With a $60 AUD difference between this and the Chromecast 4K, or $100 AUD difference between this and the Chromecast HD, I don't think it'll sell well, at least initially, except to those who want the latest tech and don't care about price. The prices are $159 AUD for this, $59 AUD for the Chromecast HD, and $99 AUD for the Chromecast 4K, plus the cost of a HDMI cable and Ethernet cable, if you don't have either already.
The Chromecast line will continue to sell for a bit, but eventually, Google will retire it. If you want one, grab it while you can! But really, this is a better product.
No! We have to evolve with new technology! And so does the consumer! We can't keep holding onto old technology because of some consumers not wanting to adapt!
You can hide this behind the TV! Google doesn't want you to and it might cause problems if you use it as a border router for your Thread network, but if you're OK with that, just stick it behind the TV and it will be fine.
@@AndroidAuthoritynot really.... The Chromecast just plugs straight into the TV, hangs at the back. This big device will be harder to put behind your TV securely, surely?
So you are basically saying, yeah I think replacing 3 or 4 Chromecasts w/ Google TV with a Google TV Streamer are worth replacing because the new one is a little smoother of an experience. That is a terrible argument. Spending hundreds of dollars to swap these out in my house seems very silly. Nothing game changing here. My remotes work just fine. While Matter is supported, many hardware manufacturers still leave some of the experience on the cutting room floor if you don't buy their bridges. Poor reasoning here buddy.
Bro you really took it literally. He didn't say if you have 4 gcgtv to replace all 4 🤦🏽♂️ maybe replace one in the living room or a family room for a better experience. I replaced my Gcgtv with Amazon fire stick 4k Max because it's just a lot faster and more powerful in my living room and put the gtv upstairs. But I'm going to replace the Firestick with this because I don't really like the firestick interface but I'll move it into a different TV in the house.. I'm not buying 5 of these streamers for all 5 of my TV. he does have a valid point.
Right? I don't know why people are so worried about getting premium streamers. Lol. You can get 4K support for 30 bucks. 20 bucks even if you go through ONN or Amazon fire stick or whatever. I don't know why I would buy this one... If anything I would probably just get the ONN pro version which was $50 I think MSRP
@@kevinj834see this is where I'm not seeing the connection. I have an ancient Android TV and it's perfectly fine and fast. And you can use a third party launcher which eliminates all the annoying ads on the user interface
I have a Shield and I don't love it just for its extra capabilities, I love it because it's nearly 8 years old and is still faster than this brand-new streamer from Google.
@@solomonhilliard5357 NOT the same thing, do research! Google TV OS verse Android TV OS, 3GB ram vs 4GB, has Matter & thread border router built in, uses USB-C for power NOT a barrel connector like on the ONN 4k Pro. SMH
@@Viper1171 Onn 4K pro is Google TV w/ Chromecast though... If you're talking about specifics in the statement, no they're not the same. To add on, Streamer has more powerful CPU, is only PD on USB type C port (? Mixed info online), while Onn 4K pro has a built-in a USB 3.0 Port, some models have a built-in backlight on remote, and can be used as a smart speaker like solomon stated. My point is that there's little to no justification for its $50+ price tag to replace the Chromecast with Google TV 4K with it, or to buy it at all when there's a reasonable alternative for the same price with both similar and different useful features. The Onn 4K Pro is already running the Google TV w/ CC OS as smooth as butter with 3GB of RAM. It's only a minority of people that use Matter and Thread features though, and even if you set that case aside, is it worth spending the $50 extra for it? If you're deep in the system where you need that feature, sure get the Streamer, but for everyone else that doesn't care for it, it sucks that they have to pay the extra to not have any use for it.
@@Viper1171 What are you talking about? Onn 4K pro runs Google TV. And who really cares about Matter hub and Thread border router? Barrel connector is fine, plug once and forget.
Right, there are third-party solutions that offer better specs for less than half the price. Although I'm sure this will be discounted, but there's definitely a Google tax. In this sense, it reminds me of something like the pixel stand. It's really not all that impressive, but it looks nice. And if you're super interested in first party Google hardware, I'm sure enthusiasts will buy it. But I was happy you're just finding a third-party wireless charger for 20% the cost
There are so many thinks I disagree with in this review. The product is better than what is being made out once you know the true nature of the UI/OS and its ecosystem (Android) You definitely don't need ethernet for 4k I switched to Chromecast with Google Tv so I could ditch casting and leave my phone alone. This is the whole point of a tv box/streamer. Instead, let people kow the difference between this and an NVIDIA shield and in what regard is it more capable. And yes of course, get an Apple TV if you are happy with restrictions and are an Apple ecosystem user.
"You definitely don't need ethernet for 4k" WRONG!!!! You definetely don't own a PLEX server with RAW 4K content streaming across a 3,500sqft home. SMH Ethernet should always be used over WiFi, even if a unit is in the same room. Who wouldn't want direct peak performance over WiFi????? LOL Thanks for the laugh though.
@@Viper1171 calm down mate, clearly I don't know everything. For my use wifi is stable and streaming 4k content over the internet is admirable. Not all of us have the privilege of running cables through the house.
Its kinda silly; why make a standalone Google TV Streamer when its much harder to find TVs without Google TV built into the OS? I would splurge my money if I didn't already have Google TV or a Smart TV.
I think you would be quite impressed with how much faster/smoother this is compared to the Chromecast. The better processor and more RAM makes a huge difference.
@@AndroidAuthority I completely agree, people need to research and consider what they're getting, invest a little more in money and you get a whole lot more back in return.
The only reason to buy this over the Onn 4k Pro is if you have a built-up smart home setup. For double the price of the Onn 4k Pro, you are NOT getting double the performance/product.
What's also never mentioned is all the eventual headache that will come with an current Gen Apple TV 4k for people who aren't wrapped up and invested heavily with Apple Products and just want a good streaming device. They are better off with this at the end of the day.
Our Nvidia Shield TV and TV Pro devices have been much slower since that big Android TV upgrade they did a couple of years ago, and I've even tried factory resets. Only helped a little. I'm hoping this new device is more responsive.
My four (4) Nvidia Shield TV Pro units have not slowed down in the years I have had them, I even have one (1) thats the older aka first unit made with NO issues.
Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K are still doing the job for me, so I think I stick with it for at least one more generation. Maybe be this if it gets on stupid low sale.
You mentioned the Google TV Streamer is much better than the Roku Ultra but gave no specifics. How about a comparison video? Since Roku devices have about 50% market share you should have included them.
This is a good review, but what difference does it make if someone has 300mbps or 800mbps for watching 4k? The answer, none. Telling people to use ethernet when wireless it is already more than enough for any speeds above 50mbps is silly.
@AndroidAuthority I use only wifi and I don't have any stability issues. Running ethernet cables around my house for no reason will ruin the stability of the look of my house. Unless someone has a horrible router or lives in a highly congested area with a ton of interference, wifi is perfectly fine.
Wireless will be dependent on conditions, such as where people are standing what furniture has been moved and if there’s any metal in the way, such as a TV. Also, people are used to 4K at 30 Mb being fine because they’re streaming from things like Netflix, which compress the image. If you have your own Plex library or a streaming uncompressed images, you can easily saturate a 50 Mb or solink
Stability & the amount of devices connected at the same time streaking all in 4K eats bandwidth so the amount of it that you have will factor on performace/quality streamed. SMH
Why would Bluetooth connectivity be a consideration for putting this behind your tv? Bluetooth will work fine regardless of whether this is behind you tv.
I made it about 1 minute in and already it's a no. I'll stick to the firestick since it's easy to connect my devices which is why I ditched Chromecast years ago. Only thing I would want is for multi cam view of my security cams which I do with firestick.
With the nvidia shield, you can plug in a hard drive or ssd with your own movies and games to play on the nvidia shield. This video does not mention anything about plugging in a usb c dock and use a usb hub to expand the storage with an external storage device with the newer google streaming device, the chrome cast devices can already expand the storage when using a usb c hub from the chrome cast usb c port.
We mention in the video that the sole USB-C port is exclusively for power. There is no way to add additional storage to the Google TV Streamer, which we point out as a drawback at the end of the video.
I don't agree with your point that it cant be placed on the back of the tv. I plan on doing just that in case I purchase it. Bluetooth connectivity does not require a straight line of vision like infra red.
I don't think this is worth the upgrade over a Chromecast Google TV, considering that all these features are going to trickle down to the Chromecast in software updates. Unless one of your devices stops working, it's not worth it. It's definitely not better than the Nvidia Shield, considering all the audio codecs that it can process.
Is this as good as the newer ONN 4K pro? That has a better looking remote and it can read 2TB+ SSDs, for "giant slide shows". The Onn is only $50, with 32GB internal storage, etc..., and is really popular. I gave away my new Apple TV after purchasing the ONN since Apple couldn't work with an external SSD loaded with pictures, and since it's slideshow is so poor (can't do video, titles, etc.).
This is a truly underwhelming device for $100. I think a lot of people were hoping this would bridge the gap between something like the Onn 4k Pro/Firestick 4K max and Nvidia Shield Pro and it absolutely does not. It is on a similar level to the former devices for double the price. This is a real swing and miss from Google.
Tiered of Google ending Chromecast support after a few years? I am. Assuming Google TV Streamers have built in obsolescence dictated by Google of 4 years.
So, if you don't use Google Home and have a Smart TV, there's no use for this? I might be stupid, but I don't get its use case if you have a TV with apps. Neither with Nvidia Shield - I'm genuinely curious.
The reviewer is incorrect about some of the features on competing devices. I can say hey, Roku, find my remote, and there’s a button on the device to signal the remote control. That exists on the 2019 model, but I haven’t checked the one purchased 2021/22.
I'm considering this, but I am also considering the Apple TV. I have a PS5 though, so most of the stuff I want to stream are already on there, plus I can put my CD's and DVD's in there to watch at any point too.
In India average 4k HDR 10 QLED TVs costs 350$ that has an integrated Google TV, which has all the functions of Chromecast and the Google TV. So, at this point why even consider 3rd party devices?
So it seems like if you want these for multiple TVs, the extra hubs are useless beyond the first. No hdmi cable, no Ethernet cable, can't hang behind the TV as easily, no USB, much more expensive... Who thought it was a good idea to end the Chromecast line for this? Seems like it might be good if you only need one for one TV, but beyond that it's wasteful.
.Onn 4K from walmart is still a worthy competitor given the needs of your typical streamer. and its only $50. It has ethernet, andextra usb connection as well. Does it have find my remote?? I dont recall
This feels like a successor to the Nexus Q, which failed and was a replaced by the Chromecast. I give it 2 years max before Google realise their mistake here.
Hello from Sweden! I just ordered two more "Chromecast with Google TV (4K)" before they are sold out. I want to be able to hide them behind the wall mounted TVs in my house. This new streaming box is most certainly a great product in most ways, but I think one of the great features with the Chromecast is that they can be placed behind the TV. And the price is very good now.
Lol wat. Why on earth would I upgrade my Chromecast? It works perfectly fine, it's still as smooth as day 1, and the controller has 0 issues with the Chromecast being behind the tv. There is no need to buy this if you own a chromecast for the reasons you listed.
Our Google TV 4K was getting really glitchy, then the remote went missing and the dongle wasn't being recognised by google home so I couldn't even use the app remote to control it. I knew this was coming so we've been making do with the built-in Android TV on our cheap generic branded 4K QLED. It's horrid. I'm absolutely getting one of these as soon as they land on Australian shelves, the remote finder feature alone is worth the price of admission.
Nvidia shield the tube version is the worst streaming product I ever used... That thing is terrible... Nvidia shield pro is amazing... There's no way this isn't better than the Shield tube that was pictured on the screen
I'll be replacing my original Shield with this. The shield still runs well, but it doesn't have AV1 and Dolby Vision and even the current Shield can't do AV1, which is a gamebreaker for me.
Yes! The AI features, for example, happen in the cloud, so there's no reason other Google TV-powered devices couldn't do this too. It's likely Google will just delay the rollout for that to keep the focus on this model for its first few weeks/months. Unfortunately, the biggest upgrades for this are based on hardware, though, so existing Google TV products will never match it fully.
Look, if they've solved the issues with the Chromecasts constantly dropping connection (to your mobile whilst casting), randomly closing the app you're using to watch WHILST IN THE MIDDLE OF WATCHING, and doesn't cause "blue screen" on certain TV makes as well as all the other software bugs they have, I'm willing to swap out all five of my Chromecasts for this. Then again, they've doubled the price... and I get a load of features I'll never use... dunno
I just hope they fix the connectivity issue between my Pixel and the Chromecast. For the last several weeks it is difficult to connect my phone to control TH-cam on my TV.
The tube shield has to be restarted once in a while. I am replacing it with this. Unless the upscaling looks worse I plan to keep it, got the pre-order shipping notice recently.
I’ll stick with my Chromecast. The slight speed boost isn't worth it since I don’t spend much time in the menus-I just pick what I want to watch and then watch it. The 'find my remote' feature is the only one I find even remotely (pun intended) useful.
How is the experience of gaming with this? Like stream from another computer with Steam Link or Moonlight and playing with a controller connected woth Bluetooth
This is a great question, but I wasn't able to get to this in the short review period we had. Stay tuned, though, as we will definitely cover this in the future!
Who wouldn't want to overpay by double for a device that does the same thing as the Chromecast. I still prefer Roku's simple design for the living room TV. I use the FireTV in my bedroom and I have the Chromecast in my office but it mostly collects dust.
No way in hell I will ever watch anything on a platform that doesnt support adblock, not when ads keep getting more egregious by the day -- especially now they even have the gall to show ads while you pause the video
Bad decision. So many people have mounted tvs now and don't have a console. While it's not hard to just sticks a 3M on the back and put it behind tv, all the extra cables is a nightmare compared to the current chromecast. Currently if you use your phone to cast something on tv you can still use it as a remote and adjust volumes... So what is so high tech about this???
Well I don’t really know at the moment, firstly I need to upgrade my television so there is better input from the device’s processor, but I bought the Google Chromecast 4K four years back, because I wanted the Google Stadia ecosystem, but now that is defunct and Google Streamer may or not outlast. For the time being I might as well switch things up and go with Nvidia Shield Pro, since it’s more stable than the Google Streamer, but the streamer is updated with Threads / Matter etc for iOT integration. We are still not there yet, it’s an early adaptation for the tech savvy modern era.
No sideloading and no USB ports for additional storage not to mention the remote on the Apple TV is not even backlit. No thank you I'll keep my Nvidia shield any day of the week
The Shield TV has a lot of extra features, streams pretty much every format known to man, and has a microSD card slot. Essentially, people who take streaming very seriously want a Shield TV. Everyone else should buy the Google TV Streamer :-)
Google TV really is better than Chromecast, coming from someone who's had a Chromecast since the beginning on every TV I've owned. Google TV is way better than the smart launchers built-in the TVs. That being said, I don't really know how this is better than the regular Chromecast with Google TV since they both do 4K HDR output and come with a remote. I guess it's really only for people who haven't switched over yet. But the HDMI-CEC and Thread hub features are nice to have.
Seems like the perfect upgrade to my chromecast in the livingroom. My router is nearby, but I'm currently getting some stability issues on multiple streaming services (resolution dips). Going through ethernet might help. The chromecast could then be moved to my bedroom tv, which currently doesn't have any streaming functionality, I've just been connecting my microsoft surface to it via a usb-c hub
You recommend an upgrade because of hardware?? The media experience is the same. You will still watch the same videos on the device. A switch won't change the experience unless you really need a matter hub.
I have two 2017 model Nvidia Shield TV and currently building a Dolby Atmos & Vision sound system so i believe this will be enough of an upgrade needed to go that direction. So definitely will be buying this
I wish cable TV and IPTV providers, such as OrangeTV in Europe would adopt this as their main box. Having some garbage like the Arris vip 4302 is ridiculous in 2024.
First of all this is not worth $100. Second you can uSe a USB c dongle with power draw to connect all your media drives. Third, you didn't mention the fact that the Onn 4K PRO smacks this thing. And lastly. Did you even test this product?!? This is not the new standard for Android TV. It only has WiFi 5 bro.
Faster interface is nice, but I really wanted to see improved upscaling so football games broadcast in 720p dont look like dogsh*t anymore on the Chromecast 4k. Maybe this will push the Shield Pro to go on sale for once, so I can live the dream of decent picture quality for sports games.
I am trying to figure out how this is any different from the Chromecast that I've had for the past six or seven years. I would love to upgrade, but I'm still waiting for that upgrade. This isn't it.
What do you all think of the Google TV Streamer? 👀
no USB port to plug in storage - so pass
@@BlackLabProductions you can with type c dongle hub into powerrport
@@BlackLabProductions just use network storage... 32gb is plenty for just apps
@@BlackLabProductionsuse a USBC Powered dock 🤙🏼 and passthrough
With a $60 AUD difference between this and the Chromecast 4K, or $100 AUD difference between this and the Chromecast HD, I don't think it'll sell well, at least initially, except to those who want the latest tech and don't care about price. The prices are $159 AUD for this, $59 AUD for the Chromecast HD, and $99 AUD for the Chromecast 4K, plus the cost of a HDMI cable and Ethernet cable, if you don't have either already.
They should keep the Chromecast line since it's only 50$
The Chromecast line will continue to sell for a bit, but eventually, Google will retire it. If you want one, grab it while you can! But really, this is a better product.
No! We have to evolve with new technology! And so does the consumer! We can't keep holding onto old technology because of some consumers not wanting to adapt!
Knowing google they'll come up with a cheaper model later on. Probably it won't have the Ethernet adapter or something like that
@@AndroidAuthority I already own one I'm talking into the future they should still sell it
@@AndroidAuthority Yeah and twice as expensive...
I'll stick with my existing Chromecasts until Google somehow bricks them "by accident."
You spelled Sonos wrong
I think they should keep a basic and low cost chromecast for a cheap, simple, and easy way to get media from your phone/tablet or PC onto your TV.
I like how Chromecast hides behind the TV, I'm not a fan of this being front and centre. That space is exclusively reserved for my speaker bar
You can hide this behind the TV! Google doesn't want you to and it might cause problems if you use it as a border router for your Thread network, but if you're OK with that, just stick it behind the TV and it will be fine.
Also now I'll have a wire from behind my TV to the bottom console. I dont want to see any wires.
Didn't you say, it uses Bluetooth remote? My TV's Bluetooth remote can control my TV from anywhere in my apartment!
@@AndroidAuthoritynot really.... The Chromecast just plugs straight into the TV, hangs at the back. This big device will be harder to put behind your TV securely, surely?
Give me a shield 2, everything just sucks.
Mecool deluxe...rockstar!
So you are basically saying, yeah I think replacing 3 or 4 Chromecasts w/ Google TV with a Google TV Streamer are worth replacing because the new one is a little smoother of an experience. That is a terrible argument. Spending hundreds of dollars to swap these out in my house seems very silly. Nothing game changing here. My remotes work just fine. While Matter is supported, many hardware manufacturers still leave some of the experience on the cutting room floor if you don't buy their bridges. Poor reasoning here buddy.
Bro you really took it literally. He didn't say if you have 4 gcgtv to replace all 4 🤦🏽♂️ maybe replace one in the living room or a family room for a better experience. I replaced my Gcgtv with Amazon fire stick 4k Max because it's just a lot faster and more powerful in my living room and put the gtv upstairs. But I'm going to replace the Firestick with this because I don't really like the firestick interface but I'll move it into a different TV in the house.. I'm not buying 5 of these streamers for all 5 of my TV. he does have a valid point.
Eh, I would upgrade for the speed. My current devices are just annoyingly slow at times. So I already have one of these new boxes on the way
I would use it for the living room and keep on my older Chromecast for the bedrooms
Right? I don't know why people are so worried about getting premium streamers. Lol. You can get 4K support for 30 bucks. 20 bucks even if you go through ONN or Amazon fire stick or whatever. I don't know why I would buy this one... If anything I would probably just get the ONN pro version which was $50 I think MSRP
@@kevinj834see this is where I'm not seeing the connection. I have an ancient Android TV and it's perfectly fine and fast. And you can use a third party launcher which eliminates all the annoying ads on the user interface
I think I'll retire my streaming devices and upgrade to a DVD player.
5:33 please mute the hey google, it prompted mine 🤣
I read your comment right as he said it and all my devices went off 😂
lol, same. Three devices went off at the same time here.
Same lol. Alarm clocks and all
I made the same mistake talking to Google on my other channel. Had to go back and mute that segment.
Same
I wish it comes in Black also
They have a different color in the Google Store
Only in America everywhere else white only. @@brucewayne2955
I have a Shield and I don't love it just for its extra capabilities, I love it because it's nearly 8 years old and is still faster than this brand-new streamer from Google.
I have to restart my shield periodically, its not perfect, they overlay ads also.
right
The shield did age well
Meh. My CCwGTV is still fast.
I have the 2019 shield and have to unplug from time to time cause it freezes so yeah having a new device will be nice.
Thanks for saying "hey Google, find my remote" and have my Onn Google TV pro remote beep. 😂
Rookie move not editing out or muting the "hey Google" command!
Definitely better to get the Onn 4K Pro. Basically the same thing for half the price.
No thread radio, although the Onn can act as a smart speaker
@@solomonhilliard5357 NOT the same thing, do research! Google TV OS verse Android TV OS, 3GB ram vs 4GB, has Matter & thread border router built in, uses USB-C for power NOT a barrel connector like on the ONN 4k Pro. SMH
@@Viper1171 I think you meant to reply to the other person...
@@Viper1171
Onn 4K pro is Google TV w/ Chromecast though...
If you're talking about specifics in the statement, no they're not the same. To add on, Streamer has more powerful CPU, is only PD on USB type C port (? Mixed info online), while Onn 4K pro has a built-in a USB 3.0 Port, some models have a built-in backlight on remote, and can be used as a smart speaker like solomon stated.
My point is that there's little to no justification for its $50+ price tag to replace the Chromecast with Google TV 4K with it, or to buy it at all when there's a reasonable alternative for the same price with both similar and different useful features.
The Onn 4K Pro is already running the Google TV w/ CC OS as smooth as butter with 3GB of RAM.
It's only a minority of people that use Matter and Thread features though, and even if you set that case aside, is it worth spending the $50 extra for it? If you're deep in the system where you need that feature, sure get the Streamer, but for everyone else that doesn't care for it, it sucks that they have to pay the extra to not have any use for it.
@@Viper1171 What are you talking about? Onn 4K pro runs Google TV. And who really cares about Matter hub and Thread border router? Barrel connector is fine, plug once and forget.
Nothing about whether there's passthrough audio in Plex or other apps? I was hoping you'd touch on that since you have a separate receiver. :(
this reviewer will not answer my questions about VPN APPS or weather channel app doable
My family just upgraded from 1st gen Chromecast to ChromeCast with Google TV. It is already snappy enough.
I just cant see spending $100 on this
Right, there are third-party solutions that offer better specs for less than half the price. Although I'm sure this will be discounted, but there's definitely a Google tax. In this sense, it reminds me of something like the pixel stand. It's really not all that impressive, but it looks nice. And if you're super interested in first party Google hardware, I'm sure enthusiasts will buy it. But I was happy you're just finding a third-party wireless charger for 20% the cost
Lmao
Why? Same price as a roku ultra.
@@JimmyDThing I wouldn't pay $100 for a Roku Ultra.
@@wisforwumbo6408 so what would you pay for a device?
Should come in black and
Finally ethernet is 1 Gbps :)
There are so many thinks I disagree with in this review. The product is better than what is being made out once you know the true nature of the UI/OS and its ecosystem (Android)
You definitely don't need ethernet for 4k
I switched to Chromecast with Google Tv so I could ditch casting and leave my phone alone. This is the whole point of a tv box/streamer.
Instead, let people kow the difference between this and an NVIDIA shield and in what regard is it more capable. And yes of course, get an Apple TV if you are happy with restrictions and are an Apple ecosystem user.
"You definitely don't need ethernet for 4k" WRONG!!!! You definetely don't own a PLEX server with RAW 4K content streaming across a 3,500sqft home. SMH Ethernet should always be used over WiFi, even if a unit is in the same room. Who wouldn't want direct peak performance over WiFi????? LOL Thanks for the laugh though.
@@Viper1171 calm down mate, clearly I don't know everything. For my use wifi is stable and streaming 4k content over the internet is admirable. Not all of us have the privilege of running cables through the house.
Its kinda silly; why make a standalone Google TV Streamer when its much harder to find TVs without Google TV built into the OS? I would splurge my money if I didn't already have Google TV or a Smart TV.
Unless you care for thread/matter i don't see a reason to upgrade from the Chromecast 4K to this.
I think you would be quite impressed with how much faster/smoother this is compared to the Chromecast. The better processor and more RAM makes a huge difference.
@@AndroidAuthority I completely agree, people need to research and consider what they're getting, invest a little more in money and you get a whole lot more back in return.
Connects to lightbulbs but not to my toaster: Hard Pass
The AV1 decode support is an under appreciated addition to this over the Chromecast.
The only reason to buy this over the Onn 4k Pro is if you have a built-up smart home setup. For double the price of the Onn 4k Pro, you are NOT getting double the performance/product.
What's also never mentioned is all the eventual headache that will come with an current Gen Apple TV 4k for people who aren't wrapped up and invested heavily with Apple Products and just want a good streaming device. They are better off with this at the end of the day.
Gonna hold off for the next Nvidia Shield whenever it launches. I don't think this thing as audio passthrough for both DTS and Dolby.
Our Nvidia Shield TV and TV Pro devices have been much slower since that big Android TV upgrade they did a couple of years ago, and I've even tried factory resets. Only helped a little. I'm hoping this new device is more responsive.
My four (4) Nvidia Shield TV Pro units have not slowed down in the years I have had them, I even have one (1) thats the older aka first unit made with NO issues.
Mine is slowly slowing down too
Look into connecting to it via ADB. Then you can set any launcher you want. There are a few snappy, clutter-free ones out there.
Same. Mine is really slow now.
Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K are still doing the job for me, so I think I stick with it for at least one more generation. Maybe be this if it gets on stupid low sale.
This Video looks a lot like Advertising for the device! 😮😂
Edit out the "Hey Google" because you just activated everybody's Google device, including mine
You mentioned the Google TV Streamer is much better than the Roku Ultra but gave no specifics. How about a comparison video? Since Roku devices have about 50% market share you should have included them.
Why would you assume "most people watching this probably don't have a Google Home setup"?
This is a good review, but what difference does it make if someone has 300mbps or 800mbps for watching 4k? The answer, none. Telling people to use ethernet when wireless it is already more than enough for any speeds above 50mbps is silly.
It's not just the speeds, it's the stability. Ethernet will get you a much more stable stream when compared to Wi-Fi.
@AndroidAuthority I use only wifi and I don't have any stability issues. Running ethernet cables around my house for no reason will ruin the stability of the look of my house. Unless someone has a horrible router or lives in a highly congested area with a ton of interference, wifi is perfectly fine.
Wireless will be dependent on conditions, such as where people are standing what furniture has been moved and if there’s any metal in the way, such as a TV. Also, people are used to 4K at 30 Mb being fine because they’re streaming from things like Netflix, which compress the image. If you have your own Plex library or a streaming uncompressed images, you can easily saturate a 50 Mb or solink
I’m not saying Wi-Fi isn’t great, it is just ethernet will always be more reliable and I really hope manufacturers keep including it.
Stability & the amount of devices connected at the same time streaking all in 4K eats bandwidth so the amount of it that you have will factor on performace/quality streamed. SMH
The Google recommendation algorithm is pretty much the entire experience with these devices. It would be nice to see it on a Shield 2 or something.
Why would Bluetooth connectivity be a consideration for putting this behind your tv? Bluetooth will work fine regardless of whether this is behind you tv.
I made it about 1 minute in and already it's a no. I'll stick to the firestick since it's easy to connect my devices which is why I ditched Chromecast years ago. Only thing I would want is for multi cam view of my security cams which I do with firestick.
It has been said that Amazon will change to a new propriety UI and NO sideloading will be able to be done. Good Luck!
With the nvidia shield, you can plug in a hard drive or ssd with your own movies and games to play on the nvidia shield. This video does not mention anything about plugging in a usb c dock and use a usb hub to expand the storage with an external storage device with the newer google streaming device, the chrome cast devices can already expand the storage when using a usb c hub from the chrome cast usb c port.
I think Google said you can use the USB c port for expansion
We mention in the video that the sole USB-C port is exclusively for power. There is no way to add additional storage to the Google TV Streamer, which we point out as a drawback at the end of the video.
@@AndroidAuthority Looks like sticking with the chrome cast is needed to expand the storage with an external storage device.
@@AndroidAuthority try it ,either it Works or not
@@AndroidAuthority but that's not true. People on Reddit already confirmed that TV streamer is working with USB hub same as Chromecast.
I don't agree with your point that it cant be placed on the back of the tv. I plan on doing just that in case I purchase it. Bluetooth connectivity does not require a straight line of vision like infra red.
Can't wait for this to go on sale!
I don't think this is worth the upgrade over a Chromecast Google TV, considering that all these features are going to trickle down to the Chromecast in software updates. Unless one of your devices stops working, it's not worth it. It's definitely not better than the Nvidia Shield, considering all the audio codecs that it can process.
Didn't know that ram could be upgraded over a software update, LOL because it can't nor can the processor upgrade too.
Yeah. I think google will can this in a year and a half and go back to chromecast
Is this as good as the newer ONN 4K pro? That has a better looking remote and it can read 2TB+ SSDs, for "giant slide shows". The Onn is only $50, with 32GB internal storage, etc..., and is really popular. I gave away my new Apple TV after purchasing the ONN since Apple couldn't work with an external SSD loaded with pictures, and since it's slideshow is so poor (can't do video, titles, etc.).
This is a truly underwhelming device for $100. I think a lot of people were hoping this would bridge the gap between something like the Onn 4k Pro/Firestick 4K max and Nvidia Shield Pro and it absolutely does not. It is on a similar level to the former devices for double the price. This is a real swing and miss from Google.
Tiered of Google ending Chromecast support after a few years? I am. Assuming Google TV Streamers have built in obsolescence dictated by Google of 4 years.
So, if you don't use Google Home and have a Smart TV, there's no use for this?
I might be stupid, but I don't get its use case if you have a TV with apps. Neither with Nvidia Shield - I'm genuinely curious.
CANT WAIT to get them , I pre-ordered few of them in hazel colors month ago ...cant wait to get them in weeks✌👌🙌🥂
I get 😁mine this Friday. And it's the Hazel color 🔥
The reviewer is incorrect about some of the features on competing devices. I can say hey, Roku, find my remote, and there’s a button on the device to signal the remote control. That exists on the 2019 model, but I haven’t checked the one purchased 2021/22.
I'm considering this, but I am also considering the Apple TV. I have a PS5 though, so most of the stuff I want to stream are already on there, plus I can put my CD's and DVD's in there to watch at any point too.
A bit too expensive for just an "upgrade", there are many TV boxes much cheaper.
"hey Google" should be bleeped out. you know how many thousands of Google devices you triggered? c'mon. rookie mistake.
In India average 4k HDR 10 QLED TVs costs 350$ that has an integrated Google TV, which has all the functions of Chromecast and the Google TV. So, at this point why even consider 3rd party devices?
So it seems like if you want these for multiple TVs, the extra hubs are useless beyond the first. No hdmi cable, no Ethernet cable, can't hang behind the TV as easily, no USB, much more expensive... Who thought it was a good idea to end the Chromecast line for this? Seems like it might be good if you only need one for one TV, but beyond that it's wasteful.
.Onn 4K from walmart is still a worthy competitor given the needs of your typical streamer. and its only $50. It has ethernet, andextra usb connection as well. Does it have find my remote?? I dont recall
Yes the onn 4k pro streaming box does have find my remote feature
buying android tv box is better and cheaper, you also can setup a NAS with it.
This feels like a successor to the Nexus Q, which failed and was a replaced by the Chromecast. I give it 2 years max before Google realise their mistake here.
Someone please convince me why I should get this if I already have a smart TV...
It's probably faster.
@@swishpronoob "probably"
faster, more storage , more updates. unless your content lol
I think this and the Google Chromecast should've and could've existed together.
Hello from Sweden! I just ordered two more "Chromecast with Google TV (4K)" before they are sold out. I want to be able to hide them behind the wall mounted TVs in my house. This new streaming box is most certainly a great product in most ways, but I think one of the great features with the Chromecast is that they can be placed behind the TV. And the price is very good now.
CCwGTV sucked after the Android 12 update. It used to be fast but now everything is slow and laggy to the point where I switched to a Fire TV 4K Max.
In the living room I'm replacing an Apple TV 4K and in my bedroom I'm replacing a CCWGTV.
Lol wat. Why on earth would I upgrade my Chromecast? It works perfectly fine, it's still as smooth as day 1, and the controller has 0 issues with the Chromecast being behind the tv.
There is no need to buy this if you own a chromecast for the reasons you listed.
Our Google TV 4K was getting really glitchy, then the remote went missing and the dongle wasn't being recognised by google home so I couldn't even use the app remote to control it. I knew this was coming so we've been making do with the built-in Android TV on our cheap generic branded 4K QLED. It's horrid. I'm absolutely getting one of these as soon as they land on Australian shelves, the remote finder feature alone is worth the price of admission.
Great just bought another Google TV yesterday and now this comes out. Well well well.
Nvidia shield the tube version is the worst streaming product I ever used... That thing is terrible... Nvidia shield pro is amazing... There's no way this isn't better than the Shield tube that was pictured on the screen
I'll be replacing my original Shield with this. The shield still runs well, but it doesn't have AV1 and Dolby Vision and even the current Shield can't do AV1, which is a gamebreaker for me.
Do you think that the Chromecast 4k will get some of the features of this new one?
Yes! The AI features, for example, happen in the cloud, so there's no reason other Google TV-powered devices couldn't do this too. It's likely Google will just delay the rollout for that to keep the focus on this model for its first few weeks/months. Unfortunately, the biggest upgrades for this are based on hardware, though, so existing Google TV products will never match it fully.
You can change the swipe pad on the Google Home remote to the directional one like the physical remote
Look, if they've solved the issues with the Chromecasts constantly dropping connection (to your mobile whilst casting), randomly closing the app you're using to watch WHILST IN THE MIDDLE OF WATCHING, and doesn't cause "blue screen" on certain TV makes as well as all the other software bugs they have, I'm willing to swap out all five of my Chromecasts for this. Then again, they've doubled the price... and I get a load of features I'll never use... dunno
I just hope they fix the connectivity issue between my Pixel and the Chromecast. For the last several weeks it is difficult to connect my phone to control TH-cam on my TV.
The tube shield has to be restarted once in a while. I am replacing it with this. Unless the upscaling looks worse I plan to keep it, got the pre-order shipping notice recently.
Seems like very little difference to the CCwGTV 4k
I won't be upgrading to this. I still have my Shield Pros, but due to lack of updates, I've swapped to using an Apple TV 4K as my main streamer.
I’ll stick with my Chromecast. The slight speed boost isn't worth it since I don’t spend much time in the menus-I just pick what I want to watch and then watch it. The 'find my remote' feature is the only one I find even remotely (pun intended) useful.
How is the experience of gaming with this? Like stream from another computer with Steam Link or Moonlight and playing with a controller connected woth Bluetooth
This is a great question, but I wasn't able to get to this in the short review period we had. Stay tuned, though, as we will definitely cover this in the future!
Who wouldn't want to overpay by double for a device that does the same thing as the Chromecast. I still prefer Roku's simple design for the living room TV. I use the FireTV in my bedroom and I have the Chromecast in my office but it mostly collects dust.
You can set the Google TV app remote to use a typical d-pad approach.
😍🤗 - Nice! I love that the Google TV Streamer support Matter smart devices and AI
I'm so confused. What does this do that the Chromecast doesn't?
Watch the video to find out.
I am more than happy with the "oh no!" built in OS apps in my TV for all my streaming needs.
No way in hell I will ever watch anything on a platform that doesnt support adblock, not when ads keep getting more egregious by the day -- especially now they even have the gall to show ads while you pause the video
Bad decision. So many people have mounted tvs now and don't have a console. While it's not hard to just sticks a 3M on the back and put it behind tv, all the extra cables is a nightmare compared to the current chromecast. Currently if you use your phone to cast something on tv you can still use it as a remote and adjust volumes... So what is so high tech about this???
I ordered it also so let's see what it looks like thanks for the video
Well I don’t really know at the moment, firstly I need to upgrade my television so there is better input from the device’s processor, but I bought the Google Chromecast 4K four years back, because I wanted the Google Stadia ecosystem, but now that is defunct and Google Streamer may or not outlast.
For the time being I might as well switch things up and go with Nvidia Shield Pro, since it’s more stable than the Google Streamer, but the streamer is updated with Threads / Matter etc for iOT integration. We are still not there yet, it’s an early adaptation for the tech savvy modern era.
Given Google is restricting side loading apps I'm assuming this device won't allow it if not now then in the near future?
At that price and as a former Nvidia Shield user, spend a little extra and get the Apple TV. You will not regret this.
No sideloading and no USB ports for additional storage not to mention the remote on the Apple TV is not even backlit. No thank you I'll keep my Nvidia shield any day of the week
@@vineshjohn1630 "L take" as the kids say.
Why would someone NEED the Nvidia Shield? Isn't this just for streaming?
The Shield TV has a lot of extra features, streams pretty much every format known to man, and has a microSD card slot. Essentially, people who take streaming very seriously want a Shield TV. Everyone else should buy the Google TV Streamer :-)
Google TV really is better than Chromecast, coming from someone who's had a Chromecast since the beginning on every TV I've owned. Google TV is way better than the smart launchers built-in the TVs. That being said, I don't really know how this is better than the regular Chromecast with Google TV since they both do 4K HDR output and come with a remote. I guess it's really only for people who haven't switched over yet. But the HDMI-CEC and Thread hub features are nice to have.
Seems like the perfect upgrade to my chromecast in the livingroom. My router is nearby, but I'm currently getting some stability issues on multiple streaming services (resolution dips). Going through ethernet might help. The chromecast could then be moved to my bedroom tv, which currently doesn't have any streaming functionality, I've just been connecting my microsoft surface to it via a usb-c hub
I use my LG OLED interface. I do not have any problems. I love it. They all do the same thing.
Seems like this is solving a lot of problems that don’t exist
You recommend an upgrade because of hardware?? The media experience is the same. You will still watch the same videos on the device. A switch won't change the experience unless you really need a matter hub.
So all I'm really seeing here is a thread processor and upgraded remote. Hundred bucks is a little steep here. I want a new Shield
I have two 2017 model Nvidia Shield TV and currently building a Dolby Atmos & Vision sound system so i believe this will be enough of an upgrade needed to go that direction. So definitely will be buying this
I wish cable TV and IPTV providers, such as OrangeTV in Europe would adopt this as their main box. Having some garbage like the Arris vip 4302 is ridiculous in 2024.
Such a miss not using the latest S9505X chipset, this would have dominated everything.
First of all this is not worth $100. Second you can uSe a USB c dongle with power draw to connect all your media drives. Third, you didn't mention the fact that the Onn 4K PRO smacks this thing. And lastly. Did you even test this product?!? This is not the new standard for Android TV. It only has WiFi 5 bro.
Faster interface is nice, but I really wanted to see improved upscaling so football games broadcast in 720p dont look like dogsh*t anymore on the Chromecast 4k.
Maybe this will push the Shield Pro to go on sale for once, so I can live the dream of decent picture quality for sports games.
but wasn't the doorbell thing a feature that they advertised?
I am trying to figure out how this is any different from the Chromecast that I've had for the past six or seven years. I would love to upgrade, but I'm still waiting for that upgrade. This isn't it.
Is the homepage still trying to shove Live Stream TV channels down your throat like on the last Chromecast?