instead, they might not all fit on here, especially if you're a Twitch user or sports fan where everything has its own dedicated app.

In every other regard, the Chromecast with Google TV is wonderful. It's easy to set up, Google Assistant works quickly and consistently even with complicated actions like rewinding or skipping ahead, and it's affordable. USB-C means you can plug in a USB-C hub to add Ethernet, a keyboard (for logging into apps more easily), or a portable hard drive full of movies. I'd recommend them to everyone I know — except for the fact that you will instantly fill up the storage.

Google has finally added multiple profile support so that my recommendations don't get contaminated whenever my family visits and uses it, and more apps are partnering with Google TV to factor into your content matrix. Google has even solved most of the bugs we spotted during its early months. But system updates can't fix the corner Google has painted itself into storage-wise.

Chromecast with Google TV 4 months later review

It's been about four months since the Chromecast's debut in late-2020, and during that time, it's had a pretty rocky life. The core experience of everything it does with Google TV continues to be amazing, but as more and more people have gotten their hands on the Chromecast, a variety of software bugs and glitches have been making themselves known.

It's unclear what exactly the root cause of these bugs are, with possibilities including underpowered specs or kinks in the OS that have yet to be patched. Whatever's causing the trouble, here's a quick rundown of what some users have been experiencing:

• Complete system crashes, as recently noted by Dan Seifert from The Verge and AC's own Daniel Bader.
• Hit-and-miss support for Dolby Vision and Atmos
• Wi-Fi randomly turning itself off
• Apps refuse to launch or stop working

As for my personal experience with the Chromecast, I have run into some of these issues in the four months it's been in my living room. The Wi-Fi has turned itself off a couple of times, the YouTube app has occasionally played audio with a black screen while trying to watch a video, and the Chromecast has made it a habit of shutting off while in the middle of watching something.

These bugs have made using the Chromecast less seamless than it initially appeared right out of the box, but even with them rearing their ugly heads, I'm still thoroughly enjoying my time with the gadget. The Google TV interface continues to look fantastic, the content recommendations have exposed me to a lot of shows/movies I would have otherwise missed, and having my watchlist synced to the Google TV app on my phone has been such a huge convenience.

As for whether or not I'd still recommend others go out and buy the Chromecast with Google TV, I'm pretty torn. On the one hand, the Google TV software is a seriously excellent way to simplify the way you stream things in a world where new services are launching every other day. And, at just $50, the value proposition continues to be nothing short of amazing. At the same time, I don't know if I'd tell my parents to get this as their next streamer if I know they'll need to unplug it and plug it back in every few days when something decides to glitch out — though Google has pushed out a fresh system update to start addressing the issues with random crashes and improving 4K60 support.

If you're aware of the current bug situation and don't mind dealing with some periodic wonk, I still think the Google TV platform is well worth experiencing. But if you'd rather play things safe and not have to worry about that, I wouldn't blame you for going out and buying a Roku or Fire TV Stick instead.

The Chromecast with Google TV is a stupendous piece of streaming hardware when it works, but the problem is that it doesn't work all the time. And honestly, that's a huge bummer.

What you need to know

• A new wireless streaming device from Google passed through the FCC.
• The device could be a new Chromecast, but it's unlikely.
• The mysterious device could be released alongside the upcoming Google Pixel phones.

Every device that gets to consumers' hands passes through the Federal Communications Commission first, with most of the filings bearing little to no information at all about their functionality. The latest such device is one made by Google, and it's believed to be a new Chromecast.

First spotted by Android Police, the new FCC filing reveals a wireless streaming device with the model number GJQ9T. It was filed on July 20 and received the FCC's clearance on August 5. There's actually nothing in the document that points to anything close to the description of the Chromecast, so the device remains a mystery at the moment.

Nonetheless, if the timing of the document's release is any indication, it could be a new iteration of one of the best Chromecast devices. Around this time last year, some FCC filings revealed two Google device models, with one bearing the model number GZRNL and described as an "Interactive Media Streaming Device." The other had a model number G9N9N, described as a "Wireless Device." A month later, Google announced the Chromecast with Google TV.

It is likely that the mysterious device is a wireless security camera since Google just recently unveiled the Nest Cam along with other Nest products. The announcement came a few months after a Google device bearing the model number G3AL9 had made a pit stop at the FCC earlier this year. That said, only time will tell what the new FCC listing is for, and it's speculated to hit the market alongside the Google Pixel 6 series.

Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV offers an all-new interface combined with everything you could ask for, such as 4K HDR support, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. Plus, it comes with a remote for the first time.

• $50 at Walmart
• $59 at B&H

Chromecast with Google TV

Chromecast with Google TV is the first Android TV streaming device to adopt the new and improved Google TV interface. In addition to streaming 4K content, the new Chromecast is compatible with USB-C hubs for PoE and expandable storage and works with Stadia.

Apple TV 4K (2021)

The new and improved Apple TV 4K (2021) improves on its predecessor thanks to an upgraded Siri remote and an A12 Bionic processor. The streaming box also supports 4K HDR support with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision and will eventually allow viewing in 4K at 120 Hz.

The Chromecast with Google TV and the Apple TV 4K (2021) provide high-quality streaming in 4K. While both devices offer the major streaming apps and access to games, the Chromecast is more affordable and makes sense for streamers already familiar with Google services. However, the pricier Apple TV 4K is probably the better option for Apple loyalists and visual nerds.

Chromecast with Google TV vs. Apple TV 4K (2021): Prices and features

The Chromecast with Google TV is a steal at just $50 and comes in three colorways: Snow White, Sunrise Pink, and Sky Blue. While the Chromecast with Google TV dongle is much smaller than the Apple TV 4K (2021) streaming box in design and storage at just 8GB, it still packs a punch. In addition to supporting 4K, HDR10, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision, the Chromecast with Google TV also boasts the new Google TV interface and casting abilities.

In comparison, the latest version of the Apple TV 4K looks identical to previous versions of the device and contains an updated A12 Bionic processor. In addition, the Apple TV 4K (2021) is also available as both a 32GB version, which retails for $179, and a 64GB version, which retails for $199.

Like the Chromecast with Google TV, both versions of the Apple TV 4K (2021) support Dolby Atmos for enhanced surround sound support and Dolby Vision HDR. Both brands also support casting, with the Apple TV 4K offering its own Apple-specific system for casting content known as AirPlay/ Airplay 2. The latest version of the Apple TV 4K (2021) also supports HomeKit and Siri.

The latest version of the Apple TV 4K also includes an updated Siri remote, compatible with all previous Apple TV models, including the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. The Siri Remote can also be purchased separately for $60. In comparison, the Chromecast with Google TV remote utilizes Google Assistant, which many users argue is actually more accurate than Siri, and features designated buttons for YouTube and Netflix. Those buttons can also be remapped to support other functions.

Chromecast with Google TV vs. Apple TV 4K (2021): Who should buy the Chromecast with Google TV?

In addition to being the cheaper 4K alternative, the Chromecast with Google TV offers more variety in design and is extremely compact. It's also a good pick for users already familiar with both the Android TV/Google TV interface and Google services like Google Assistant.

Additionally, while neither the Chromecast with Google TV nor the Apple TV 4K (2021) are known for their gaming capabilities, the Chromecast probably edges out the competition thanks to the recent addition of Stadia. As mentioned in our review of Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV, there are still some kinks to be worked out; setting up and accessing the gaming app has proved to be pretty easy so far.

Chromecast with Google TV vs. Apple TV 4K (2021): Who should buy the Apple TV 4K (2021)?

The Apple TV 4K (2021) is a great buy for streamers seeking high-quality visuals, already using Apple products, and are excited about using voice control to operate their smart home gadgets via HomeKit. The device's clean, intuitive interface is easy to navigate more intuitive than Google TV.

While both devices offer a comparable level of visual quality, the Apple TV 4K also features a new color calibration mode, which enables users to point their iPhone at the TV screen, prompting the Apple TV 4K to adjust the color balance to the best picture quality automatically.

Streamers who eventually want to take advantage of viewing content in 4K at 120 Hz should pay the extra dollars for the Apple TV 4K (2021). The Apple TV 4K also offers a richer sound before adding additional speakers or a soundbar.

Chromecast with Google TV vs. Apple TV 4K (2021): Which should you buy?

In the battle of the best 4K streamers, both the Chromecast with Google TV and Apple TV 4K (2021) are at the top of the list. So it truly comes down to preference.

If you're looking for a more affordable device or are considering buying devices for multiple TVs within your home, then the Chromecast with Google TV is the clear winner at just $50 a pop.

While the Apple TV 4K (2021) is a pricier device, starting at $179 for the 16GB version, it might be worth the cost for households that operate exclusively on Apple devices or streamers who want the highest-quality visuals and audio without having to add extra components.

The Chromecast with Google TV comes with a sleek remote enabled with Google Assistant and features button shortcuts for YouTube and Netflix streaming services. However, if you're not a frequent user of either platform, you can choose to remap buttons on your Chromecast with a Google TV remote. Here's all you need to know about doing just that.

Remap buttons on Chromecast with Google TV

The easiest way to remap buttons on your Chromecast with Google TV remote is by using the Button Mapper app, which costs $4.99 to download. Here's what you need to do to get the app.

1. Make sure you are logged into your Google account.
2. On your home screen, navigate to the Apps section.
3. Under the App categories, select Search for Apps.
4. Use the on-screen keyboard or hold down the Google Assistant button to search for the Button Mapper app.
5. Click the Install button to download the app for $4.99 to your streaming device.

Once the Button Mapper app is installed, you'll be asked to enable accessibility service. All you need to do is go to Settings>Select System>Select Accessibility>Select Button Mapper.

How to use Button Mapper

Once you've enabled the accessibility service within the Button Mapper app, you'll be able to choose which buttons you want to remap on your Chromecast with Google TV remote. It should be noted that, while it's possible to map the YouTube button, some users advise against it.

Specifically, when you attempt to remap the YouTube button, it will always trigger the app selection menu. This means you have to hit the back button to get to what you actually wanted to do, defeating the purpose of remapping. If you decide to move ahead with remapping your buttons, here's what you'll need to do to remap buttons on Chromecast with Google TV.

1. Open the Button Mapper app.
2. Scroll down and select Add Buttons. Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central

1. Add the buttons you want to remap and select the one you want to remap first.
2. Under the selected button, toggle the Customize feature ON. Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central

1. Select the Single Tap option, scroll down to Applications set the button's new functionality. Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central

When remapping buttons, you can choose from various functions you want to see activated via a single tap, double-tap, or a long press. Among the options for personalizing your buttons is having the button launch an action, like taking a screenshot, or opening an application you use more often, like Disney+, Hulu, or HBO Max.

The more you know

Button Mapper also allows you to disable the Netflix button completely by remapping all three options to No Action, which will ensure the button won't do anything when you press it. Unfortunately, Chromecast with Google TV currently doesn't allow you to disable the YouTube button in Button Mapper.

Chromecast with Google TV users should be warned there are a handful of functions in Button Mapper that don't seem to work on Google TV. For example, while remapping the Netflix button to launch other apps or take screenshots does work, you likely won't be able to map a button to fast forward or rewind via the Google TV media controls.

Google's cloud gaming service has had its fair shares of trials and tribulations over the years. From excitement to disappointment, Google Stadia fans have been clinging onto hope that the service won't just get dwarfed by the likes of the Xbox Game Pass, NVIDIA GeForce Now or any of the other cloud game streaming services.

One of the recent disappointments came when the Chromecast with Google TV was announced last Fall with no Stadia in sight. Google continued to promise that the platform was "on the way," but it was difficult not to feel like we weren't just in store for more disappointment.

Fast forward to June 2021, and Google finally delivered. Seven long months since the release of its new streaming dongle, Google Stadia is finally available. It's free to download for everyone, but beware, as dragons lie ahead.

Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV: Price and availability

This is a two-fold situation when using Stadia on the Chromecast with Google TV. Starting with Stadia, this is a monthly subscription service with access to hundreds of games. Stadia is essentially just like any other console, as you can purchase available games and play them whenever you want. But there's also Stadia Pro which offers a few perks including new games every month that you can play for free. Pricing starts at $9.99 per month, but Google does offer a one-month free trial, so you can get your feet wet. While different game studios and Google provide a free game or two every month, you'll still have to pay to play some of the more popular titles.

As for the Chromecast with Google TV, the streaming dongle was released in late 2020. It's available for around $50 from all of your favorite big box stores and online retailers. Unlike the PS5 and Xbox Series X, there haven't been any supply constraints to deal with. So you'll be able to walk into your local store and grab one today and have Stadia set up and ready to go within minutes.

These are the countries that Google Stadia is available in:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Although Stadia is now available on the Chromecast with Google TV, Google also announced that the streaming service is available on other Chromecast and Android TV devices. Here's the full list so far:

• Chromecast Ultra
• Chromecast with Google TV
• Hisense Android Smart TVs (U7G, U8G, U9G)
• NVIDIA Shield TV / Shield TV Pro
• Onn FHD Streaming Stick
• Onn UHD Streaming Device
• Philips 8215, 8505, 935, 805 Series
• Xiaomi Mi Box 3, Mi Box 4

Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV: What's good

What's good about having Stadia on the Chromecast with Google TV? Well, it's pretty straightforward, right? Getting Stadia into the hands of as many people and gamers as possible. It's already available on the best Android phones, the best Android tablets, and just about every other platform that you can think of. Except for the Apple TV, but oh well.

After installing the app on the Chromecast with Google TV, it was just a matter of time as we had to wait for Google to "flip the switch" to enable the ability to actually load Stadia. This won't be something that you have to deal with, but it was interesting that Google made the app available for download, but it couldn't actually be used until an internal pre-determined time.

On your initial setup, you have the ability to pair any of your favorite controllers. The obvious choice is just to use the Stadia Controller, but you can also use your favorite controllers. For the most part, the initial setup process is not all that different from what you'll find when using the service elsewhere.

From there, you're taken to the main Home Screen, where you can look through your game library and find something to play. Before diving any deeper, a few settings can be changed, some of which are only available if you're a Stadia Pro subscriber.

Navigating to the Options menu is easy and reveals all of the settings that you can change. Audio controls are at the top, including changing the volume of a connected headset or the game volume. There's a toggle to enable the Stadia screen reader, and then we have Performance.

It's here where you'll have to change over to 4K from 1080p, but this and the additional High Dynamic Range (HDR) settings are only available for Pro. If you have a Pro subscription, it won't be much of an issue, and the Chromecast will automatically display the highest settings possible.

So what about actual gameplay? Well, there's not really too much to write home about in that regard. Especially if you've already used Stadia on other devices in your home. If anything, performance was a bit better on the Chromecast with Google TV than my OnePlus 9 Pro, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the internet or if it's a bit of a placebo.

Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV: What's not good

Playing games from my couch on my Hisense H65 Series TV is sublime. That's what makes the problems with this experience so frustrating. My biggest problem with Stadia on the Chromecast with Google TV is apparent as soon as you log in and connect your controller for the first time.

Your last-played game is displayed at the top, with the iconic red "play" button so that you can jump right back in. Scroll down, and there it is. A side-scrolling bar with your entire Stadia library. That's it. There's no way to organize or see the games in a grid-view or change anything about the order. What you see is what you get.

The next big problem becomes apparent if you want to add a game to your Stadia library. You can't. There is no possible way for you to browse the Stadia store on the Chromecast with Google TV in its current state. If you want to check out the latest games or maybe see what's on sale that week, you'll need to do so from your phone, tablet, Chromebook, laptop, or desktop computer. Literally anything else other than the device you're actually trying to use.

Another complaint is a minor one, and really more of an inconvenience more than anything else. If you like using the Stadia Pro Controller over one of the other best game controllers for Android, then you're familiar with the dedicated Assistant button. Unfortunately, this has been rendered useless when using the Stadia Controller on the Chromecast with Google TV. Instead, you'll just get an error message in the top right corner, telling you that it's not possible.

The thing about all of these complaints is that they can be fixed in a future software update. And that's great. But, Google has had at least seven months to get the Stadia app ready for prime time. Prime time has come and gone, and it's not ready. We wouldn't go so far as to say that it's "half-baked," but Stadia on the Chromecast with Google TV feels half-baked.

Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV: Competition

While there are more than a few options for game streaming, there aren't as many that can be played on your TV, like Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV. The first one that comes to mind is Amazon Luna, which can be installed on just about all of the best Fire TV Sticks. It doesn't require the Luna controller to be used, but the game library pales compared to Stadia. Even if you sign up for Ubisoft+, there just aren't enough games for Luna to be a true competitor just yet.

The other option is NVIDIA GeForce Now, but this is different from what Stadia or Amazon Luna offers. Not only can you link your Steam library to access games that you've purchased, but GeForce Now also continues to add new titles that are available to play. Unfortunately, the biggest issue is that GeForce Now isn't available on all of the best Android TVs. However, if you own the NVIDIA Shield TV or Shield TV Pro, then you're in luck as you'll be able to fire it up and start streaming.

Xbox Game Pass is arguably the most exciting game streaming service to be released, but Microsoft is still working on bringing it to more devices. It's already available on many of the best Android phones, and it can be used on pretty much any device with a built-in web browser. But we're still waiting for Microsoft to release a dedicated Android TV or Google TV app.

Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You've been wanting another device to play Stadia on.
• You're tired of waiting to get a next-gen console and want to play AAA games
• Reason here

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You've already committed to buying new games on a different platform
• you don't want to deal with half-baked game navigation
• You don't want to switch devices just to find a new game to play

If you really want to play Stadia with your Chromecast with Google TV, you can rest easy knowing that there aren't any issues or bugs in performance. Download the app, pair your controller, and start playing your favorite games, and you'll even be able to play in 4K/HDR if you have a compatible TV and a Stadia Pro subscription.

3.5 out of 5

We are really just left feeling like Google could have done more in game discovery and organization. On the bright side, you have access to all of your games without jumping through any hoops. But the inability to look through the Stadia Store for new titles is frustrating. And if you have a large library of games, there's no way to move your favorite ones to the front of the list or organize them at all. A side-scrolling interface is not the best option here. We're just hoping Google pushes an update (soon) to fix this, but in reality, it shouldn't have been an issue, to begin with.

Google Stadia

Bottom line: Stadia is far from a fledgling streaming service, as you can now play many AAA titles on day one. Plus, with Stadia Pro, you'll have access to discounts and even some freebies.

• $9.99/mo. at Stadia

Chromecast with Google TV

Bottom line: Google's latest Chromecast solves a long-standing issue of not having a remote for your streaming dongle. It's lightweight and compact, and with Stadia's arrival, it's arguably the most portable gaming console.

• $50 at Best Buy
• $50 at Walmart
• $50 at B&H Photo

One of the best ways to enhance your viewing experience while using Chromecast with Google TV is to refresh your home screen with apps you use regularly. With that in mind, we've provided a guide that explains how to download and uninstall apps on Chromecast with Google TV. Let's get started!

How to download apps on Chromecast with Google TV

Chromecast with Google TV makes it super easy to download your favorite apps with just a few clicks. Here are the steps you need to take to download apps on Chromecast with Google TV right now.

1. Make sure you are logged into your Google account.

2. Scroll over to the Apps menu at the top of your home screen.

3. Under the App categories, select Search for apps.

4. Use the keyboard to Search the app you want to install.

5. Once you've found the app, select Install.

After you've downloaded the apps you want to use, they should appear on your Google TV home page. Then, all you need to do is log in and start streaming.

How to uninstall apps on Chromecast with Google TV

If you decide that you have too many apps downloaded or want to remove the apps you don't use often, it's easy to uninstall apps on Chromecast with Google TV. Here are the steps you need to take.

1. Make sure you are logged into your Google account.

2. Navigate to Settings. 

3. From the Settings menu, select Apps.

4. Scroll down and choose See all apps.

5. Scroll down to the app you want to remove.

6. Click on the app and select Uninstall.

7. When asked to confirm the uninstall process, select OK.

Once the process is complete, the uninstalled app will no longer appear under the Apps section in Settings or on your home page.

Apps on Chromecast with Google TV

While the Chromecast with Google TV is among the best streaming devices on the market right now, it's worth pointing out that the dongle only allows you to highlight 12 apps and games on the home screen without expanding the full list. That's why it's a good idea to put your most-used apps at the front and to regularly update your device by downloading your current faves and removing the apps you haven't accessed in months.