Google TV Streamer is Official, Will Replace The Now-Discontinued Chromecast Devices

Google has officially revealed the all-new Google TV streamer today alongside a fourth-generation Nest thermostat. The new streaming device will be priced at $99.99, and it’s already available for pre-order ahead of its release on September 24.

The Google TV Streamer leaked two weeks ago, and it’s a departure from the various Chromecast HDMI sticks that Google released in the past. Today, the company also announced that it’s ending production of all Chromecast devices, which will remain available for purchase while supplies last.

While the previous Chromecast with Google TV devices came with just 8GB of storage and a maximum of 2GB of memory, Google promises a no-compromises experience with the Google TV streamer. The new device comes with 4G of memory, an “improved processor,” and 32GB of storage. It also includes a future-proof HDMI 2.1 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB-C port on the rear used for power supply.

On the software side, Google says that its Google TV software on the device now uses AI and users’ preferences to improve its content suggestions. The Google TV Streamer is also leveraging the company’s Gemini AI to offer better descriptions and summarize reviews of TV shows and movies.

Google designed its pill-shaped Google TV Streamer as a smart home hub, and it comes with Matter support along with a built-in Thread border router. “We designed Google TV Streamer to sit in front of your TV, rather than tucked behind it, to improve connectivity across your smart home devices,” the company explained today. The Google TV Streamer will also make the Google Home panel available on TVs where users will be able to manage their smart home devices.

The redesigned remote for the Google TV Streamer comes with a textured back for better grip, and the button layout has been redesigned to be more comfortable. A new customizable button has also been added, and it can be configured to open a specific app, switch inputs, or launch the new Google Home panel. Additionally, the remote includes a built-in chime that will make it easy to find it when it’s been lost. The chime can be triggered by either asking the Google Assistant or by pressing a button on the back of the Google TV streamer.

It’s too early to tell if the Google TV streamer will offer more serious competition to devices like the Nvidia Shield or the Apple TV 4K. However, it already looks to be a solid upgrade for people interested in replacing a Chromecast with Google TV or a previous-generation Chromecast without a remote.