Google has released a new streaming device, the Google TV Streamer, priced at $99.99. It builds upon the features of existing Google TV and Chromecast hardware and will be available in September 2024. Preorders are being accepted now.
The device boasts 4K compatibility, a feature already present in the previous Chromecast with Google TV. This $49.99 device will still be available.
Google has added an ethernet port to the Google TV Streamer, along with its existing wifi compatibility. The device features a redesigned voice remote with a customizable button and a "find my remote" feature. It also supports Matter and Thread protocols.
The Google TV Streamer features deeper integration with Google Home smart homes, with an easily accessible panel in the UI.
Both the Google TV Streamer and Apple TV 4K support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, along with voice remote functionality.
The Apple TV 4K starts at $129 for a wifi-only model, while a $149 ethernet model offers double the storage (Google TV Streamer has 32 GB of storage compared to Apple TV 4K's base of 64GB). While most users may not require significant local storage space, this is a notable difference.
Both devices include a remote finding feature, but Apple TV 4K requires using another Apple iPhone device with FindMy.
The Google TV Streamer is notable for being the first in its family to not be a dongle-style device with a built-in HDMI connector.
Google is utilizing its generative AI offering Gemini for certain aspects of the Google TV Streamer. Apple TV already integrates with Siri, and more AI updates are expected in the coming months as the company rolls out its Apple Intelligence offering.