Chromecast HD/4K vs. Google TV Streamer: What's the difference?

The Chromecast is dead...long live the Google TV Streamer! Here's what's new and how the streaming boxes differ.

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Timestamps
--
0:00 - Intro
0:12 - Bigger box, improved inputs
1:00 - Colors and compromises
2:23 - Bigger, better remote
3:02 - Hardware updates, upgrades, and features
5:28 - Exclusive Google TV functions
6:41 - Are there enough upgrades and is this a worthy Chromecast successor?
--

[YumeFox]

The original ChromeCast was 29 euros and an absolute no-brainer
The second added a remote, and the ability to run native apps. At 49 euros for the HD version, it was less of an instant-buy, but still a fun gadget for the money.
And now its 2024.. And the discontinued the stick-Chromecast and launched a setup box at 119 euros. Like.. who was asking for this..?

[MannyRamirez]

I like the new design, it's like a home decoration. I just don't see myself buying it for $100.

[agspr]

I´ll just wait for the inevitable $69 Black Friday sale.

[Nanoscot]

Google is now putting old hardware in new devices it sucks

[theXAVIER]

I have 3 of the Chromecast HD, one for each of my TVs in the home. I have had them basically since day 1, I have been a big fan of the Chromecast and have had every variation. Honestly I do not mind the $99 price tag for an upgrade. I can tell you after owning one for about two weeks, its much faster than the old Chromecast devices. Nothing has changed with my wifi or internet setup and the moment I hooked up the new Google TV Streamer it instantly was much faster. All of the apps open almost instantly, streaming is much faster. When I would watch HBO Max everything I watched would stream in low quality until it buffered enough. Not anymore it just plays full 4K right when I start the stream. I have no complaints, literally nothing to complain about. Can you get better? sure... people still are into the Nvidia shield thing, but its like $250 and never goes on sale, and its like 6 years old now?

[DanJHayes]

I don't see the point of the new streamer. I like the Chromecast TV dongle remote with the volume on the side.

[Sonola]

Can’t believe Google released the Streamer with no HDMI audio pass through support 🤦🏾‍♂️.

[technicavivunt]

Lack of pass through makes it a no for me. They’re so incredibly close. Seems like nobody is interested in making the be all end all stream box

[therealmerf]

For me, the Google Streamer is less practical than the Chromecast with Google TV. The advantage of the Chromecast with Google TV is that you can easily plug it to a TV and carry it with you anywhere. When you travel, for example, you can take it along with all your pre-configured apps, even your own launcher. And when you're on the go, you can plug it into a hotel TV, at a friend's place, or anywhere else. Plus, if you set it up with a VPN and local TV apps, you can access your home country's TV from anywhere in the world. By the way it is possible to connect a USB-C HUB to the Chromecast with Google TV, I do it, I even add a flashdrive for more memory and 2 Wi-Fi dongles for snes controllers and turn it into a full emulator console. For me in terms of versatility, I find the design of the Google Streamer less appealing compared to the dongle or concept design Google used before.

[wonkypinky]

This is a tough sell in the UK at the moment

No iPlayer
No Channel 4
No centralised way to stream live TV

[aribloch]

My Chromecast 4k wifi seemed to be going out a few weeks ago, randomly disconnecting about once a day. I was just going to get an ethernet adapter for it, but the Streamer seemed worth it. Annoying that they don't include an HDMI 2.1 cable though, especially at $99.

[Adrianogba]

A comparison with a Nvidia shield tv pro would be great. Performance specially, but also on the ai upscale and os feature differences.

[helensanders]

I may get it as I don't have any Apple products and noticed the Apple TV app on there and have been wanting to watch their streaming shows and movies.

[nostrace]

The Onn 4K Pro on Black Friday will be a much more pulverizing value, especially if the new features of the Streamer don’t matter to you.

[sheng]

same ads generator i still have a modded firestick 4k imma stick to that for many years

[mana]

think its a cool concept but its a bit lacking: it doesnt have auracast which is the main thing i would want from a upgrade, it doesn't support tap to cast which would make sense given the new design, otherwise i think its good but idk if its enough to upgrade to

[curbsidetech]

Another type c ports would have been nice.

[ArthurZakaryan]

I'm not sure if I've seen anyone yet compare this to the Walmart ONN Chromecast streamer. I know that particular device is mainly available in the US but as an alternative to the first party Google Streamer, it looks to be one of the best available and costs almost half what the Streamer costs.

[Grit]

I just replaced my 2nd generation Chromecast with the 4k version and its a definitive improvement !

[kayasia]

They just can't leave already good products alone. Gotta keep adding, gotta keep raising prices, gotta keep being behold to share holders while giving zero fuus about customers. It's the American Dream.