Meet the new Google TV Streamer, the device that replaces the Chromecast and seeks to become the entertainment center for your smart home. This article tells you everything you need to know about its features, improvements and why it marks the end of an era for Google in the world of streaming.
Goodbye to Chromecast, hello to Google TV Streamer
Google has decided to say goodbye to the Chromecast, the device that for years was the preferred option for casting content from your mobile. Now, with the Google TV Streamerthe company takes a step forward by offering a much more powerful set-top-box with new integrated functions that make it the core of the smart home.
With this new approach, Google is committed to a more sophisticated and minimalist design. Unlike the old Chromecasts that could be hidden behind the television, the Google TV Streamer adopts a TV-box With an elliptical design and a flat base that will attract everyone’s attention in your living room. Although its appearance may be more visible, it compensates with its compatibility with advanced standards such as Matter y Threadwhich make it the perfect control center for smart devices.
A remote control with surprises
One of the highlights of the Google TV Streamer is its remote controlwhich not only maintains a practical design, but also incorporates a novelty that many will appreciate: a button to find it when it is lost. Simply press a button on the device for the remote to make a sound, making it easier to locate, a function that is especially useful for those who tend to lose it between cushions or under the sofa.
In addition, the controller has a customizable button which allows functions or applications to be assigned to the user’s liking, which adds a touch of customization that did not exist in previous models.
Power for entertainment and smart home
The Google TV Streamer is not just a streaming device. It is also designed to act as a hub central for all the smart devices in your home. Thanks to its compatibility with Matter y Threadthe device facilitates connection and communication between your devices, from light bulbs to thermostats, allowing you to control them directly from the television remote control.
Regarding its performance for streaming, it offers resolution 4K HDR at 60 fps and is compatible with Dolby Vision y Dolby Atmosensuring impeccable audiovisual quality. However, at the connectivity level, the device could improve, since it continues to use WiFi 802.11ac instead of WiFi 6, which somewhat limits its potential on faster networks.
Streaming and emulation gaming
During our testing, the device proved capable of handling streaming games seamlessly across platforms like GeForce Now y Amazon Lunaas well as with the app Moonlight to play PC titles in 4K resolution with hardly any lag. It also offers solid performance in retro console emulation, making it an ideal choice for gaming lovers.
A step forward, but not perfect
Although the Google TV Streamer offers a significant improvement over its predecessors, especially in terms of memory (4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage), it still has room for improvement, especially in terms of connectivity and native storage capacity.
With its smart home integration and powerful entertainment capabilities, the Google TV Streamer is positioned as an interesting option, but some users may find that there is still work to be done to fully perfect it.
