No, they haven't added any support for more audio codecs and underpowered it by choosing an over 2 year old soc (which Amazon also used in the Firestick 4K in 2021) so it's not worth it imo.
At double the price, I would expect more than 22% more power. The Onn 4k Pro is only $49.99 has 3gb of RAM, 32GB of storage, and works as an actual communication device and has stock Google TV. I think the Walmart product is far more impressive at half the cost.
I was just wanting to buy a Google Chromecast TV, but now i am waiting for this device first. Big thing for me would be can i hide the ugly thing behind the tv like the Google Chromecast? And it will still be working like it should? And streaming without the ethernet cable possible? Just wifi? Sorry i am not into these things and would like to explore this tech for my holiday home.
@@co-lectiv Personally, even if I bought a brand new mid to high end google television set, I'd still buy a separate device to run my streaming services on or using it at a media client because those devices will do it better than what the TV has in it.
It's disappointing that Google has not released a Google Streamer box with the Tensor G4 Processor. This would have made the product future-proof, especially considering that Apple has already taken similar steps. As a fan, it's disheartening to see this decision, as it may cause the product to struggle against competition from Apple.
A 22% faster CPU is a marginal upgrade. Google needs to future proof devices with better hardware like Nvidia if they are going to go with multiple years between chromecast releases (4 years for the 4K Google Chromecast). The Fire TV Cube 3 is 100% faster than the 2020 4k Chromecast and the price hovers around $110 or less with sales.
I agree. Apple is putting A-series chips on their Apple TVs. While most people will probably not even use all that power, it really helps on the responsiveness of the UI.
I seriously don't know what's up with this shield talk. Its doesnt support hdr on TH-cam. Doesn't have av1 decoding. It still runs on old version of android tv. On top of that hardware is years old with no update in over a year. The price is still 149. Even when using stremio with rd + account it happens to crash. Internal or external player. Even the onn pro is a shield killer in my opinion. The shield remote is trash. It feels sluggish. I really loved the shield while it lasted. Open and cleaned still no difference. Ive had the shield and shield pro. But The shield killed itself years ago when Nvidia abandoned the project. Even GeForce now on shield is trash.
@@justinsantamaria4474The shield has support for lossless audio like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. If you buy Blu-ray discs and rip them to play through Plex you'd understand why Shield is still the undisputable king 💯
Does "spatial audio" mean were finally getting to use our nest speakers as full home surround? They announced that back in 2020 I'm pretty sure! Still hasn't happened
I think there was a lawsuit between Google and Sonos, which held up a lot of the wireless pairing innovations, although I'm not sure what exactly it was about.
What I love about this new streamer is it's a closed OS and app ecosystem that's 100% controlled by Google so I can't avoid ads and surveillance in any way. And all that for just $99.
@@jsadecki1 possible if similar onn 4 k pro walmart , Go Settings - Account & sign in -click R side circle remote to yr acct. again click r side circle - scow down to - Apps only mode - yes... same procedure to turn it off lol
PiHole & Ad blockers are my jam to stop advertise in my home network. I only use TH-cam in browser, so it cannot defeat my ad blocker. Never in my life, I will have a Google product in my life.
@@jsadecki1there's plenty out there. Try smart tube on the Chromecast. You'll have to side load it using downloader. Is easy. Just do a little research. Plenty of cool features on the skin of it that TH-cam doesn't offer.
Why is this $100? It's slightly faster than a 4 year old $50 device, has no ports, nothing really special about it? Seems to be about on par with the $50 walmart streaming box?
it seems the usb port on the deivce is for power an data so not ideal but could use a usb hub that way? would need testing and hopefuly there isn't the fat 32 issue so we can store more then 4gb sized files
@@laughingizdacure4975 People still do that? I found it much more convenient to just host a Plex server, no more copying to a USB just stream to any device in the house and even remotely.
@@russelldye5506 Don't think that will help. AA Reviewer said USB-C port was power only. I'll have to stick with my Nvidia Shield for now even though it's getting old.
I hope they come out with one soon. Not holding my breath though. Might have to look into using a mini PC because none of these devices are all that impressive.
@@Mr01dschool NVIDIA usually will have a Shield when a Nintendo Switch comes out since they have the same processor. Rumor has it that there is a Switch 2 late 2024 or early 2025.
The audio specifications are: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Indeed, Google don't want fulfilling everyone there wishes. Google kicks things off - so there is plenty of space for other companies to unleash their creativity 🔊
so basically, 2 gb more ram, 24gb more storage, 1 g Ethernet port, and 22% more powerful cpu for 50 dollar more than previous version which has been 4 years. So On the previous version, I bet all the people bought usb c hub with extra storage with 1g Ethernet port on it. Question is is twice of money worth it? ATM I would say Meh~~ but I don't know. What would you think?
only 22% faster than 4year old box? that was already underpowered. That is a joke. Why not throw a tensor g1 from recycled Pixel trade in this is what apple does with the apple tv. The apple TV is a better choice or if u want a GoogleTV just get an onn 4k pro from Walmart. Its half the price 32gb storage 3gb ram hands free google assistant, Back lit remote, wifi 6 (googletv streamer only wifi 5). Its just a shame i really wanted to like this device.
Just give me a new updated Shield TV Pro and I will be happy. Might get 3 Onn TV Pros for a HDMI encoder box to use with Channels and another for a secondary TV.
@@ariothegamer5The operating system still exist but they're going to stop making things with the Chromecast branding and use this streamer branding. They're functionally similar of course. I don't know why they had to discontinue one though It still was reasonable I think to have less expensive dongle like one as well as this one.
I upgraded my Chromecast 4k with an M.2 for storage and heatsinks and a PC fan for beefy cooling, along with full USB support. I built this inside the case for my old Boxee Box, with functioning stock LED panel. I can absolutely say the cooling was the issue! It's so much better with a good cooling solution. No more lag, no more issues. I would be interested to see the internals of the new one to consider buying it if I can make it fit inside my current build... I bet with proper cooling it would be closer to a 50% improvement. Though, admittedly, I'm mostly interested in having more RAM. But, also admittedly, entirely unnecessary, as my Chromecast 4k is working GREAT! My main concern is if the upcoming Android update is going to make it less stable as they aim to push users to the new platform, and the added RAM will eventually become necessary.
For anyone wondering, I got 40mm heat sinks with adhesive thermal pads... Removed the case from the Chromecast and filled the voids on both sides with thermal paste before installing the heat sinks, making a crazy looking heat sink sandwich. It's placed inside the case right in front of the fan, so all the airflow is forced through the heat sinks. I used a couple of powered USB C hubs to power everything, and passthrough ports on the rear of the case. So, the rear IO is fully functional, with full size USB ports for media streaming or even charging your phone, and a flush mounted USB C port to power the entire thing. It was a very fun project, and quite challenging to fit everything. I used an 80mm PC fan with a grill on both sides (to keep cables from hitting the blades) and the exterior fan grill is black metal, which looks very slick on the side of the Boxee Box case. Using USB powered adjustable power supplies to power the fan and the LED panel, which are both receiving power from the USB hubs. Been daily driving for a few months and I'm very very happy with the setup! All apps are installed on the m.2 drive, which seems to be a lot faster than the built in storage. For that I used the guts of an m.2 USB 3.2 enclosure that had to be very much modified to fit in the case. If you do something similar, I would definitely recommend a short m.2, not a full size, as you have to account for the space of the control board from the enclosure. Space management is tough in such a confined case.
@@wanderer10k sure the CCWGT can do most of the things Streamer can do but it doesn't do it well. I have two of them, I know how slow and janky they are and how cramped the storage is. All along my take has been if all they did was make a CCWGT with a faster CPU and more storage and RAM I'd be down. And here it is but even better.
The price is perfect the only thing I would have added is a USB port and possible AUX port. But now we have to rely on adding a hub that has those additional ports that support power as well.
I specifically went with Chromecast for all of our TVs because I wanted to be RID OF stupid set-top boxes. And now once again Google pulls the rug out from under me. They just want to be able to charge triple for a box like all of the other crappy services do. I really hate Google anymore.
We don't need stupid dongles and set top boxes. We need standard, robust and future-proof protocols between services and devices that can be implemented in TVs, receivers and mobile devices.
Nonsense : I have Chromecast 4K with adaptative USB-C to add extra storage, Ethernet and external files with USB3. I have also remote with personal access to my app I can program. It’s not cheap , only 22% more efficient after 4 years and we’ll see for extra like DTS. FireTV stock do also a good job and AppleTV at the same price it’s fluid !
Not with a 2021 MediaTek SOC Processor, that not good enough in this day and age ! What is google thinking ? Most people who actually want or need to buy this device ( most of us have smart TVs) would spend Apple TV money for such a device, so why not put Googles own Tensor G2 processor in the device ?
USB-C "specifically just for power"? On the Chromecast 4k you can use a USB-C Hub with it as long as it has Power Delivery. It would be strange if they removed this option - for example to connect a wireless keyboard or mouse!
I was waiting for an upgrade to the Google Chromecast, but I'd rather have a TV Streamer that's more powerful like Nvidia Shield and I don't want something that I have to keep visible. They also need to stop with all the home screen ads. I disabled all of them but TH-cam films still show up on the home screen. The only solution is to use another launcher. For using matter etc, I'd rather buy a separate specialized device for that.
Not enough connectivity. You end up buying some hub again which needs enough power for the drives but also for the device itself. I don't need HDR stuff.. Dolby vision and atmos is more than ok on a TV. I'm not going to replace my Nvidia Shield Pro for this. Which is a shame because I was really looking forward to get something better. Yes, we didn't get a proper update in over a year but it's all stable here. I use it for regular TV and stuff like Plex. I game on my PC and Xbox anyway.
WiFi 5 in 2024, and no dedicated USB-A port for expand storage and play local media from external storage...good upgrade from the Chromecast but still not enough to replace the excellent Nvidia Shield TV!
@tim3172 If the regular Chromecast TV can upgrade our display menu then they can surely update to WiFi6...I don't put nothing pass Google they can do if they want
Although it is a few years old, I believe my second-generation Nvidia Sheild is still the most powerful Streaming device. I have looked at so many different others but none is worth spending money on. I hope this Google thing performs better than my Shield in real-world tests. It gives me an excuse to buy it. And...oh..that smart home is definitely a big positive attraction.
It pretty much sounds like an upgraded Nexus player than anything else and I used the nexus player in the past and it cuts off the picture a bit on the sides and I currently use a Nvidia Shield Android TV but the square box one and it works very good even though I heard a lot of people online complaining about it not getting enough system software upgrades so besides that it's going to be interesting to see how this player can compete against those tv players and more since it has the potential to change the game in this space for the tv player market.
Honestly been using a cheap mini itx PC made up of alliexpress and eBay parts for my media instead of dedicated streaming hardware, it's just a lot better of an experience especially with how good Linux has gotten. Getting one of those Intel n95/100 powered mini PCs and installing a really basic Linux distro would probably be a pretty good replacement for something like this for not much more.
I wonder if this new release is why my existing Chromecast is not working well anymore. They are trying to push me to purchase the new one. I can't use my phone to control TH-cam anymore without extreme delays and disconnects.
The SOC in this is so utterly bad for a device that costs 100usd . You have Apple using A15 bionic which is bonkers and then there's these guys smh. As usual with google these guys want to charge a premium like Apple but are allergic to putting in even 10% of an effort as them.
That's cool, but the A12 and 10X in my Apple TV does nothing because there are no apps to fully use it. If you're "GaMiNG" on your... Apple TV... then something's gone wrong. Updates still take forever (markedly slower than CwGT 4K). There's no sideloading, so you're stuck with Apple's approved list.
Eh? So basically it’s an Apple TV! Has done matter for years and have access to the home app can show who’s at the door show video unlock the door has 2-way audio to a doorbell or other camera and face recognition and is a home hub already with better app support and snappier UI
The one thing they could have improved over the Chromecast with TV would be to add better external storage support, instead they added a redundant ethernet jack (the wifi is fantastic so the jack is pointless), they made it more expensive, they removed the external storage support and added AI? This isn't an upgrade, it's an awful more expensive downgrade.
I'll stick with my chromecast. Google had real opportunity to make a standout product. Not enough of an upgrade to make me want to replace my current device.
I found the input button on the chromecast would bring up the TV input interface but there is no way to navigate the TV interface and enter the input with the chromecast remote so a useless button I just left it unconfigured.
What do you think of the new Google TV Streamer? Enough to make you pick one up?
Already having a smart TV, looks like the major selling point is google smart home integration. I already have my phone around me at all times
Another USB port wouldve been nice but not super necessary. Will grab one and move chromecast to another room.
No, they haven't added any support for more audio codecs and underpowered it by choosing an over 2 year old soc (which Amazon also used in the Firestick 4K in 2021) so it's not worth it imo.
@AndroidAuthority will be waiting on the gaming version, but Dow, it'll come
It is running on which android Tv version 12,13 or 14?
22% faster is kinda of a joke considering the last Chromecast is nearly 4y old.
Not even 2 years old
@zekiz774 the original "chromecast w google tv" came out in 2020 w 4k support. The released another one in 22 that only had 1080p support
@@localblackman427 wow, now I feel old
@@zekiz774 that one is even weaker than the 2020 version
@@TheRybka30 And I wouldn't even be surprised that the 22% is compared to the weaker one.
At double the price, I would expect more than 22% more power. The Onn 4k Pro is only $49.99 has 3gb of RAM, 32GB of storage, and works as an actual communication device and has stock Google TV. I think the Walmart product is far more impressive at half the cost.
but does it have native 4k netflix and licensing without side loading?
@@losinfinite Yes
I was just wanting to buy a Google Chromecast TV, but now i am waiting for this device first.
Big thing for me would be can i hide the ugly thing behind the tv like the Google Chromecast? And it will still be working like it should?
And streaming without the ethernet cable possible? Just wifi? Sorry i am not into these things and would like to explore this tech for my holiday home.
@@co-lectiv Personally, even if I bought a brand new mid to high end google television set, I'd still buy a separate device to run my streaming services on or using it at a media client because those devices will do it better than what the TV has in it.
@@losinfinite yes, Netflix works fine and doesn't need any side load.. they infact have a hot key
It's disappointing that Google has not released a Google Streamer box with the Tensor G4 Processor. This would have made the product future-proof, especially considering that Apple has already taken similar steps.
As a fan, it's disheartening to see this decision, as it may cause the product to struggle against competition from Apple.
I have loved my Chromecast 4k that I've had the past few years.
I actually like my dongle Chromecast.
A 22% faster CPU is a marginal upgrade. Google needs to future proof devices with better hardware like Nvidia if they are going to go with multiple years between chromecast releases (4 years for the 4K Google Chromecast). The Fire TV Cube 3 is 100% faster than the 2020 4k Chromecast and the price hovers around $110 or less with sales.
Yeah it needed to be 200% after 4 year
I've heard it is MT8696, the same in Firestick 4k Max 2nd, it's an upgrade but I think not enough
%22 is not much a increase I think. It still has less power than apple tv probably. But do we really need that much of a power, I don't know.
I agree. Apple is putting A-series chips on their Apple TVs. While most people will probably not even use all that power, it really helps on the responsiveness of the UI.
dont use nvidia as an example, i have 2 of them the pro and the reg and they are both slow too.
It needed to be a Shield killer. Still no reason for me to give up my Shield.
What's a shield?
I seriously don't know what's up with this shield talk. Its doesnt support hdr on TH-cam. Doesn't have av1 decoding. It still runs on old version of android tv. On top of that hardware is years old with no update in over a year.
The price is still 149. Even when using stremio with rd + account it happens to crash. Internal or external player. Even the onn pro is a shield killer in my opinion. The shield remote is trash. It feels sluggish. I really loved the shield while it lasted. Open and cleaned still no difference. Ive had the shield and shield pro. But The shield killed itself years ago when Nvidia abandoned the project. Even GeForce now on shield is trash.
Hdr10+ support on the Google streamer might kill the shield for some e.g Samsung owners.
@@justinsantamaria4474The shield has support for lossless audio like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. If you buy Blu-ray discs and rip them to play through Plex you'd understand why Shield is still the undisputable king 💯
@@neilcameron434if you use Plex, nothing today can replace the Shield, including this, sadly
Still not a Shield killer based on its anemic audio support.
RIP this device in few years as we know google.
They were quick to kill the Nexus player
Yup, stadia 2.0
Does "spatial audio" mean were finally getting to use our nest speakers as full home surround? They announced that back in 2020 I'm pretty sure! Still hasn't happened
I think there was a lawsuit between Google and Sonos, which held up a lot of the wireless pairing innovations, although I'm not sure what exactly it was about.
22% faster with no Bluetooth 5.3 or WiFi 6/7...
No WiFi 6E Support is an disappopintmtny.
It doesn’t have either of those??!! Pass. No thanks.
I hate when these big companies come out with these supposed premium devices then end up using gimped hardware.
I thought he was going to say "this is 2024 and this is a google product, so it will most likely get killed "
I've read multiple places that the USBC port is not specifically just for power. It can be used for data with a power pass-through connector
What I love about this new streamer is it's a closed OS and app ecosystem that's 100% controlled by Google so I can't avoid ads and surveillance in any way. And all that for just $99.
If you have a way to avoid ads on the 4K Chromecast I'm all open ears I currently pay for TH-cam just to avoid those bloody ads
@@jsadecki1 possible if similar onn 4 k pro walmart , Go Settings - Account & sign in -click R side circle remote to yr acct. again click r side circle - scow down to - Apps only mode - yes... same procedure to turn it off lol
PiHole & Ad blockers are my jam to stop advertise in my home network. I only use TH-cam in browser, so it cannot defeat my ad blocker. Never in my life, I will have a Google product in my life.
You're commenting on a youtube video lol you've already lost both of those battles long ago.
@@jsadecki1there's plenty out there. Try smart tube on the Chromecast. You'll have to side load it using downloader. Is easy. Just do a little research. Plenty of cool features on the skin of it that TH-cam doesn't offer.
You’re talking about this thing like you’re on commission. What an unremarkable product.
Why is this $100? It's slightly faster than a 4 year old $50 device, has no ports, nothing really special about it? Seems to be about on par with the $50 walmart streaming box?
No WiFi 6E Support either.
Why is the Roku one $100
Greed?
4x storage, faster processor, supports atmos
The new magic rock
The Walmart Onn 4K does all this and doesn't need "Gemini Features" for half the price.
No TrueHD passthrough makes that a nonstarter for me
So go get one.
3:22 Does the onn 4K have Gemini features?
The first feature he talks about is nice and if the onn 4k has it then I'm getting it
@@JayKeyPuHe's just lettin' ppl know
Walmart Onn doesn't has a Ethernet Gigabit port...
no dedicated usb for hooking up external storage or controllers is a dealbreaker
edit: ESPECIALLY AT $100
Why you want more storage, when you are going to use it with streaming apps? It doesn't make sense..
To watch my personal collection of movies a dedicated USB would’ve been nice
@@laughingizdacure4975 So this device it's not for you. You should buy a tv box with usb integrated
it seems the usb port on the deivce is for power an data so not ideal but could use a usb hub that way? would need testing and hopefuly there isn't the fat 32 issue so we can store more then 4gb sized files
@@laughingizdacure4975 People still do that? I found it much more convenient to just host a Plex server, no more copying to a USB just stream to any device in the house and even remotely.
From 3:20 and on there are only pure drawbacks: "smarthome hub", "Gemini AI", "it has to be at the front of your TV"?
Can it decode all codecs (DTS-X) if not, then the Shield is still top dog. Also, can it upscale?
Also interested in this and whether or not it can decode Dolby TrueHD
Good question🤔
Size: 6.4 x 3 x 1 inches
Weight: 5.7 ounces
Resolution: 4K, 60 fps
Supported video: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Supported audio: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, Thread
Storage: 32GB
Ports: USB-C, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps)
@@Lolianzo thank you so I assume no Dolby TrueHD then and no DTS-X. If that's the case then it's no contender to Nvidia shield
Yeah the upscale feature of the 2019 Shield is so good.
I don't want another desktop device (especially for $100). That is what I liked about the Chromecast, it was HIDDEN and CHEAP!!!
Exactly. I'm about done with Google anyhow. This was the final straw.
No usb ports is a big no for me, although being Google I wasn’t expecting any.
What hub do you used USB ports?
@@andresate6314 I currently use Ugreen hub and have multiple things connected to my Google TV
get otg cable lol
@@russelldye5506 Don't think that will help. AA Reviewer said USB-C port was power only. I'll have to stick with my Nvidia Shield for now even though it's getting old.
it does
I want to see what the next Nvidia Shield has to offer before I get this.
I hope they come out with one soon. Not holding my breath though. Might have to look into using a mini PC because none of these devices are all that impressive.
@@Mr01dschool NVIDIA usually will have a Shield when a Nintendo Switch comes out since they have the same processor. Rumor has it that there is a Switch 2 late 2024 or early 2025.
If it doesn't support any and all DTS codex then Google hasn't made every effort to be competitive.
The audio specifications are: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.
Indeed, Google don't want fulfilling everyone there wishes. Google kicks things off - so there is plenty of space for other companies to unleash their creativity 🔊
@@GroteGeer There wishes? Where wishes?
@@tim3172
Wishes for a premium device went down the drain.
so basically, 2 gb more ram, 24gb more storage, 1 g Ethernet port, and 22% more powerful cpu for 50 dollar more than previous version which has been 4 years. So On the previous version, I bet all the people bought usb c hub with extra storage with 1g Ethernet port on it. Question is is twice of money worth it? ATM I would say Meh~~ but I don't know. What would you think?
I would probably sooner get the onn Pro 4K box. Or just stick with whatever I'm having and wait for this thing to be heavily discounted.
IMO with the old SoC it's not worth $100.
Why not keep both products, one as a home device and one as a portable device???
it is less portable than the previous chromecast, plus you need to have an HDMI cable as well.
No upscaling like the nvidia shield?
I'm surprised my sponsor ad blocker played even a second of this video
only 22% faster than 4year old box? that was already underpowered. That is a joke. Why not throw a tensor g1 from recycled Pixel trade in this is what apple does with the apple tv. The apple TV is a better choice or if u want a GoogleTV just get an onn 4k pro from Walmart. Its half the price 32gb storage 3gb ram hands free google assistant, Back lit remote, wifi 6 (googletv streamer only wifi 5). Its just a shame i really wanted to like this device.
22% more powerful cpu isn't exactly knocking my socks off, considering how underpowered the previous Chromecast was.
no dedicated storage USB for $100 and cringe AI features, the Onn 4k pro smokes this
I was kind of wondering how it would compare i have the Onn too
get otg cable lol
@@Jspg119 which one?
4kpo onn seem similar
Just give me a new updated Shield TV Pro and I will be happy. Might get 3 Onn TV Pros for a HDMI encoder box to use with Channels and another for a secondary TV.
Unless the codec support is better than shield, this product is DOA
I have the previous model. Never wanted it to take up visible space.
The first generation of Google TV is really good actually.
So how long does it take for Google to discontinue this product?
Soon lol they just announced they will no longer make Chromecast, they are going all in with the streamer box
Give it 3 years 😂
@@PDXcubno more chromecast google tv?
@@ariothegamer5The operating system still exist but they're going to stop making things with the Chromecast branding and use this streamer branding. They're functionally similar of course. I don't know why they had to discontinue one though It still was reasonable I think to have less expensive dongle like one as well as this one.
@@michaelcorcoran8768 but will it still have updates
I upgraded my Chromecast 4k with an M.2 for storage and heatsinks and a PC fan for beefy cooling, along with full USB support. I built this inside the case for my old Boxee Box, with functioning stock LED panel. I can absolutely say the cooling was the issue! It's so much better with a good cooling solution. No more lag, no more issues. I would be interested to see the internals of the new one to consider buying it if I can make it fit inside my current build... I bet with proper cooling it would be closer to a 50% improvement. Though, admittedly, I'm mostly interested in having more RAM. But, also admittedly, entirely unnecessary, as my Chromecast 4k is working GREAT! My main concern is if the upcoming Android update is going to make it less stable as they aim to push users to the new platform, and the added RAM will eventually become necessary.
For anyone wondering, I got 40mm heat sinks with adhesive thermal pads... Removed the case from the Chromecast and filled the voids on both sides with thermal paste before installing the heat sinks, making a crazy looking heat sink sandwich. It's placed inside the case right in front of the fan, so all the airflow is forced through the heat sinks. I used a couple of powered USB C hubs to power everything, and passthrough ports on the rear of the case. So, the rear IO is fully functional, with full size USB ports for media streaming or even charging your phone, and a flush mounted USB C port to power the entire thing. It was a very fun project, and quite challenging to fit everything. I used an 80mm PC fan with a grill on both sides (to keep cables from hitting the blades) and the exterior fan grill is black metal, which looks very slick on the side of the Boxee Box case. Using USB powered adjustable power supplies to power the fan and the LED panel, which are both receiving power from the USB hubs. Been daily driving for a few months and I'm very very happy with the setup! All apps are installed on the m.2 drive, which seems to be a lot faster than the built in storage. For that I used the guts of an m.2 USB 3.2 enclosure that had to be very much modified to fit in the case. If you do something similar, I would definitely recommend a short m.2, not a full size, as you have to account for the space of the control board from the enclosure. Space management is tough in such a confined case.
It supports Hdr10+ which the shield doesn't. For those with a Samsung tv this could be a better option. I'll need to look into the audio codecs.
I pre-ordered two of them this morning, these are going to be a huge upgrade for my Chromecast with Google TVs.
Really? Other than the Google home function, the 4k Chromecast seems to cover most of this already. It just seems very under featured.
@@wanderer10k sure the CCWGT can do most of the things Streamer can do but it doesn't do it well. I have two of them, I know how slow and janky they are and how cramped the storage is. All along my take has been if all they did was make a CCWGT with a faster CPU and more storage and RAM I'd be down. And here it is but even better.
The price is perfect the only thing I would have added is a USB port and possible AUX port. But now we have to rely on adding a hub that has those additional ports that support power as well.
They should of made it more then 22% quicker…the previous chromecast was extremely slow
The usb c is both for power and data, so if you want to hook up external storage then you need a usb c hub.
Chrometv's remote was so slippery I ended up buying Amazon 4k stick instead. The wobbly buttons are bad too.
Would have been nice to see an updated google tv dongle as well. No need for all the extra smart home stuff
LOVE this!!!!! I just hope Spectrum customers can DL the Spectrum TV app to this streamer! That alone could be worth the $100 IMO!!
I specifically went with Chromecast for all of our TVs because I wanted to be RID OF stupid set-top boxes. And now once again Google pulls the rug out from under me. They just want to be able to charge triple for a box like all of the other crappy services do. I really hate Google anymore.
We don't need stupid dongles and set top boxes. We need standard, robust and future-proof protocols between services and devices that can be implemented in TVs, receivers and mobile devices.
Google should add the new Find My capabilities to the remote.
The mountain churned and produced a mouse❗️
Nonsense : I have Chromecast 4K with adaptative USB-C to add extra storage, Ethernet and external files with USB3. I have also remote with personal access to my app I can program. It’s not cheap , only 22% more efficient after 4 years and we’ll see for extra like DTS. FireTV stock do also a good job and AppleTV at the same price it’s fluid !
Wow, Thread AND Matter built in? I've never heard of either of them!
It's a strange flex to proudly announce that you're poorly educated.... but you do you.
Can't wait to buy one.
$99 is pretty close to the $80 for Chromecast4k Netflix bundle + $20 for the power & ethernet adapter (i bought this ~2020)
Not with a 2021 MediaTek SOC Processor, that not good enough in this day and age ! What is google thinking ?
Most people who actually want or need to buy this device ( most of us have smart TVs) would spend Apple TV money for such a device, so why not put Googles own Tensor G2 processor in the device ?
Let's see how it's upscaling or transcoding capabilities are
USB-C "specifically just for power"? On the Chromecast 4k you can use a USB-C Hub with it as long as it has Power Delivery. It would be strange if they removed this option - for example to connect a wireless keyboard or mouse!
@@reinulf5474 it's power and data
I was waiting for an upgrade to the Google Chromecast, but I'd rather have a TV Streamer that's more powerful like Nvidia Shield and I don't want something that I have to keep visible.
They also need to stop with all the home screen ads. I disabled all of them but TH-cam films still show up on the home screen. The only solution is to use another launcher.
For using matter etc, I'd rather buy a separate specialized device for that.
I wonder if it will have Xbox live on it. Fire TV has it.
Glad it has an ethernet port.
Wish it had a extra port to play movies off a hard drive.
May be the first android tech reviewer that's actually wearing an android watch
Not enough connectivity. You end up buying some hub again which needs enough power for the drives but also for the device itself. I don't need HDR stuff.. Dolby vision and atmos is more than ok on a TV. I'm not going to replace my Nvidia Shield Pro for this. Which is a shame because I was really looking forward to get something better. Yes, we didn't get a proper update in over a year but it's all stable here. I use it for regular TV and stuff like Plex. I game on my PC and Xbox anyway.
Get ready for the Chromecast nostalgia in a few years.
I use my iPhone for all navigation and selection. I just want a streamer that gets out of the way.
Hardwiring and remote finder is a game changer
WiFi 5 in 2024, and no dedicated USB-A port for expand storage and play local media from external storage...good upgrade from the Chromecast but still not enough to replace the excellent Nvidia Shield TV!
Yeah I really wish it had a couple USB a ports. I dealing it would have an entire hub worth of ports.
@@michaelcorcoran8768 otg cable hub lol
I think it will have a self update to WiFi6 next year...but that's crazy work that they didn't put it in from the jump
@@Avenue77 Wireless AC and AX are fundamentally different. They don't "self-update" as the hardware is different.
@tim3172 If the regular Chromecast TV can upgrade our display menu then they can surely update to WiFi6...I don't put nothing pass Google they can do if they want
1:36 didn't mention HDMI port
This isn't more expensive than all previous Google streamers. The Nexus player was $99.99 at launch also.
A 22% cpu power increase? Thats a joke. I'll wait for a next gen shield or some sort, more powerful
So they don’t want you to put this behind your TV. So will I be running an unsightly hdmi cable hanging below my TV?
Although it is a few years old, I believe my second-generation Nvidia Sheild is still the most powerful Streaming device. I have looked at so many different others but none is worth spending money on. I hope this Google thing performs better than my Shield in real-world tests. It gives me an excuse to buy it. And...oh..that smart home is definitely a big positive attraction.
What I need is TH-cam 4k streaming from the device then probably worth buying it.
Would've been good to compare this to the much cheaper firetv stick
Almost every TV is black, and they don't make it in black 🤦🏾♂️
Yeah! Google TV Streamer as your smart home hub so once they kill it you just need to get and configure everything again
The remote seems to be a bit bigger than the last one and I don't think it will be the same to handle easy.Its
Already having a smart TV, looks like the major selling point is google smart home integration. I already have my phone around me at all times...
I am so excited for this. I hope this is better than the Chromecast.
I bought a Hisense U8K with Google TV a few months ago. I think I'll stick with that.
How is it handling the 4K content from your plex?
It pretty much sounds like an upgraded Nexus player than anything else and I used the nexus player in the past and it cuts off the picture a bit on the sides and I currently use a Nvidia Shield Android TV but the square box one and it works very good even though I heard a lot of people online complaining about it not getting enough system software upgrades so besides that it's going to be interesting to see how this player can compete against those tv players and more since it has the potential to change the game in this space for the tv player market.
Honestly been using a cheap mini itx PC made up of alliexpress and eBay parts for my media instead of dedicated streaming hardware, it's just a lot better of an experience especially with how good Linux has gotten. Getting one of those Intel n95/100 powered mini PCs and installing a really basic Linux distro would probably be a pretty good replacement for something like this for not much more.
I wonder if this new release is why my existing Chromecast is not working well anymore. They are trying to push me to purchase the new one. I can't use my phone to control TH-cam anymore without extreme delays and disconnects.
this almost makes me want to give up my 2019 shield
Does this chromecast finally support x265 encoding while casting?
This is fantastic info. Thank you!
I’m waiting desperately to audition one of these. One question. Is Chromecast going away across the board as an app?
This sounds eerily similar to the SEI Robotics streamer with the S905X5M that is also being released in.... September.
The SOC in this is so utterly bad for a device that costs 100usd . You have Apple using A15 bionic which is bonkers and then there's these guys smh.
As usual with google these guys want to charge a premium like Apple but are allergic to putting in even 10% of an effort as them.
That's cool, but the A12 and 10X in my Apple TV does nothing because there are no apps to fully use it. If you're "GaMiNG" on your... Apple TV... then something's gone wrong.
Updates still take forever (markedly slower than CwGT 4K).
There's no sideloading, so you're stuck with Apple's approved list.
Eh? So basically it’s an Apple TV! Has done matter for years and have access to the home app can show who’s at the door show video unlock the door has 2-way audio to a doorbell or other camera and face recognition and is a home hub already with better app support and snappier UI
Nice! Just in time for Christmas 🔥🔥
I have a pixel and can only cast through a Chromecast, which sucks. Can I cast with this?
Looks cool will probably get it when they go on a good sell. I rhink they should have added a sd card slot or someway to add more memory.
The one thing they could have improved over the Chromecast with TV would be to add better external storage support, instead they added a redundant ethernet jack (the wifi is fantastic so the jack is pointless), they made it more expensive, they removed the external storage support and added AI? This isn't an upgrade, it's an awful more expensive downgrade.
I'll stick with my chromecast. Google had real opportunity to make a standout product. Not enough of an upgrade to make me want to replace my current device.
Great review. Wish it had USB storage
They should provide gemini yearly subcription with google tv
Too expensive for already outdated hardware. Google missed the chance yet again..
Definitely going to acquire it
I found the input button on the chromecast would bring up the TV input interface but there is no way to navigate the TV interface and enter the input with the chromecast remote so a useless button I just left it unconfigured.