The concisely named Google TV Streamer has formally supplanted the award-winning Chromecast with Google TV as the tech giant's sole video streamer. But with a higher cost tag and the retirement of the long-established Chromecast brand, is it worth updating to?

We've put both gadgets through their paces in our test rooms. Connect with us as we compare the two. Oh, and don’t disregard checking out our list of the best media streamers if you aren't tied to a brand and need to keep your choices open.

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV: Price

At dispatch in 2020, the Chromecast with Google TV 4K was estimated at £60 / $60 / AU$60. It’s more or less remained at this cost point since at that point, in spite of the fact that it's frequently accessible on deal for indeed less.

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The modern Google TV Streamer, on the other hand, comes with an essentially higher cost tag of £100 / $100 / AU$159. But it's worth noticing that the unused streamer packs in significantly more highlights and updated equipment, making it a more flexible bit of kit. Still, with that much of a cost distinction, it’s clear which gadget takes this round.

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV: Plan and Build

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV

Price aside, the plan and frame calculate contrasts between the unused Google TV Streamer and the Chromecast with Google TV, speaking to the greatest change. The more seasoned gadget keeps up the dongle-shaped figure of its forerunners and is planned to hang cautiously from your TV's side or raise board, perseveringly getting on with its obligations in mystery, covered up from view.

But the Google TV Streamer embraces a more conventional set-top box frame, though with a smooth, pebble-inspired stylishness that is outlined to complement your amusement setup or maybe to cover up absence in shame. Now, whether or not you need a monster white stone on conspicuous display is up to you, of course, but by and large we, or maybe I, like its moderate, natural look.

Available in porcelain or hazel (with the last mentioned being exclusive to the Google Store), the unused Google TV streamer certainly looks more premium compared to its dongle kin and makes more of a statement. The provided inaccessible has also had a glow-up.

While it has kept its comparable adjusted shape, the unused Google TV Streamer farther has made strides in ergonomics, much obliged to a finished grasp and upgraded button layout. Volume controls are more noticeable, for a start, and there’s also a convenient customizable button that gives fast and simple accessto your most-used functions.

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Lastly, not at all like its Chromecast match, the Google TV Streamer, moreover, packs the advantage of a raised Ethernet harbor, which will be a blessing for those who lean toward discarding the less dependable encounters that Wi-Fi can regularly provide.

Overall, if you’d rather have your gadgets covered up absentmindedly, the more seasoned Chromecast will be the better alternative for you. Though there’s nothing stopping you from opening the unused Google TV Streamer hidden behind the TV or in a cabinet, and it’s difficult to contend against its strides farther and Ethernet inclusion.

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV: Features

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV

There are plenty of contrasts between the two gadgets beneath their hoods, too. Unsurprisingly, the more up-to-date and more costly Google TV Streamer brings all sorts of unused traps to the table. Given the AI buildup over the past long time, it’ll come as no enormous astonishment to hear that Google is bringing its Gemini AI integration to the TV streamer.

Regardless of how you feel about AI (embed the regular comment about the robot rebellion, etc., here), a bounty of clients will likely appreciate what it provides. Gemini integration gives clever substance proposals and summaries. It is indeed up to the assignment of creating custom work of art for your TV's sit-still mode, which is a decent touch.

It too offers progressed keen domestic integration with built-in Matter and String bolsters, acting as a more competent, savvy domestic center—a valuable inclusion for those into whole-home gadget integration.

An unused Google Collaborator command can indeed offer assistance in finding your lost father, winning additional brownie points for those of us inclined to losing our gadgets down the back of the sofa.

As for AV capabilities, both models back 4K resolution, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. However, the Google TV Streamer includes a bolster for Dolby Atmos sound, though its forerunner, as it were, advertised Dolby-encoded sound by means of HDMI passthrough.

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV: Picture

The Google TV Streamer boasts critical execution overhauls over its predecessor. Its processor is 22 percent quicker than the Chromecast with Google TV, whereas the Smash has been multiplied to 4GB and the capacity quadrupled to 32GB. These enhancements are nothing to sniff at and ought to result in a smoother, more responsive client involvement—especially when exploring the Google TV interface or exchanging between apps.

At the very least, that's the theory. In Home, we found it sticks all as well regularly, and that's when doing nothing more challenging than browsing the menu. It's a disgrace. But there's way better news in the picture department. It is way better than the Chromecast with Google TV. And considering that was a Grant champ, that's great news indeed.

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The TV streamer has superior differentiation; its blacks are more profound, making for a picture with more profundity and effect. The shining highlights look genuine as well, bringing out additional detail. It moreover handles colors well—they have plenty of punch, but not at the cost of authenticity.

Motion postures have no issues either, with a tennis ball in Challengers dashing over the screen with no obscuring or faltering. But the film grain does look a bit fluffy and distracting.

The Chromecast with Google TV is no slump. Five years ago, we articulated it as among the best media streamers for picture quality. The competition has since moved on, but the Chromecast with Google TV is still amazing. Fair is not as great as its successor.

Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast With Google TV: Sound

Sonically, the Google TV Streamer isn't awesome. It's not appalling—in reality it's impeccably fine. But if you need a streamer to tune in to music with as well as observe motion pictures, we would prompt you to look elsewhere. Admittedly, that won't matter to everybody. And for motion pictures and TV appearances, the TV streamer is fine. Its sound is clear and point by point, with a center on vocal clarity.

As bullets and bolts begin flying in a fight at the Osaka Mainland Inn in John Wick: Chapter 4, the streamer does a strong work of conveying profound crashes as bodies drop, and the cuts of katanas sound clean and sharp.

We composed in our Google TV Streamer review. But its low-level flow is missing, whereas discourse sounds a little flat. Play music with it, and these deficiencies are amplified. Disobedient need warmth, whereas rebellious might do with an infusion of surface to make them come to life.

Our decision? A "sub-par melodic performance." Mind you, its forerunner battles in this region as well. The Chromecast with Google TV endures from a need of completion, costing tracks a sense of surface and solidity. It does have a conventional sense of cadence in spite of the fact that it has better than average detail and a fulfilling freshness to the sound.

Final Thoughts

The Google TV Streamer box speaks to a significant update over the Chromecast with Google TV dongle in nearly each viewpoint. With more capable equipment, extended highlights, and a sleeker plan, it is certainly the predominant device. But it's not without its faults.

Navigating the menu might be a bit slicker, and the sound still takes off a part to be desired. It's a very little bit pricier than the Google Chromecast with Google TV. Google's more seasoned streamer is unlikely to be bolstered much longer, and a few places have halted offering it (Google included). So the TV Streamer is the savvy choice. But if you need a cheaper streamer for casual viewing, the Chromecast seems to fit the charge.