Google TV Streamer review | Your new HOME HUB!

Summary

The Google TV streamer offers a significant upgrade over the Chromecast with Google TV, featuring a more robust design, improved performance, and increased storage. It integrates well with smart home devices and provides a smoother user experience. The updated remote is a highlight, with a comfortable design and improved button placement. While not as powerful as the Nvidia Shield TV Pro, the Google TV streamer delivers a solid streaming experience at a more accessible price point.

Takeaways

• 📺 The Google TV streamer is the follow-up to the Chromecast 4K and offers several design and performance upgrades.
• 🤏 The device has a plasticky feel that feels cheaper than expected but sturdy, with a rubberized base to help it stay in place under your TV.
• 🎨 It comes in two colors: porcelain (off-white) in the UK and hazel (gray-green) in the US, designed to blend better into home decor.
• 🔌 The new streamer is harder to hide compared to the old Chromecast, likely due to its larger size and shape.
• 🖥️ The biggest design changes include a new, larger remote with better ergonomics, such as a deeper groove for comfort.
• 🎮 Performance has improved, with a smoother, more responsive interface, but it's not ideal for gaming and still uses Wi-Fi 5.
• 🔧 It includes more ports, like HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, and USB-C for power, but does not come with an HDMI cable in the box.
• ⚡ The device draws very little power and can be powered by a USB 2.0 port on some TVs, but this may vary depending on your TV model.
• 📡 The Google TV software has gained AI-generated summaries for recommended content, offering helpful insights without spoilers.
• 🖼️ New AI-generated art screen savers allow users to create custom prompts for display, though it may appeal more to families and children.

Q & A

What is the Google TV streamer?

The Google TV streamer is a follow-up device to the Chromecast 4K, designed to integrate more seamlessly into home decor and offer an improved streaming experience.

How does the Google TV streamer differ from the Chromecast in terms of design?

The Google TV streamer has a more muted color and a rounded wedge shape, making it look more like an ornament than a piece of technology, and it is harder to hide compared to the Chromecast.

What color options are available for the Google TV streamer?

The Google TV streamer is available in an off-white color in the UK and a gray with a slight hint of green, akin to the Pixel 9 series, in the US, which is limited to the Google Store.

What are the new features of the Google TV streamer's remote control?

The new remote control has a larger form factor with a dimple on the battery drawer for extra comfort, new button placements, and a dedicated button to help find the remote.

How does the Google TV streamer perform in terms of heat dissipation?

The Google TV streamer does not get overly warm or hot to the touch even after hours of streaming, indicating good thermal management.

What are the connectivity options on the Google TV streamer?

The Google TV streamer includes a dedicated HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet cable slot, a USB-C power and expansion port, and comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-A power brick.

How much usable storage does the Google TV streamer offer?

The Google TV streamer comes with 23 GB of usable storage out of the box.

What AI features has Google TV integrated into the streamer?

Google TV on the streamer includes AI-generated summaries for recommended content, custom AI art screen savers, and faster Google Assistant responses.

How does the Google TV streamer compare to the Nvidia Shield TV Pro in terms of performance?

While the Google TV streamer offers a substantial upgrade in performance and storage, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro remains the top choice for Android TV boxes in terms of raw performance.

What is the price point of the Google TV streamer, and how does it compare to other streaming devices?

The Google TV streamer is priced at $99, offering improved codec support and a vastly improved Google TV experience, but there are cheaper alternatives available that may better suit some users.

What are the advantages of using the Google TV streamer over the Chromecast with Google TV?

The Google TV streamer offers improved performance, more storage, and a better integrated Google TV experience, making it a notable upgrade over the Chromecast with Google TV.