Streaming sticks and dongles have dominated the media industry for many years, with tech companies touting the benefits of devices that can plug into the back of your telly – out of sight, out of mind.
However, leaked images and specs suggest that Google is taking a different tack, moving back towards the traditional set-top box style of devices that aren’t as common as they used to be.
First reported by 9to5Google, this new set-top box will allegedly feature new port support and other elements currently not available on Google’s current Chromecast device.
But is this set-top box legit? And if so, when will it launch? We’ve answered all your burning questions below.
When could the Google TV Streamer be released?
The leaks shared do not specify a release date for the Google TV Streamer. However, the next ‘Made by Google’ event takes place on 13 August, and it’s expected to reveal the new Pixel 9 series and other hardware such as the next watch, foldable phone etc.
Therefore, there is a chance that Google may also reveal the TV Streamer here. This would make sense, considering that rumours of the product have just begun to surface, and that it’s been four years since the last model.
However, it may still be in the early development stage – we’ll learn more when the event begins.
How much will the Google TV Streamer cost?
No prices were announced in the Google TV Streamer leaks. However, we can look at the launch prices of past media devices from the brand for reference:
- Chromecast 1st-gen (2013) – £30/$35
- Chromecast 2nd-gen (2015) – £30/$35
- Chromecast 3rd-gen (2018) – £30/$35
- Chromecast Ultra – £69/$70
- Chromecast with Google TV – £59/$49
If the Google TV Streamer has more features than the Chromecast with Google TV, then we’d expect the price to be closer to this and the cost of the Ultra (between £59/$49 and £69/$70) – especially considering that the current Google TV model has dropped to almost half price at the time of writing.
What are the specs and build of the Google TV Streamer?
Design
The leaked Google TV Streamer is a set-top box, with a slanted pill-shape. The image shown only showcases a white colour, though previous Chromecast devices came in several shades. Two wires protrude from the back in the image, which we assume are for the power and HDMI.
The flattish shape should mean that it will fit under most TVs that have a gap underneath, or in a unit that your TV stands on. So, it won’t be completely inconspicuous – but that doesn’t seem to be a concern for Google.
The images also show a longer remote, rather than the circular one seen on past models. The volume rocker has been moved from the side to the front, with an extra magic/star shortcut button that can be customised to be assigned to a specific service.
You’ll also get the usual power button, home button (which is now greyed out) and a microphone, which now has a generic icon, rather than the dots that signify Google Assistant. There are also shortcuts for Netflix and YouTube.
Features
According to a new report from 9to5Google (based on data from Quanta Computer, the manufacturer of the Pixelbook, Pixel Slate, and Pixelbook Go), the Google TV Streamer will feature Ethernet and USB ports.
That means you can get a stable wired internet connection (as with the Chromecast Ultra) and connect other devices with USB support.
The box also allegedly has the following radio signals:
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n
- Wi-Fi 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac
- Thread
The latter will allow you to connect with other devices that have Google Assistant for your home ecosystem, without the need for a hub. The Pixel 9 devices are also rumoured to be coming with Thread radio.
Other specification rumours have not yet surfaced, so we don’t know what streaming quality it will support, what processor it will run on or how much RAM/storage will be included. For reference, the current Chromecast with Google TV runs on an Amlogic S905X3 CPU and has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.
Considering Google is changing the size of the device significantly, we’d expect these specs to be beefed up slightly.
Software
As this is a Google device, it will almost certainly run on the latest version of Google TV OS. The latest version includes AI recommendations for TV series and films, Android 14 support for TV and redesigned icons.
Based on previous devices, the interface is clean and syncs with other Google accounts, and there is a wide range of streaming and entertainment apps supported.
Is Google ditching the Chromecast?
If 9to5Google’s claims are correct, yes. The Google TV Streamer will replace the current Chromecast with Google TV. However, many of these products are typically still available from third-party retailers for a little while after new generations are released.
This obviously may not be ideal for anyone short on space – if that’s you, then take a look at our chart of the best streaming sticks for more alternatives.
