Goodbye Google Chromecast and hello Google TV Streamer. The famous little dongle from the American firm is giving way to a more imposing and more versatile audio-video box, but also more expensive… and not necessarily more useful!
It’s been ten years since Google’s Chromecast found a place behind our televisions in France. Initially designed as an “HDMI key” to connect to the TV, over the years it has evolved significantly to become the Chromecast with Google TV available in HD (40 euros) and 4K (70 euros) versions.
Practical, especially on older TVs without an Internet connection, it allows you to display all the content available online and access SVOD services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Arte TV, TF1+, M6+ , etc. without forgetting YouTube, of course. In addition to that, it also allows content from a smartphone, tablet or computer (PC or Mac) to be broadcast on the big TV screen without requiring any wired connection. You can therefore use it to show your loved ones the latest vacation photos or a video that you have filmed yourself.
But since connected TVs are extremely common today (although non-connected models are still present, there are few of them on the shelves), the Chromecast is losing its aura and its interest. Furthermore, many TVs today also include the Chromecast function to connect a device (smartphone, tablet, computer, VR headset). The Chromecast therefore had to reinvent itself.
This is what Google is trying with the TV Streamer. The firm offers an “improved” Chromecast by retaining the functions that made it successful but adding a pinch of artificial intelligence and opening it to the connected home. Incidentally, the Chromecast has undergone a nice price increase since the device costs 120 euros. We’ve used different Chromecast boxes over the past few years up to the 4K model with Google TV. So, is it really useful to replace your old Chromecast with this new TV Streamer? We tested it for several days. Here is our verdict.
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Google TV Streamer test: a new, larger box to complete yourself
Appearing in the form of a simple HDMI key then a dongle to plug into the TV, the Chromecast had until now retained a compact and discreet size. Google is making a clean sweep of the past and now wants its device to be seen. The TV Streamer therefore comes in the form of a long box measuring 16 cm long and a little over 7 cm wide. However, it remains quite elegant with its “porcelain” color (in ivory tones) which is quite versatile. It blends in with any decor but you now have to reserve a place for it since it no longer hangs on an HDMI socket behind the television but must be laid flat.
This flat surface with rounded edges in the shape of a large pill is slightly inclined forward. So that it is not possible to place any object on it. At the back of the base, we find the USB-C power jack (cable and charger are provided), an HDMI 2.1 jack and, pleasant surprise, an Ethernet port. The TV Streamer can therefore connect directly to the Internet box or to a router in order to benefit from a more stable and faster speed than with a Wi-Fi connection. And so much the better since the device only requires a module Wi-Fi 5 (Hey Google, welcome to 2024 where Wi-Fi 7 begins to emerge).
Furthermore, no matter how much you turn the box over in all directions, there is not a single HDMI cable in it. This is frustrating when all previous Chromecasts had a built-in jack. If you don’t have an HDMI cable in your drawers, don’t forget to spend an extra ten euros to connect the TV Streamer to your TV.
Finally, still on the back of the case there is now a small button. This has only one function: to ring the remote control to find it more easily when it is lost between two sofa cushions. Good idea. An operation that can also be carried out from the Google Home application on the smartphone (iOS or Android).
Google TV Streamer test: a more comfortable remote control for everyday use
For the TV Streamer, Google designed a remote control that is a little larger than the one that comes with Chromecast with Google TV. It now accommodates the volume adjustment buttons on the front (previously relegated to the right edge). The direct access keys to Netflix and YouTube are still present but they now sit alongside a Microphone button (to launch the assistant) and a button flanked by a star. This allows you to launch the application of your choice. Well seen.
In addition, the remote control has a microphone (to send voice requests to the assistant) but also a small speaker. This is what allows it to ring (quite loudly) when it has been misplaced. Note that it is also possible to find the remote control with a voice request “hey Google, find the remote control” just as you can turn your TV on or off in the same way if a smartphone, tablet or connected speaker connected to the Google account is in the room.
Only regret: the remote control still uses two good old AAA batteries whereas today, with recent televisions, not even to mention the Apple TV, the trend is rather towards rechargeable batteries, more economical over time and also more practical.
The TV Streamer takes everything that made previous Chromecast models so successful. Android TV with its Google TV overlay remains as pleasant to use as ever. A wide variety of content combining films and series from the various VOD services to which you subscribe (or not) is offered on the home page. These contents correspond to your tastes inspired by what you have already watched. We appreciate the possibility of managing several Google accounts (and therefore profiles) for each member of the household and even children with restricted accounts.
We note in passing that a handful of the most popular apps (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) also appear on the home page. The others are grouped together in a folder oddly called “General Interest”. However, while it is possible to reorganize the layout of the apps, not all of them lend themselves to the game. Some, like ArteTV, remain stuck in this folder. Impossible to get them out. Others, on the other hand, have barely launched (this is the case of VLC for example), land directly in the favorite apps. Incomprehensible. We also note the absence of the PlayStore among the favorite apps or even in the famous “General Interest” folder. The Google app store is nevertheless present (impossible to download any app without it) but it is revealed through the search field. You must therefore know precisely what you want to download. Otherwise, a big detour through the settings and its Applications section allows you to open the PlayStore as before. Google complicates access unnecessarily.
Furthermore, the functions using AI promised by Google do not yet seem to be active in France. It was impossible for us to obtain any summary of certain films or series. Damage. Finally, like the previous Chromecast or the Apple TV, it is impossible to connect any external storage device such as an SSD drive, a USB key or a microSD card to this device. If the TV Streamer has 32 GB of storage space, it is only for saving applications (and their cache). You can only access content online. Unless you use the VLC app and play films stored on a computer or a NAS connected to the local network, but there we go beyond the very general public framework that the TV Streamer aims for.
As for the video and audio quality, it remains impeccable. The TV Streamer’s chip does the job perfectly for displaying 4K video by handling HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats as well as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos audio. The device doubles its amount of RAM compared to the Chromecast with Google TV (from 2 GB to 4 GB). This allows you to play a few small games more comfortably. But gaming is not his cup of tea. In this area, the Apple TV 4K outperforms it.
Finally, there remains Bluetooth 5.1 which allows you to pair a wireless headset to avoid disturbing your neighbors or a sound bar for example to avoid the generally mediocre audio output of televisions.
Google TV Streamer test: new functions for the connected home
The great novelty of this TV Streamer lies in its ability to control the connected home. The device is compatible with Matter devices. As on a smartphone, it therefore integrates Google Home to control connected bulbs, thermostats, surveillance cameras, locks, robot vacuum cleaners, etc. Setting up Google Home on the TV streamer gave us a bit of trouble. After half an hour of attempts, Google Home still refused to launch, simply displaying a technical error message. But after a simple reboot, everything ended up working. A little help would have been welcome.
Once Google Home is activated, it is possible to control its lighting, for example, from the sofa using the remote control directly from a flap that opens on the right side of the TV screen.
With surveillance cameras, it is possible to display the flow of images. Same with a connected doorbell, the filmed image can be displayed on the screen (we were not able to test this function). It’s a little extra for those whose home is full of connected devices that can be controlled through Matter. But for everyone else, this function will be perfectly gimmicky or even useless.
Larger, more efficient, richer in functions but also more expensive, Google’s TV Streamer fails to convince us. Google’s intention to refresh the Chromecast was good. But ultimately, the additions don’t match the price increase. More than fifty euros all the same compared to the Chromecast with Google TV 4K). And despite that, it does not succeed in reaching the power of an Apple TV 4K which suffers from the same faults (such as the impossibility of connecting an external disk) but with which it is easier to play for example. The integration of Google Home, even if it is successful, will ultimately only satisfy a small portion of users already well equipped with connected objects.
For the rest, the previous Chromecast does just as well with a much better quality-price ratio. If you want a real change, it is better to opt for an Android TV box such as the Xiaomi Box S 2n/a Gen (around 60 euros) which covers a wider field of applications and allows you to watch content stored on an external disk. Also, unless you really want to be able to control your connected objects from your TV screen, the TV Streamer won’t give you much more than the previous Chromecast. Be careful, these should disappear from Google’s catalog at the end of the year.