Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

Source

Tech Spurt

Key Takeaways

• The aging Amlogic SoC is visibly choking: scrolling the dense home feed or exiting 4K HDR streams triggers noticeable stutter and black frames.
• Laughably limited 8GB storage leaves less than 4GB user-accessible; installing half a dozen streaming platforms quickly halts app updates.
• The slick oval remote looks like a wet bar of soap and slips out of palms constantly, rocking awkwardly when placed on flat tables.
• No native Ethernet port on the dongle; wired stability requires purchasing an overpriced proprietary power brick adapter.

✅ Pros

• Google TV launcher aggregates watchlists seamlessly across platforms
• Ubiquitous Chromecast cast-target compatibility works like a charm
• Compact puck form factor hides completely behind wall-mounted TVs

❌ Cons

• Sluggish processing silicon struggles with UI responsiveness
• Severe storage bottlenecks choke daily streaming app updates
• Slick rounded remote geometry lacks ergonomic palm grip
• Missing integrated Ethernet jack requires expensive adapter accessory

📝 Verdict

"Smart content curation held back by breathless, outdated silicon and suffocating 8GB flash storage."

Source

• Video: Chromecast with Google TV long-term review | BETTER than it SHOULD be!
• Channel: 9to5Google | Type: Long-term review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Launched in late 2020 and revisited nearly 4 years later; he has used it almost every day on the office TV since launch
• The pebble shape and colorful remote are charming; in hindsight, the dedicated YouTube and Netflix buttons are worse than customizable ones would be; he rarely uses the Google Assistant button; the remote has held up well despite frequent use
• Supports 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, with vivid pictures on an OLED and rare buffering on a stable network; the biggest drawback is no AV1 codec support
• The weaker hardware occasionally lags, but after updates and optimization it's less noticeable than at launch; 8GB of storage is too little for a streaming stick, and problems arise once app caches pile up
• In 2024 it still sells for US$49.99 and is often discounted

✅ Pros

• Excellent Google TV interface
• Supports Dolby Vision and Atmos
• Low price and frequent discounts
• Durable

❌ Cons

• 8GB of storage is too little
• No AV1 support
• Weaker hardware occasionally lags

📝 Verdict

It has aged much better than expected; given its features, performance and sub-US$50 price, it's still an easy streaming device to recommend.

Source

• Video: Chromecast with Google TV Review - 6 Months Later
• Channel: 6 Months Later | Type: Long-term review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Used for over half a year; his favorite part is the Google TV interface's content recommendations, which are very accurate; you can like, dislike or mark shows and movies as watched, and recommendations get more accurate over time
• You can add titles from each app to a unified watchlist, so you no longer need a separate one in every app; the interface tabs are clear and easy to navigate
• The new remote feels good and is reliable, with no problems in half a year; it can control the TV and receiver via HDMI-CEC or infrared, but infrared doesn't always switch to the right input
• Fast-forward and rewind controls are inconsistent across apps and somewhat clumsy; Netflix originals no longer appear in recommendations
• 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support is inconsistent: Disney+ is HD only, and some Hulu and Prime Video content is 4K on the Apple TV 4K but not on the Chromecast

✅ Pros

• Accurate Google TV recommendations
• Unified watchlist
• Easy-to-use remote
• US$50 price

❌ Cons

• Some apps lack 4K/Dolby Vision/Atmos
• Clumsy fast-forward controls
• Netflix content excluded from recommendations

📝 Verdict

Recommended overall: Google TV is one of the best streaming interfaces he's seen, and US$50 is hard to beat; but if 4K, Dolby Vision and Atmos content matters to you, look at other devices.

Source

• Video: Everything else is a BAD DEAL - Chromecast with Google TV
• Channel: Linus Tech Tips | Type: Professional review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• It's no longer just a Chromecast: it finally has a remote, supports 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, can stream games locally and from the cloud, read external storage and use Ethernet
• Google TV is an interface layer on top of Android TV, not the one killed off in 2014; it aggregates content from streaming services, supports voice search from the remote, and lets you add to a watchlist and train recommendations with likes
• It's better than Amazon Fire devices (no native casting support, tied to Alexa) and the many Chinese Android boxes with rough software
• Via a USB-C expansion port you can connect Ethernet, external storage and USB peripherals, but there's only about 4GB of usable storage; speed test results after switching to wired networking were inconsistent
• Game streaming with Steam Link, Moonlight and others had almost no latency at the office, but a colleague saw noticeable latency at home; the Shield TV Pro has lower latency and is worth US$100 more for heavy game streaming

✅ Pros

• Adds a remote and the Google TV interface
• 4K Dolby Vision and Atmos
• Expandable with USB-C peripherals
• Low price

❌ Cons

• Only about 4GB of usable storage
• Game streaming latency varies by network

📝 Verdict

Unless you want the most optimized game streaming experience and choose the Shield TV, for everyone else this is basically the only streaming stick worth considering.