Gone is the venerable Chromecast, replaced by the TV Streamer, a new TV box with a much more noble design, which is inspired by the Apple TV. Google is trying to seduce with a more premium TV box, which however no longer has the same interest as a few years ago…
The Chromecast was a small revolution. The small HDMI key which connected directly to the television made it possible to transform any TV equipped with an HDMI port into a Smart TV and therefore to stream content from Netflix, Youtube, Disney+ or Spotify… No need to change televisions anymore , the Chromecast opened the doors to streaming for less than €50. However, in 11 years almost the entire stock of televisions has been renewed and consumers today almost all have a Smart TV. Demand has logically fallen. There are still a few “niche markets” to fill. Owners of entry-level televisions will confirm that performance is rarely top notch on a television set for less than €400 between navigation latency, the basic remote control or the not always successful “custom” interface… For all those, buying a Chromecast today is still of interest. And Google understands this well. The manufacturer, however, chose to ride the premium wave by taking inspiration from the Apple TV.
So out with the little dongle, make way for a TV box similar to the Apple TV, but in “porcelain” white. Very discreet, the accessory is placed on the TV cabinet next to or below the television. It is equipped with 3 ports: a USB-C for power, an Ethernet (knowing that it can also work over Wifi, but not with the new Wifi 6 standard), and an HDMI for connection to the television. So far, apart from the bulk, not much has changed.
The biggest change is to be found on the remote control side, which is considerably enlarged with the addition of several buttons. In addition to a volume control button, we find a navigation button, a Home button, a Return button, a power button, a button to activate voice interaction (and thus ask your television to watch a particular film or open Netflix), a mute button and a customizable button (to which you will certainly assign a shortcut to the connected home, we’ll come back to that). We also find buttons for quick access to Youtube and Netflix – a dubious choice given that streaming services are multiplying and while we’re at it we would also have liked to find Disney+, Max or Prime Video on it, while there… Interesting modernization: you can easily find your remote control by ringing it remotely.
On the technical side, Google’s box of course manages streams in 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision and the visual as well as audio quality seemed impeccable to us. Under the hood we find 32 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM. The interface is fluid and more responsive than on the Chromecast 4K.
Experience-wise, it’s still plug and play. You turn on the device, connect to your Google account with the Google Home app on your smartphone, and off you go. Note that the box is added to your connected home as if you had added a bulb or a speaker. First good surprise at startup: all our accounts are connected directly using Google’s password manager. So no need to start connecting each app one by one… Second good surprise: we discover a new Google Home tab which will allow you to access your thermostat, the feed from your surveillance camera or control the lights at home …And casually it’s very practical on the big screen.
Given the price (€119), we still regret that you have to buy the HDMI cable separately and that Wifi 6 is not on the program. The bill is still steep – and even a sharp increase compared to the Chromecast 4K. However, if you fall into the category of people likely to find it of interest, you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, there is no point thinking about changing if you still have one of those good old Chromecast 4Ks.
The +:
- A pleasant remote control to use
- Top video and sound quality
- A customizable button
- Batteries, so much more practical than wired charging
- The ringtone to find the remote control
- The Ethernet port
THE – :
- Much bigger than the Chromecast
- Too expensive (119€)
- No Wi-Fi 6
- No Prime, Disney+ or HBO button
So, are we cracking?
Much more expensive than its ancestor the Chromecast, the Google TV Streamer nevertheless includes all the functions while adopting a radically different design since it is no longer a dongle but a box similar to that of the Apple TV, which connects to the TV with an HDMI cable (sold separately). The real plus of the product? The software part is impeccable, with Google TV offering a clear, simple to use and very fluid interface. All in 4K. Like its predecessor, the Google TV Streamer is primarily aimed at owners of old televisions and televisions whose interface is too slow because most recent televisions have an identical interface. The new remote control that comes with it is also very practical with its numerous interaction buttons, its voice support, and the fact that it can easily be found by ringing it… Heavy streaming consumers, however, will be frustrated not to find only two buttons dedicated to Youtube and Netflix services, none to Prime Video, Disney + or HBO Max… The absence of Wifi 6 is also questionable, at the price at which the accessory is sold (€119). That being said, if you were looking for a TV box, the TV Streamer remains one of the best options on the market today.
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