Size: 6.4 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches (dongle); 4.8 x 1.5 x 0.7 inches (remote)
Number of channels: 5,000+
Ports: HDMI, USB-C
Max video resolution: 4K/60 fps
Supported HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Supported audio formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
It’s a little simplistic to call the Chromecast with Google TV merely a streaming stick with a remote. Yes, it is that, but Google’s latest home entertainment device is greater than the sum of its parts, with a sensible interface, a multitude of streaming services, and Google Assistant at your fingers.
The $50 Chromecast with Google TV follows the same path as the myriad Roku and Amazon Fire TV Sticks on the market, but as you’ll find during this Chromecast with Google TV review, it’s the things only Google can bring that make this one of the best smart streaming devices.
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Chromecast with Google TV: Price and availability
Chromecast with Google TV is available today (September 30) for $50. You can purchase it in one of three colors: Snow, Sunrise and Sky.
Chromecast with Google TV: Design
As with most streaming devices, the Chromecast with Google TV is a dongle that plugs into an HDMI port on your TV, and it's accompanied by a small remote control. The dongle, which will fit comfortably in your palm has an oval shape that makes it look like it would be perfect for skipping across a lake.
On one end is an HDMI output, while the other end has a USB-C port; included is a USB cable and plug, as the Chromecast with Google TV needs more power than your TV’s HDMI port can provide.
The remote that comes with the device is somewhere between the Apple TV and the Roku remote. Like the Roku, the Google TV remote is curved at the top and bottom and has a rounded rear, but isn’t as pronounced a curve. While not as minimalist as the Apple TV remote, the Google TV remote is a single color, with the exception of the Google Assistant button.
At the top is a circular d-pad; beneath are eight buttons: Back, Google Assistant, Home, Mute, YouTube, Netflix, Power, and Input. On the right side are two small volume control buttons.
Google sent me the Sky color: the dongle is a grayish blue, while the remote is gray, with a light green Google Assistant button. The Snow model has both a white dongle and remote (with a black Assistant button), while Sunrise has a pink dongle and remote. It really comes down to the remote color you want, as the dongle will most likely be hidden out of sight.
Similar to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, you’ll be able to connect the Chromecast to Ethernet; Google will have a power/Ethernet adapter available soon after launch.
Chromecast with Google TV: Interface
There’s nothing particularly radical about the Google TV interface, but it works. At the top are tabs for Search, Movies, Shows, Apps, and Library; beneath are thumbnails of content that’s relevant for that menu.
If you subscribe to YouTube TV, a Live tab will appear in the top menu, which will display shows currently airing through that service.
Sub-categories include Top Picks for You based on your viewing history from the streaming services you’ve linked, Trending on Google, and Recommended Videos based on what you’ve watched on YouTube.
The Library tab will display content you’ve purchased or rented from Google, as well as DVR content from YouTube TV.
If you long-press on a thumbnail, you can see the services on which it’s streaming, watch a trailer (if applicable), save to a Watchlist, rate it, and view additional details.
Considering my viewing tastes are vastly different than my wife’s, I like that you can add multiple Google accounts to the device. I won’t get recommendations for Gilmore Girls, and she won’t get the Fast & Furious franchise popping up on her screen.
Chromecast with Google TV: Streaming services
You won’t be wanting for streaming services: The Chromecast with Google TV includes YouTube, YouTube TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN, Sling, HBO Max, CBS All Access, Starz, Peacock, Peloton, Tubi, PBS, and more.
The device can stream content at resolutions up to 4K/60 fps, and supports HDR, including HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Audio-wise, it supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos.
| Chromecast with Google TV | Roku Streaming Stick+ | Amazon Fire Stick 4K | |
| Max streaming resolution | 4K/60 fps | 4K/60 fps | 4K/60 fps |
| Supported HDR formats | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | HDR10 | HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Supported audio | Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos | DTS Digital Surround, Dolby Audio, Dolby ATMOS | Dolby Atmos |
Chromecast with Google TV: Performance
During my time testing the Chromecast with Google TV, I found it to be fast and responsive, and delivered excellent video quality. It was connected via Wi-Fi to a Netgear Orbi satellite, which was about five feet away, and plugged into a Vizio M60-C3 4K HDTV.
I was impressed with the details and colors when streaming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker from Disney Plus, videos from YouTube, and more. In almost every case the stream started up in high definition; in the rare instances where it didn’t, it resolved itself usually within a minute.
It did crash once, though, as I was exiting Disney Plus to return to the Google home screen.
Chromecast with Google TV: Search
What Google device would be complete without search? A Google Assistant button on the remote not only lets you search for movies and TV shows by name, genre, actor and more, but can also leverage Google search engine for more general inquiries.
For example, I asked Google Assistant to show pizza places near me, and it returned a list of all the slice joints near me. Selecting one of the options opens the same Google card as you’d find if searching on Google Maps. However, you can’t view the menu, look up directions, or select the phone number to call the establishment. If you ask Assistant to get you directions, it will give you an overview on the TV, and send directions to your phone.
As imperfect as it is, Google’s search proved better than Alexa on the Amazon Fire TV Cube; while that device also pulled up a list of pizzerias, its directions were just an overview, and could not send them to my iPhone.
Chromecast with Google TV: Smart home features
If you have a Nest Hello video doorbell, a Nest Cam, or some other compatible home security camera, you can ask Google Assistant to show you a feed from that device on your TV. Here is a list of cameras that work with Chromecast; not all may work with Chromecast with Google TV right away. I was able to stream a feed from the Wyze Cam to my TV.
This is the same feature as what Amazon offers with its Fire TV devices. Not surprisingly, Ring and Blink (which are owned by Amazon) don’t work with Chromecast with Google TV.
You can also use Google Assistant on the Chromecast with Google TV to control other smart home devices, such as smart lights and smart thermostats. While it’s useful for turning things on and off on command, I’ve found that Alexa’s Routines make for a far better smart home assistant.
Chromecast with Google TV: Verdict
While there’s a certain minimalist appeal to simply using your phone to beam content to your TV, I can see scores of people ditching their old Chromecast devices just so they can use the remote that comes with the Chromecast with Google TV.
As this Chromecast with Google TV review has shown, this device has a few advantages over other streaming sticks; for one, it has a couple of streaming services—namely, HBO Max and Peacock—that other devices lack; It has Google Assistant built in, which leverages the power of Google’s search engine; and, it’s also a Chromecast device, which makes it easy to beam pretty much anything you want to your TV. It’s a wonder why it took Google so long to come out with a device like this.