![]() It offers Alexa support, so you can use your voice to control the TV, but it still lacks physical volume, mute and power buttons. For example, the remote that comes with Roku's entry-level streamer, the Roku Express, lacks voice control or the ability to adjust the volume, never mind being able to turn the TV on or off. Other entry-level HD streaming devices skimp on hardware features in order to sell their players at a lower price. It also comes with a built-in button to access the Google Assistant. It's speedy and offers the same form-factor and remote as the Chromecast with Google 4K, which means that it doesn't need line-of-sight to work and can seamlessly control your TV's power, volume and inputs. If you're looking for a cheap streamer for your HD TV, this is the one to get. If it could only stay in lockstep with its competitors when it comes to sale prices, it might just be unbeatable.The brand new Chromecast with Google TV HD is far and away the best HD-only, entry-level streaming device you can find. Google TV’s universal guide is more refined than either system, though, and it now has budget hardware to match. (That one often dips to as low as $25.) It’s worth noting that Roku is moving into the smart home space as well, with an array of home security products that it intends to integrate into the Roku TV experience. As for Roku, it will soon roll out “Continue Watching” and “What to Watch” features to help make sense of streaming, boosting budget streamers like the $40 Roku Express 4K+. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K dropped to $20 and $25 respectively during Prime Day, and they’re fine options for folks who are invested in Amazon’s smart home ecosystem. Meanwhile, Google’s competitors have their own compelling alternatives. Still, most folks who are keen on Google’s content-first approach should opt for the 4K model, keeping in mind that it often drops to $40 instead of the usual $50. It has a smart menu system, a capable remote, and some helpful connections to the rest of the Google ecosystem. The Chromecast with Google TV HD is a strong contender for older 1080p TVs that you don’t plan to upgrade any time soon. You can also use “Hey Google” voice commands to launch videos on the TV from a nearby Nest speaker. The Chromecast with Google TV HD supports casting from your phone and playing music in sync with other Chromecast devices.Ĭhromecasts also play nicely with Google Assistant, so you can use the remote to check in on video cameras or control smart home devices you’ve set up through the Google Home app. The Chromecast can also display your Google Photos albums in screensaver mode, and you can tie it into a multi-room audio setup with other Nest speakers. For Android phone users in particular, it may be a better fit than a Roku player, which supports casting via Apple’s AirPlay system or the Roku mobile app. The new Chromecast still supports casting from phones and tablets. If all this leaves you on the fence about the new Chromecast, the last thing to consider is how it would fit into your overall gadget roster. A prominent “All Apps” button on the home screen would really help address the concerns of people who like to launch apps directly.Google’s watchlist is buried at the bottom of the home screen, a shame given that you can add items to the list from Google search results.The result overall is a menu system that’s helpful for navigating an increasingly confusing TV landscape, but one that still feels incomplete.Ī couple other stray quibbles worth noting: These kinds of issues aren’t unique to Google TV, but they are more apparent because of how Google puts its universal guide front and center. Google TV lets you choose which services appear on the home screen (for the most part). The only things missing are dedicated fast forward and rewind buttons, which is mainly a problem in apps that don’t map those functions to the D-pad. The Chromecast HD’s remote is identical to the 4K model, sporting a directional pad home and back buttons a Google Assistant voice control button shortcuts for YouTube and Netflix and controls for TV volume, power, input, and muting. Dolby Atmos audio is also limited to apps that support it via passthrough. From the outside, it’s almost identical to the 4K version that launched in 2020, with the only distinction being an “HD” logo on the back.īut inside, the new Chromecast sports a different chip that’s limited to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, and while it can play high dynamic range content in HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision. Unlike Chromecasts from 2018 and earlier, the new model has a proper remote and on-screen menu system, with apps for all the major streaming services. This Chromecast has an actual on-screen menu system.
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