The Google TV Streamer marks a significant upgrade from the Chromecast and its dongles, evolving into a standalone set-top box or, to put it in another way, its own media console. Essentially, this update has been implemented to improve reception for Google’s remote and smart home devices, blending its appearance with modern home themes to become a more integrated part of your home entertainment setup.
The company boasts the Google TV Streamer has a CPU that is 22% faster than its predecessor, 4GB RAM, and 32GB of storage. This upgrade also addresses previous limitations in space and performance, supporting streaming in 4K/60fps with HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and spatial audio.
The redesigned remote includes a volume rocker at the top, as well as a customizable button for launching apps or switching inputs, and continues to support Google Assistant voice commands. Connectivity options have been upgraded with an HDMI 1.1 jack, a USB-C port, and a dedicated Ethernet slot for optimised streaming performance.
The Google TV Streamer features smart home capabilities, including support for Matter and a built-in Thread border router for better communication with smart devices. It integrates a Google Home panel to manage smart lights, view security camera feeds, and more. Additionally, the device introduces AI features powered by Google’s Gemini, offering personalised content recommendations, summaries, and custom screensavers from Google Photos.
Additionally, shortcuts for launching YouTube and Netflix are also included. In the US, the Google TV Streamer will be available starting in September for US $99.99 (~RM447) and comes in Hazel Green and Porcelain White. At the time of writing, there is no word on local availability and pricing.
(Source: 9to5Google, Engadget, Google)
