The newest Chromecast device from Google is out, and this year, it’s the biggest re-design yet, with 2 long anticipated features: a remote, and a full navigable user interface that ditches the requirement to control the device from a phone.
This year’s device is something more akin to a Roku, or an Amazon Fire TV stick than the previous Chromecast devices. How does it stack up to these cheaper streaming devices?
What we liked
-
The new Chromecast remote (above) takes design cues from the defunct daydream controller.
A nice streamlined remote lets you navigate and control playback without fumbling with your smartphone (finally!)
- Support for virtually all streaming services (with the notable exception of Apple TV+).
- Slick UI cleans up some of the gripes of older Android TV based devices.
- Almost free for Netflix Subscribers ($6 net cost with 6-month Netflix bundle).
- IR universal remote functionality makes sit-down-and-watch experience a breeze.
What we didn’t like
- 8GB of storage space (~5GB available to user) leave hardly and space for games and such.
- No Stadia support (yet).
What was meh
- IR functionality only allows you to map the power, input, and volume keys to a single device each.
- In other words, it’s impossible to turn on your TV and sound bar with a single button press (like it is with other Android TV devices, and Fire TV devices).
- Baked in Netflix and YouTube buttons may irk people that don’t use those services.
Pick one up
You can pick up the Chromecast with Google TV from Google’s store.
Netflix subscribers, be sure to check out the 6 month Netflix bundle.
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