When you’re watching something on your phone, and you’d rather see it on your TV instead, you can ‘cast’ it. The word ‘cast’ in this context, which we use so freely now, was coined when Google launched the first Chromecast in 2013. Now, almost a decade later, the Chromecast with Google TV has evolved into a richer product that is much more than just a streaming stick with a remote. But now that there are multiple such products on the market, is this the best value for money streamer you can buy?
Design
The Chromecast with Google TV has a very compact and slim design that’ll stay out of the way in your home setup. Although this will almost always be hidden behind the TV, the slim & curved shape of the Chromecast, and the completely white colour, keeps the look classy.
You also get a remote with the Chromecast that I can only really describe as ‘cute’. It’s really small, but still quite easy to use, as the curved rear makes it fit quite snugly in your palm.
The volume buttons are on the right, like a phone, which is an unusual choice that I like quite a lot. Apart from that you get your standard navigation, direct buttons for streaming services, and a dedicated Google Assistant button. The remote’s in-built microphone will let you press that button and use Google Assistant at any time.
Utility
Through the included HDMI 2.0 port, the Chromecast can support up to 4K resolution and a 60FPS frame rate. It also supports the Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ standards. Of course, the display you’re using it on will need to support these things.
For connectivity you get Wi-Fi with support for both 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz bands, and bluetooth, which you can use to connect a pair of earbuds to the Chromecast, if you don’t want to make too much noise.
The Chromecast is powered by a USB-C wall adapter, and only a wall adapter. It will not accept power from a TV’s USB port, so make sure you have an outlet nearby. Luckily an adapter and cable are included in the box.
Interface
Now, the new Chromecast with Google TV’s USP is, well, Google TV. Google’s new interface sits on top of Android TV, and gives you a more intuitive place to access all your streaming content. It opens on the For You tab, which provides personalised recommendations from across streaming services. You also get a Continue Watching feature right from the home screen that works across apps.
Then you have the Movies and Shows tabs, which recommend you Movies and Shows respectively. The Library tab collects your watchlist from across devices, and is a great place to keep track of what shows you want to watch next.
The Chromecast with Google TV stick comes preloaded with all sorts of streaming apps, which should cover all your needs, including Apple TV +, which I was very happy to see here. If you need more, you do of course have access to the Play Store and all the apps it offers. You can access the store from the Apps tab, which has a search bar and some category filters as well.
All of this navigation is extremely fast. The Chromecast breezes through content, and I did not once face any lag while browsing the interface or starting video streams.
Of course, if you’d rather talk to your TV, you can use Google Assistant to navigate your Chromecast instead. You can ask it any number of things, from basic Google Search terms, to asking it to show a list of all movies by Tom Cruise, in response to which it’ll pull films from across streaming services. If you have the proper setup, you can also use Assistant to control smart home devices.
This being a Chromecast, you can of course still use your phone or tablet to cast content, and control playback from there instead, if you so wish.
Verdict
The Chromecast was an iconic device that was very important to the streaming revolution, and with the new Chromecast with Google TV, Google has brought it into the future. However, the future also brings a lot of competition, and at a price ₹6,399, this device is not cheap.
Still, for the price, you get a sleek, fast, and streamlined streaming experience and some great new features. If it falls in your budget, you’ll be very happy with the Chromecast for Google TV.
