Google TV Streamer review: Software plot twist changes the game

Google has made a reputation for itself within the leisure area with its Chromecasts, little dongles that plug into the again of your TV to present you a variety of apps and options that remodel your streaming expertise.  

Nevertheless, quite than releasing yet one more iteration of this sequence, Google has gone in a distinct route. Enter, the Google TV Streamer. 

For this 2024 streamer, Google has opted for a extra conventional set-top box-style design. That is to allow extra highly effective options and provides customers the highest quality viewing expertise attainable. 

However does that translate into every day use? As Tech Advisor’s Leisure Editor, I’ve examined loads of different media packing containers, and I understand how the Google TV Streamer compares to them and the remainder of the competitors.  

Design & Construct 

• Flat, set-top field design
• Ethernet port accessible
• US will get unique Hazel color

The Google TV Streamer could also be larger than a Chromecast, however it’s nonetheless modern and fashionable trying. I examined the Porcelain model, a color additionally seen on numerous Pixel gadgets, however US readers also can seize it in Hazel. The latter color could also be extra discreet in opposition to your TV. 

It measures 162 x 75.6 x 26.7mm, and has a flat, sloping tablet form. If in case you have a TV that’s raised (akin to on ft), then it could possibly tuck neatly beneath. Alternatively, the USB-C cable is generally lengthy sufficient that it might cover in a TV stand cupboard if wanted, or you might stick the field to the again of your TV, because it weighs simply 163g.

It’s definitely a far cry higher than different extra traditional TV packing containers, such because the Virgin TV 360. Nevertheless, I agree with our Critiques Editor, that it might have included a wi-fi charger for further worth – or at the very least a model with the performance for a bit further.

On the again, there’s a USB-C port for energy, an ethernet port for a wired web connection, and a HDMI 2.1 port for connecting to your TV. There’s additionally a button you could click on to ping your distant, do you have to lose it, which works as anticipated and has a pleasant loud ring that must be simple to listen to, even when it’s stuffed down a settee. 

Whereas the USB-C cable is included, Google doesn’t provide a HDMI cable. That’ll come at an additional price if you happen to don’t have a spare, and even if you happen to do, you’ll need to be sure that it could help 4K content material. There’s additionally no ethernet cable.  

Accompanying the field is an upgraded distant. That is longer than the one which comes with the Chromecast and has a extra ergonomic design. I definitely discovered it snug and simple to make use of.  

On the distant you’ll discover a energy button (which could be configured to your TV), the house button (which is now a darker gray) and a microphone, which now has a generic icon, quite than the Google Assistant emblem – although no hands-free voice management is supported. There are additionally shortcuts for Netflix and YouTube. 

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

The amount rocker has been moved from the aspect to the entrance, with an additional star icon shortcut button that may be customised to be assigned to a particular service, akin to Twitch or Disney+. The TV Streamer will immediate you to assign this button if you lastly get all of it arrange. Talking of which… 

Specs & Set-Up 

The processor within the Google TV Streamer is 22% sooner than the one fitted within the Chromecast with Google TV, based on Google. That is paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage – 4 occasions the quantity on the earlier mannequin.  

Whereas I can’t examine like-for-like, I can say that the Streamer is fairly quick to make use of with solely slight lag when switching between some apps, and it’s fast besides up. Even after rebooting my TV for one thing separate, it remembered all my settings.  

That applies to 4K streaming as effectively – the Streamer doesn’t stutter enjoying even essentially the most demanding content material with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Atmos. 

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Whenever you first boot up the Google TV Streamer, you’ll have two methods to set it up. The primary approach is to make use of the Google House app – you possibly can hyperlink your Gmail to this if you happen to’ve by no means used it earlier than. You then arrange the area and language and comply with the directions in your display.  

You’ll have the choice to obtain numerous streaming apps throughout set-up, which is able to prevent time – although you’ll nonetheless need to sign up to every particular person one if you first open them.

I couldn’t get the quantity management on the distant to pair with my TV throughout set-up. Fortuitously, this was a straightforward repair by heading into Settings and altering the quantity output from ‘Auto’ to ‘Google TV Streamer’. Your TV is likely to be comparable and my Sky Glass distant additionally nonetheless works in tandem for quantity.  

Alternatively, you possibly can arrange the system utilizing voice management on the distant – full directions are on Google’s web site.  

The Google TV Streamer additionally helps Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.1. The connection has been steady all through testing, although my field is near the router. 

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Software program, Compatibility & Efficiency 

Google TV’s interface is clear and neatly laid out, with many options that can be acquainted to customers with an Android telephone.  

On the unit I examined there are 5 tabs to select from: For You, Films, TV Exhibits, Apps and Library – with the Settings and Search bar tucked into the highest proper nook. Customers within the US additionally get a Stay tab for sports activities streaming, however that function isn’t accessible within the UK on the time of writing. 

I primarily used the For You web page, which pulls in suggestions from all of the streaming apps in your TV Streamer primarily based in your watch historical past and utilizing Google Gemini AI, together with YouTube, which was a pleasant contact. There’s additionally room for various profiles, together with ones for youths, so you will get tailor-made experiences for various family members.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

The Proceed Watching carousel works as supposed, placing my most lately watched present first, and drawing from numerous apps. It additionally has a lot much less self-advertising than the Amazon Fireplace TV interface.  

For customers in America, the Google TV Streamer contains many of the streaming apps you might ask for, together with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Twitch, Apple TV+ and extra.  

One of the obtrusive omissions of the Google TV Streamer within the UK is the shortage of two main streaming companies: BBC iPlayer and Channel 4. Whereas some customers have discovered workarounds utilizing APKs and side-loading, this isn’t ‘official’. You may additionally have the ability to solid content material out of your telephone to the TV.  

Neither the BBC nor Google is committing to a date for these apps to land on the system. So, if you happen to’re in search of a media field that has entry to those two apps particularly, we propose you take a look at one other rival akin to a Fireplace TV stick or a Roku system.  

The opposite essential draw of this system is its sensible house controls. The brand new panel is appropriate with Matter, Thread, ethernet, Google Assistant and sensible show capabilities, that means it could management a wide range of sensible house merchandise. That features sensible lights, thermostats and doorbells. 

I attempted out this function with my Nanoleaf, and the response was very speedy. I might flip the lights on and off, and modify the brightness by holding left and proper – color controls weren’t an possibility, nevertheless. Whereas I wasn’t in a position to take a look at it, picture-in-picture can also be accessible with Nest doorbells, and overlays with no matter you’re watching so that you aren’t utterly interrupted.  

9to5Google factors out that this function can’t but be mapped to the customisable button on the distant, which is a disgrace.

As with Chromecast gadgets, you possibly can solid photographs and movies out of your telephone to TV utilizing this media streamer.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Google Voice Assistant is way more intuitive and feature-rich than rivals akin to Sky. It dealt with most elementary instructions I threw at it, together with “Open Netflix” and “What’s the climate at this time?”.  

Extra complicated instructions usually took a couple of bits of rephrasing and scrolling. For instance, “Watch Andrew Garfield Rooster Store Date” took me to the YouTube quick quite than the complete video. Taking out “Watch” then led me to the search leads to the app.  

I additionally tried “Samuel L. Jackson on Disney+”, which pulled up an exert of his bio on Wikipedia, together with all of the movies he starred in – together with ones on Netflix and different websites. I used to be in a position to get “Samuel L. Jackson films on Disney+” to work, and the identical for TV sequence, however not for the 2 sub-categories collectively. 

Should you depart the Google TV Streamer idle, then you possibly can go for a couple of various things as your screensaver.

There’s the traditional choice to have it show your Google Pictures, together with particular albums when you have them. For instance, I set mine to have a slideshow of my vacation to Vancouver.  

Alternatively, you possibly can select numerous Artwork Gallery modes with photographs and artwork chosen by Google. Some testers within the US have additionally been in a position to experiment with AI-generated wallpapers like what we noticed on the Pixel telephones, although this function isn’t accessible on my unit but, because it solely began rolling out this month.  

In Settings you possibly can customise these slideshows additional, setting the velocity they filter by means of, and whether or not Pictures present further knowledge akin to the placement they have been taken.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Pricing & Availability 

The Google TV Streamer prices £99/$99. Within the UK, you should purchase it from Google, Amazon, Currys and Argos. American readers should buy this media field from Google, BestBuy and Goal.  

That’s a big leap up from the RRP of the last-generation streaming product, Chromecast with TV, which is £59/$49 for the 4K mannequin. After all, this dongle doesn’t have the identical {hardware} the TV Streamer, like an ethernet port for the absolute best speeds however continues to be on sale if you would like one. 

Nevertheless, software program options that have been unique at launch – just like the Sensible House panel – have now been added to Chromecast through a software program replace if you happen to’re a part of Google’s Public Preview program. Plus, this system has seen additional reductions within the Black Friday gross sales previously, so we anticipate that this may increasingly occur once more in 2024.  

We estimate that the 4K model of that Chromecast can be supported till round 2030, and the HD model till round 2032. So, if you happen to’re not valuable in regards to the extra superior distant, the sooner processor, the extra storage and AI chops, however nonetheless need the Google TV expertise, it’s value contemplating the Chromecasts over the Google TV Streamer.  

Alternatively, you possibly can try additional choices in our record of the most effective streaming sticks total.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Must you purchase the Google TV Streamer? 

When it first launched, the Google TV Streamer appeared like it will be essentially the most superior system from the tech model by far and doubtlessly a market chief – particularly due to its upgraded Sensible House panel hub that remodeled it far past a media field. 

Nevertheless, the latest software program rollout of this function to older Chromecasts places it on a extra stage enjoying discipline. I’d solely take into account investing on this field if you would like the longest software program help, would like extra storage and also you need the quickest reference to ethernet.  

Should you’re not too bothered about that, then it’s possible you’ll as effectively save your cash and go for the Chromecast with Google TV, which additionally has the good thing about being extra discreet.  

Should you’re primarily based within the UK and need to watch BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 for reveals like Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off, then I’d maintain off buying till these apps are supported. That mentioned, the latter nonetheless isn’t accessible on older Chromecasts, so by which case I’d take a look at both Amazon Fireplace TV or Roku gadgets as a substitute for that.

Specs

• Google TV (Android TV OS)
• HDMI output as much as 4K @60fps
• HDR, HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient
• USB-C for energy
• Ethernet port
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5 GHz)
• Bluetooth 5.1
• Distant management with Google Assistant
• 162 x 75.6 x 26.7mm (field)
• 163g (field)
• 137x 38 x 16mm (distant)
• 40g (distant)
• Porcelain or Hazel (US solely)
• 4GB RAM
• 32GB storage