The Google TV Streamer: A Worthy Rival to Apple TV 4K?

Google isn’t waiting for its upcoming hardware event to announce the Chromecast’s successor. Alongside the new, sleeker Nest Thermostat, today, the company is introducing the Google TV Streamer, a ₹8,200 (approx. $99.99) set-top box that improves upon the Chromecast with Google TV with substantially better performance, Thread and Matter integration, and useful new features like a remote finder.

Yes, there are some Gemini AI tricks thrown in, and with other hardware upgrades like a built-in ethernet jack, the Google TV Streamer seems poised to be a much better entertainment hub than its predecessor. The only downside? Since it’s not a dongle anymore, you’ll have to provide your own HDMI cable when it ships on September 24th.

The sloped, low-profile device comes in two colors: porcelain (white) and hazel (dark gray), with the latter being exclusive to the Google Store. Unlike the Chromecast, which could be hidden away behind your TV, the Google TV Streamer is designed to sit underneath it and be seen — without standing out from your other home decor. Part of why Google designed it to be placed out in the open is because the device includes a Thread border router and connectivity support for Matter.

Key Features and Enhancements

Smart Home Integration: With one button press on the remote, you can pull up a Google Home panel on the right side of the TV screen, giving you easy control over your smart home devices and cameras from your living room couch. This feature, combined with Thread hardware, offers a significant degree of futureproofing.

Performance Upgrades: The Google TV Streamer is equipped with a processor that’s 22 percent faster than its predecessor, double the RAM, and 32GB of integrated storage. These enhancements aim to provide a smoother user experience and prevent the device from getting bogged down over time.

Entertainment Hub: Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are both present, ensuring high-quality audio and video output. You can still cast content to the Google TV Streamer, and it’s powered over USB-C. Other tech specs include HDMI 2.1a, Wi-Fi 5, gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.1.

Remote Control: The bundled remote looks similar but has undergone some nice design tweaks. The volume buttons are now right on the face instead of on the side, and Google has added a customizable button. You can set it to open the Google Home panel, launch your favorite streaming app, or switch HDMI inputs. Additionally, there’s a remote finder button on the back of the Google TV Streamer, making it easy to track down the remote.

Software and AI Features

Gemini AI Integration: Google is tapping Gemini AI to provide viewers with “full summaries, reviews, and season-by-season breakdowns of content” as you browse. The new AI features complement the existing Google TV interface, which already provides personalized recommendations and helpful context like Rotten Tomatoes scores for movies.

Ambient Mode Enhancements: You can create generative AI screensavers that are shown when the Google TV Streamer is in ambient mode, which might be a feature users try once or twice. However, the ability to showcase your Google Photos albums in ambient mode is likely to be more popular.

Conclusion

I’m looking forward to reviewing the Google TV Streamer to see whether the company has finally produced a respectable foe to the Apple TV 4K. Google has always prioritized value and price over performance, but the new hardware upgrades and smart home features have me thinking that it just might have landed on the right formula this time.

Unfortunately, there’s still well over a month and a half to go before we all find out together.

Stay tuned to Kushal Bharat Tech News for the latest updates and in-depth reviews of the Google TV Streamer and other tech innovations.