Resolution: Up to 4K HDR, 60fps
Bluetooth: 5.1
HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Dimensions (hwd): 2.5 x 16 x 7.6cm
With more power, more storage and more features, the Google TV Streamer is a real upgrade on the old Chromecast. Its picture is a step up too, though sadly the audio hasn't really progressed. It is quite a bit more expensive than the old model though, and faces some stiff competition from Apple and Amazon models.
For
- Natural and balanced picture
- Good detail
- Improved remote
Against
- Uninspiring sound
- Lacks picture dynamism
Resolution: Up to 4K HDR, 60fps
Bluetooth: 4.2
HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+
Dimensions (hwd): 12.5 x 6 x 16cm
This old dog has some life in it yet. It might be end of life, but it still offers all the streaming apps you would expect, and a decent picture to boot. True, it's a little outdated compared to the TV Streamer, and its picture isn't as good. But with discounts possible, it could still be tempting...
For
- Lots of apps
- Excellent HDR picture
- Dolby Vision and Atmos
Against
- Rivals sound more dynamic
The concisely named Google TV Streamer has officially replaced the Award-winning Chromecast with Google TV as the tech giant's sole video streamer.
But with a higher price tag and the retirement of the long-established Chromecast brand, is it worth upgrading to?
We've put both devices through their paces in our test rooms – join us as we compare the two.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out our list of the best media streamers if you aren't tied to a brand and want to keep your options open.
Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: price
At launch in 2020, the Chromecast with Google TV was priced at £60 / $60 / AU$60.
It’s more or less remained at this price point since then, though it's often available on sale for even less.
The new Google TV Streamer, on the other hand, comes with a significantly higher price tag of £100 / $100 / AU$159.
But it's worth noting that the new streamer packs in considerably more features and upgraded hardware, making it a more versatile bit of kit.
Still, with that much of a price difference, it’s clear which device takes this round.
**Winner: Google Chromecast with Google TV**
Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: design and build
Price aside, the design and form factor differences between the new Google TV Streamer and the Chromecast with Google TV represent the biggest change.
The older device maintains the dongle form factor of its predecessors and is designed to hang discreetly from your TV's side or rear panel, diligently getting on with its duties in secret, hidden from view.
But the Google TV Streamer adopts a more traditional set-top box form, albeit with a sleek, pebble-inspired aesthetic that is designed to complement your entertainment set-up rather than hide away in shame.
Now, whether or not you want a giant white pebble on prominent display is up to you, of course, but overall we rather like its minimalist, organic look.
Available in Porcelain or Hazel (with the latter being exclusive to the Google Store), the new Google TV streamer certainly looks more premium compared to its dongle sibling and makes more of a statement.
The supplied remote has also had a glow-up.
While it has kept its similar rounded shape, the new Google TV Streamer remote has improved ergonomics, thanks to a textured grip and optimised button layout.
Volume controls are more prominent, for a start, and there’s also a handy customisable button that provides quick and easy access to your most-used functions.
Lastly, unlike its Chromecast rival, the Google TV Streamer also packs the advantage of a rear Ethernet port, which will be a godsend for those who prefer to ditch the less reliable experiences that wi-fi can often provide.
Overall, if you’d rather have your devices hidden away, the older Chromecast will be the better option for you.
Though there’s nothing stopping you from slotting the new Google TV Streamer away behind the TV or in a cabinet, and it’s hard to argue against its improved remote and Ethernet inclusion.
**Winner: Google TV Streamer**
Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: features
There are plenty of differences between the two devices under their hoods, too.
Unsurprisingly, the newer and more expensive Google TV Streamer brings all sorts of fancy new tricks to the table.
Given the AI hype over the past few years, it’ll come as no big surprise to hear that Google is bringing its Gemini AI integration to the TV Streamer.
Regardless of how you feel about AI (insert the usual comment about the robot uprising etc here), plenty of users will likely appreciate what it provides.
Gemini integration provides intelligent content recommendations and summaries.
It is even up to the task of generating custom artwork for your TV's idle mode, which is a nice touch.
It also offers improved smart home integration with built-in Matter and Thread support, acting as a more capable smart home hub – a useful feature for those into whole-home device integration.
A new Google Assistant command can even help locate your misplaced remote, earning extra brownie points for those of us prone to losing our devices down the back of the sofa.
As for AV capabilities, both models support 4K resolution, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
However, the Google TV Streamer adds support for Dolby Atmos audio, whereas its predecessor only offered Dolby-encoded audio via HDMI passthrough.
**Winner: Google TV Streamer**
Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: picture
The Google TV Streamer boasts significant performance upgrades over its predecessor.
Its processor is 22 per cent faster than the Chromecast with Google TV, while the RAM has been doubled to 4GB and the storage quadrupled to 32GB.
These improvements are nothing to sniff at and should result in a smoother, more responsive user experience – particularly when navigating the Google TV interface or switching between apps.
At least, that's the theory.
In practice, we found it sticks all too often, and that's when doing nothing more challenging than browsing the menu.
It's a shame. But there's better news in the picture department.
It is better than the Chromecast with Google TV. And considering that was an Award winner, that's good news indeed.
The TV Streamer has better contrast – its blacks are deeper, making for an image with more depth and impact. The bright highlights look true as well, bringing out extra detail.
It also handles colours well – they have plenty of punch, but not at the expense of authenticity.
Motion poses it no problems either, with a tennis ball in Challengers darting across the screen with no blurring or stuttering. But the film grain does look a bit fuzzy and distracting.
The Chromecast with Google TV is no slouch. Five years ago, we pronounced it among the best media streamers for picture quality.
The competition has since moved on, but the Chromecast with Google TV is still impressive. Just not as good as its successor.
** Winner: Google TV Streamer **
Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: sound
Sonically, the Google TV Streamer isn't great. It's not terrible – in fact it's perfectly fine.
But if you want a streamer to listen to music with as well as watch movies, we would advise you to look elsewhere.
Admittedly, that won't matter to everyone. And for movies and TV shows, the TV Streamer is fine.
Its sound is clear and detailed, with a focus on vocal clarity.
"As bullets and arrows start flying in a battle at the Osaka Continental Hotel in John Wick: Chapter 4, the streamer does a solid job of delivering weighty thuds as bodies drop, and the slashes of katanas sound clean and sharp," we wrote in our Google TV Streamer review.
But its low-level dynamics are lacking, while dialogue sounds a little flat.
Play music with it, and these faults are magnified. Instruments lack warmth, while instruments could do with an injection of texture to make them come to life.
Our verdict? An "uninspiring musical performance".
Mind you, its predecessor struggles in this area as well.
The Chromecast with Google TV suffers from a lack of fullness, costing tracks a sense of texture and solidity.
It does have a decent sense of rhythm though, with decent detail and a satisfying crispness to the sound.
** Winner: Draw **
Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV: verdict
The Google TV Streamer box represents a substantial upgrade over the Chromecast with Google TV dongle in almost every aspect.
With more powerful hardware, expanded features and a sleeker design, it is definitely the superior device.
But it's not without its faults.
Navigating the menu could be a lot slicker, and the audio still leaves a lot to be desired.
It's also quite a bit pricier than the Google Chromecast with Google TV.
Google's older streamer is unlikely to be supported much longer, and some places have stopped selling it (Google included). So the TV Streamer is the smart choice.
But if you want a cheaper streamer for casual viewing, the Chromecast could fit the bill.
MORE:
Read our Google TV Streamer review
And our Chromecast with Google TV review
Best media streamers: the best TV streaming devices
Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: which is better?
