REVIEW: Google TV Streamer (4K)

The Google TV Streamer is a sleek, angled device that aims to tidy up Google’s somewhat cluttered attempt to deliver a seamless streaming solution. For a while, the combination of Android TV and Google TV platforms, along with various hardware offerings, could easily confuse even tech-savvy buyers. Users of 2020’s Chromecast with Google TV might have been particularly frustrated by its sluggish performance and slow load times.

Jump to 2024 and the new Google TV Streamer looks to remedy this. Once the remaining Chromecast units sell out, it will be Google’s sole streaming device. Priced at €119, Google is clearly moving away from competing with cheaper streamers (like their own now-discontinued 4K Chromecast with Google TV or even cheaper HD only version). So, how does this new streamer hold up as a successor?

After spending the past week using the Google TV Streamer as the main media hub in my home entertainment setup, I’m here to help you decide if it’s worth purchasing.

The Google TV Streamer directly addresses the Chromecast with Google TV’s most significant flaw which was slow performance. While app load times varied — Netflix would sometimes open right away, but there were occasional delays — overall, it was noticeably faster than before. This improvement was clear as I browsed through apps like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Discovery+ watching titles such as ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’, ‘Agatha All Along’ and random cooking competition shows on Discovery.

Though Google hasn’t revealed the exact CPU, it’s clear the device has double the memory (4GB instead of 2GB) and quadruple the storage (32GB up from 8GB) compared to the Chromecast. Another key upgrade is the inclusion of an Ethernet port for more reliable streaming — a much-requested feature for users with congested Wi-Fi.

In my tests, 4K content like ‘The Umbrella Academy’ and ‘Agatha All Along’ loaded quickly in Ultra HD quality on both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. One drawback, though, is the Streamer’s reliance on 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), which is now outdated by newer standards like Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7.

Although the latest Wi-Fi versions aren’t essential for streaming, including Wi-Fi 6 would have made sense at this price point. Still, the device delivers excellent video quality, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and Dolby Atmos audio. The device’s ports include one for power (cable included) and one for HDMI (cable not included).

Not including an HDMI cable might be a slight inconvenience but they can be found for next to nothing online or in general electronic stores. Broadly, there are two main types of streaming devices: those with icon-filled home screens (like Apple TV) and those that prioritise recommendations and ads (like Amazon Fire TV and Google TV). While I’ve never been a fan of the latter, this time around, Google TV’s interface deserves some praise.

The “Top Picks for You” section accurately reflected my preferences, offering tech YouTube videos and shows like “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.” Below that, the app icons and a “Continue Watching” row make it easy to keep up with content across different services. On that, this can be slightly inconsistent with different Discovery+ shows I had been watching not showing up as an option in this particular row, hopefully a quick update can address this.

Unsurprisingly, Google is also implementing Gemini AI into the their new Streamer with AI generated summaries labelled ‘What it’s about’ and ‘what people are saying’ which is a handy way to get a quick rundown of what a given show or film is all about and the general audience comments on if it’s any good or not. It even provides ‘Season recaps’ which is even handier for catching yourself up on a previous season before jumping into a new one.

We do wish they used some of their AI smarts to help with upscaling features for making picture quality even better for some HD content (like the Nvidia Shield) but maybe this is something they could implement down the line.

The redesigned remote is also an improvement over the Chromecast with Google TV’s version. It has a lost-remote function, triggered by a button on the back of the Streamer, which makes the remote emit a chime. The volume buttons are now on the front, a customizable Star button replaces the input switcher, and the remote’s overall design feels more comfortable in hand.

The new Streamer also gives quick access to your Google Home products, either via the dedicated tab in the settings menu or, even handier, using the new Star button to act as a quick launcher to access your Google Home devices straight away. For example, you can quickly flick lights/switches on or off and, if you’ve a Nest Doorbell, you’ll get a live feed from the camera directly on your screen, in a picture in picture (PIP) format.

The Google TV Streamer also includes a Thread border router which connects your Thread smart device network to the rest of your devices on your Wi-Fi or Ethernet; ensuring they are all communicating as one for Google Home. Other Google products that are compatible with the Thread network include Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and Nest Wifi Pro. While I never really had an issues using our own Nest Wifi (non-Pro model) to create my own WI-Fi mesh network, it’s good to know that, with this new Thread network implementation, things should be even more reliable and consistent across my smart home devices and connections.

Conclusion

In summary, the Google TV Streamer is a refined and capable upgrade from the Chromecast with Google TV. With faster performance, Ethernet connectivity, and a smarter home screen, it’s a solid choice for anyone ready to invest in a premium streaming device.

While somewhat on the pricier side than its predecessor, its inclusion of features such as Thread and Matter Hub functionality help to make it a more robust ‘all in one smart home hub’, we just wish it had support for Wi-Fi 6.

Google TV Streamer (4K) Pricing & Availability

The Google TV Streamer (4K) is available now on the Google Store for €119 in the ‘Porcelain’ off white colour.