Google’s latest streaming device, the $30 Chromecast with Google TV HD, isn’t for home theater enthusiasts who live and breathe in 4K and Dolby Atmos. Quite the opposite. The device is limited to a maximum resolution of 1080p (Full HD) and lacks Dolby’s best video and audio tricks. It is at least able to play HDR video. But the target audience is clear: this product is for people who want to bring new smarts to an old TV (or monitor). Maybe you have an Airbnb that needs more entertainment. These are the cases where Google’s new streamer — and similarly priced starter options from Roku and Amazon — make perfect sense.
Despite having a mediocre processor that sometimes struggles through the interface, the Chromecast with Google TV largely succeeds in its mission of providing a good streaming experience wherever you want. And just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it isn’t capable. Aside from the core features and the included remote, you can use a USB hub in the Chromecast HD and take advantage of external storage, connect a webcam for video conferencing, or a wired Ethernet connection for bulletproof streaming.
HOW WE REVIEW AND REVIEW PRODUCTS
As for the design and size, good luck spotting any differences between this $30 dongle and the $50 Chromecast with Google HD 4K. The older hardware comes in a variety of colors, but for the HD model, you’re stuck with white. That’s really the only visual differentiator. Otherwise, they both plug into an HDMI port and come with a USB-C power adapter, as the USB ports on TVs often can’t deliver enough juice to run them optimally. The included voice remote is also identical and has the same shortcuts for Netflix and YouTube – plus a dedicated Google Assistant button. It’s a comfortable, compact remote that lets you (or Airbnb guests) get downstairs in no time.
You already know the video limits, but for audio, Chromecast with Google TV HD supports traditional Dolby Digital, so you can still enjoy surround sound. Just without the Atmos height channels.
Aside from the playback resolution, the user experience of both Chromecasts is again the same. And that’s a good thing. Despite some lingering slowness that Google is still trying to fix, Google TV remains my favorite interface for browsing TV shows and movies from multiple different streaming apps and Internet TV services. Navigating the sections – For You, Live TV, Movies, Shows, etc. – is intuitive, the recommendations are often good, and Google’s ads are harmless. It’s not as blatant as what you get from Roku or Amazon, Google’s only competitors at this price. Every major streaming app is accounted for, although major players like Netflix have turned down some features of Google TV, such as the universal watchlist. It’s not enough to ruin my preference for the platform, but it can be annoying.
Google TV has long supported personalized profiles (and content-enabled kid accounts), so everyone in your house can have their own watchlist and personalized choices. Overall, everything about Google TV feels sleek and modern, whether you’re diving into a show’s detail page, doing a voice search, controlling your smart home, or fetching a Nest camera feed.
I still think Google would do well to release a powerful streaming gadget that could really bring out this software, but I haven’t got any yet. poor time using the Chromecast HD. I was worried that would be the case, but Google’s optimizations over time (and the newer Android 12-based OS) make it perfectly bearable. Whether that remains true over time, we’ll know in a few months. What I can say now is that any performance dips are only temporary and not a constant annoyance.
Explore the Chromecast settings and you’ll find that Google lets you go either way: basic or advanced. New with Google TV running Android 12, there is a setting for “match frame rate”. But this goes beyond other implementations I’ve seen and gets wonderfully nerdy. You get three choices:
Seamless
When prompted by the app, your device will match the output to the original frame rate of the content you are watching ONLY if your TV can perform a seamless transition.
Non-seamless
When prompted by the app, your device will match the output to the original frame rate of the content you are viewing. This can cause your screen to go blank for a second when exiting or starting a video display.
Never
Even if the app asks for it, your device will never attempt to match the output to the original frame rate of the content you are watching.
I appreciate that Google understands that home theater geeks are often so picky that a seamless transition between frame rates really matters. You also get some privacy-oriented benefits with the newer software, such as the ability to disable the microphone (in the handheld remote) or camera access (if you have a webcam connected). Text scaling has been added, which allows you to adjust the size of text on the screen between 85 and 115 percent. And setup is a little faster thanks to an on-screen QR code that can quickly pull the Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network. Of course, these improvements won’t be exclusive to the cheaper HD Chromecast for long; Google has confirmed that Android 12 will be coming to the 4K model in the near future.
The Chromecast with Google TV HD still fully supports the old namesake feature: casting. But the days of cloud gaming are effectively numbered – at least when it comes to Stadia. Personally, I’m still surprised that Google hasn’t released a full-fledged Google Photos app designed for the TV screen yet. I would be all set. Those with smart homes would similarly appreciate a full Google Home app for the TV platform, but that too is still missing.
In a week or so of regular use of the Chromecast with Google TV HD, I haven’t found any major issues or frustrations. It offers the same modern, content-first presentation as the aging 4K hardware, but for $20 less. And it’s already discounted at several retailers, so this could prove to be a compelling impulse buy for many during the holiday season.
If you’re a videophile, you probably don’t pay attention to this product. Owners of 4K TVs should definitely look elsewhere. But for anyone who needs a streamer, ideal for hooking up to a secondary TV in the kitchen, gym, second bedroom… whereverThis $30 Chromecast does the job and offers a much richer set of features than the original Chromecast from nearly a decade ago — and somehow costs even less.
AGREE TO CONTINUE: CHROMECAST WITH GOOGLE TV HD
Every smart device now requires you to agree to a set of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It is impossible for us to read and analyze all these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to click ‘agree’ to use devices when we review them, since these are agreements that most people don’t read and certainly can’t negotiate.
To use the Chromecast with Google TV HD, you must agree to:
- Google Terms of Service
- Google Privacy Policy
- Arbitration Agreement for Google Devices: “All disputes regarding your Google device will be resolved through binding decision on an individual, non-class basis […] unless you unsubscribe by following the instructions in that agreement.”
The following matches are optional:
- Use Chromecast location: “With your permission, allow Google and apps on your Chromecast to use the Chromecast estimated location via Wi-Fi.”
- Send usage and diagnostic data
In addition, to use the Google Assistant, you must consent to Google collecting:
- App info from your devices
- Contact information from your devices: “This information may be stored and used in any Google service you are signed in to to provide you with more personalized experiences. You can access, delete, and change your settings at account.google.com”
Streaming services also have their own terms of service and privacy policies.
Final score: at least three mandatory appointments and at least four optional appointments.
Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.