Google TV versus Chromecast: Is an upgrade worth it for the new Google TV features?
The tech giant Google has unveiled its latest streaming device, the Google TV Streamer, which offers a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Chromecast with Google TV.
The Google TV Streamer comes in two stylish finishes - Porcelain and Hazel - and boasts a more traditional set-top box form compared to the Chromecast's minimalist dongle design. However, it's not just about looks; the Google TV Streamer is packed with advanced features and improved performance.
One of the key improvements is the hardware upgrade. The Google TV Streamer features 4GB of RAM (double the Chromecast's 2GB), 32GB of storage (compared to 8GB on the Chromecast), and a faster CPU, making it 22% faster than the Chromecast. This results in faster app loading, a more responsive UI, and improved internet connectivity, as it includes a built-in Ethernet port, which the Chromecast lacks.
In terms of smart features, the Google TV Streamer integrates advanced Google AI functionalities. It offers personalized content recommendations across subscriptions, AI-driven summaries of shows and movies, and an AI-powered Ambient Mode for custom wallpapers. Additionally, it doubles as a smart home hub with Thread border router support and Matter compatibility, allowing you to control Google Home-connected smart devices directly from the TV panel.
The Google TV Streamer also supports 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, and it's the only one of the two devices that supports Dolby Atmos natively. The Chromecast handles Dolby audio only via HDMI pass-through.
The voice remote on the Google TV Streamer is upgraded with a Find My Remote feature and a more intuitive button layout, enhancing usability.
However, the Google TV Streamer's audio performance could use some improvement, particularly when it comes to low-level dynamics and dialogue. The Chromecast, on the other hand, has a decent sense of rhythm, with decent detail and a satisfying crispness to the sound.
Despite these improvements, the Google TV Streamer comes with a significantly higher price tag compared to the Chromecast. It retails for £100 / $100 / AU$159, making it a more premium and versatile streaming device overall.
The Chromecast with Google TV, while still a capable device, is unlikely to be supported much longer, and some places have stopped selling it, including Google itself.
In conclusion, the Google TV Streamer offers a substantial upgrade over the Chromecast with Google TV in nearly every aspect: hardware specs, smart features, connectivity, audio, and remote control. The Chromecast remains a simpler, more budget-oriented device but lacks these advanced enhancements.
- The tech giant Google has announced the release of the Google TV Streamer, blowing the predecessor, the Chromecast with Google TV, out of the water with its significant upgrades.
- The Google TV Streamer is not only visually pleasing with its Porcelain and Hazel finishes but also boasts improved performance thanks to a hardware upgrade that includes double the amount of RAM and a faster CPU.
- Smart features in the Google TV Streamer include personalized content recommendations, AI-driven show and movie summaries, an AI-powered Ambient Mode, and functionality as a smart home hub.
- In terms of streaming capabilities, the Google TV Streamer supports 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, making it the only one of the Google streaming devices that supports Dolby Atmos natively.
- The Google TV Streamer's voice remote offers a Find My Remote feature and a more intuitive button layout for enhanced usability, but its audio performance could be better, particularly regarding low-level dynamics and dialogue.
- The Google TV Streamer carries a higher price tag than the Chromecast, retailing at £100 / $100 / AU$159, making it a more premium and versatile streaming option overall, while the Chromecast may soon be phased out and is no longer available for purchase through Google itself.
