Review: Chromecast With Google TV

I've been a Roku user for years, and for the longest time, I couldn't understand why I would ever need a Chromecast. Why would I want to use my phone to play videos on my TV? It's awkward. Also, my inexpensive Roku works great, streams from just about every service, and is easier to use. But then Google released its new Chromecast, which offers multiple ways to find and stream content. And after using it for a while, I'm questioning my loyalty to that Roku.

For $50—that's $15 more than the original bare-bones Chromecast—you get the new model with Google TV built in. Google TV is the new name of Android TV, a smart TV platform with a user interface that rivals the usability of a Roku or an Apple TV. For that same $50, you also get a remote control in the box. The Chromecast supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and streams content at up to 4K resolution. The actual device is pretty too, packaged in a slim, modern oval shape that comes in one of three soft colors, though it will most likely stay hidden from view behind your TV.

The new Google TV interface puts recommendations for movies, shows, and YouTube videos right on the home screen.

Photograph: Google

Google TV's helpful interface is its biggest strength against rival streaming devices. It attempts to tailor its suggestions to your preferences, and the guide includes movies and TV shows across all platforms at once. This makes the process of finding something to watch much easier overall, since you'll see options from services like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Peacock, and Tubi without having to go into each individual app. Of course, you won't see the entire library of each service unless you open each app, but that's where the tailored suggestions are useful. A nice perk is there are no ads in the interface, which just complements the altogether pleasant experience.

After logging in to my subscriptions and using the Chromecast as my main source of streaming, it had a pretty good idea of what I might be interested in watching. It's not perfect, but you can long-press the center button on the remote to dislike a title, which will eventually remove it from your suggestions. You can also use that long press to add something to your watchlist.

Google TV also still shows me titles from services I don't currently subscribe to, like HBO Max and YouTube TV, and obviously Google's own rentals, but I get a wide enough range of options each time that this doesn't bother me. Also, if you're not sure if a certain streaming service is right for you, this might give you enough info to decide if you want to sign up. Included on the home screen are the last few things I currently watched, so I can jump right back into The Haunting of Bly Manor. It also shows me recent uploads from YouTubers I frequently watch and those whose channels I've subscribed to.

You can search for something across apps too, instead of just browsing. Search for Practical Magic to find out where it's streaming (Roku has this option too, though I've found it to not always be accurate) or ask it to show you scary movies or comedies across all of the services. The Google Assistant integration on its remote allows you to use voice search as well. More on that in a bit.

Having all your streaming services in one place removes most of the need to cast from your phone, but you can still do that if you'd like. It's nice if you want to quickly pull up the YouTube video you're already watching on your phone, or view your Google Photos library on a big screen.

Remote Work

The new remote. The blue button in the top row is for the Google Assistant.

Photograph: Google

I use my phone for a lot of things, but I don't want to use it as my TV's remote control. If you've ever watched a show that was particularly quiet and then you were hit with super-loud commercials, you'll know how annoying it is to fumble with a phone when you're just trying to turn down the volume or press pause. It seems owners of previous Chromecasts, which required you to use your phone to control the stream, felt the same. This new remote is a welcome addition to the Chromecast. It takes two AAA batteries, which are included.

The remote is small, but not so tiny that it's annoying for those with larger hands or older eyes—it's significantly smaller than my Samsung TV's remote, but its buttons are bigger and more obvious without being cluttered by unnecessary ones. There are dedicated buttons to launch Netflix and YouTube, plus the dedicated button to summon the Google Assistant. In addition to using it for searching for something to watch, you can also use it to control your lights or other smart home products that you've integrated into the Google Home app. And just like other Google Assistants, you can ask it for weather predictions or any other questions you may have, like when season two of The Mandalorian premiers or what time it is on the West Coast.

The best feature is also the simplest: You can set up the remote to control your TV's power and volume. Not every streaming device offers this luxury—my Roku Premiere doesn't have either feature, which means I need to keep two remotes in front of me whenever I'm watching TV.

Unlike some streaming sticks which run on USB power, the new Chromecast has to draw power from a wall outlet.

Photograph: Google

Setting up the Chromecast was simple enough, much like setting up any streaming device. It plugs into your TV's HDMI port. Also, unlike USB streaming sticks which can draw power from the TV itself, the Chromecast will need to be plugged into the wall. Because of the shape of the dongle and the location of my TV's HDMI port, the Chromecast hangs weirdly at a angle. The dongle gets twisted, which makes me wonder if the device will eventually wear down.

You'll need the Google Home app (available on iOS and Android) and a Google account to get this working, of course, but you don't need to use the app to control the TV.

The device has only 4.4 GB of storage, and it started to fill up quickly. Reviews editor Jeffrey Van Camp has used Google TV in the past and said he was surprised when he was alerted that he was out of space from too many apps. Within just a few days of use and 18 apps later, I was already using half my storage. For reference, my colleagues on the Gear team have used many Rokus over the years, and none of us have ever run out of space for streaming apps. We'd like to see devices with more storage—or apps that take up less room—so this doesn't continue to be an issue. After a few weeks of testing, I'm at 2.5 GB, so it looks promising for a little while longer at least.

The Chromecast with Google TV is truly a step up—in fact, it's so much more advanced than what a Chromecast used to be that I think it deserves a different name. If you still don't have a streaming device you're happy with, you may want to try this. I've been more than pleased with its searching abilities and recommendations, and I especially appreciate not having to spend so much time scrolling through every service's full library just to find something to watch.