I picked up a new Google Chromecast with Google TV for my streaming TV needs. It costs $50. It comes in three colors, Snow, Sunrise, and Sky. Snow is white, sunrises is a reddish pink, and sky is a shade of blue. I bought the Snow.
Buy Google Chromecast from Bestbuy here
Buy Google Chromecast from B&H here.
check out my unboxing video below. The package came with the Google Chromcast, a Voice Remote, a power adapter and USB A to USBC power cable, and a pair of AAA batteries for the remote.
The Chromecast is a dongle that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV and hangs out of sight. Unlike older Chromecast devices, the Chromecast with Google TV is a complete streaming solution. It has it’s own UI and apps and you do not need a phone ,tablet, or laptop to steam video to the device. You do need the to use the Google Home app on a phone or tablet to set up the device though.
It connects to the Internet using your home Wi-Fi. Google sells a separate $19 Ethernet adapter if you want a hard wired connection to the Internet. The adapter replaces the wall power brick with a single piece power brick and USB C cable. The power brick has an Ethernet port integrated.
Setting up the chromecast was pretty straightforward. I connected it to my TV turned it on and used the Google Home app on my iPhone to get the Chromecast set up and connected to the Internet. I needed to provide my Google account. The setup will install streaming apps you need such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney, Prime Video, HBO Max, Showtime and others. Once the set up in done, you can open each of those apps and log into each service. I was disappointed that there isn’t a CNBC app for watching CNBC. Also I was unable to find a app for the local news station we watch in Boston, even though they support streaming on other platforms.
The remote is interesting. During the setup process, the remote was set up to recognize my Samsung TV and the volume control on my Sony AV Receiver. I did not figure out if it can also turn on my AV Receiver though.
When you turn the Chromecast on, it automatically turns on my TV and selects the correct HDMI input. When I turn it off, the TV reverts to the tuner before turning off. I like the remote. But it is very responsive, but it is a little twitchy. While holding the remote, I found it easy to accidentally press a button and stop a show from playing.
So far I am happy with Chromecast. I have an older Samsung and Visio TVs. They are smart TV’s but the apps are old, out of date, and unsupported. I have an Apple TV 3, which no longer receives updates too. I’d like a new Apple TV, but I refuse to pay the premium for a new Apple TV that is perhaps two to three years old.
I’ll add my video below when its ready and I’ll come back to edit and add more to this article soon.