The next-gen streaming device from Google, the awkwardly named TV Streamer, has landed in Australia this week, with devices shipping and in-store.
The Google TV Streamer was soft-launched in the US ahead of their Pixel 9 hardware event, though it’s now available in Australia and other countries for sale.
Priced at $159, the Google TV Streamer shies away from the popular dongle design of previous Chromecast devices which could be hidden away behind a TV. The Google TV Streamer opts instead for a pill-shaped, slimline, sloped set-top box design. While launching in other markets in a host of colour options, Google Australia is only offering the white (Porcelain) option.
The Google TV Streamer comes with a lot more inside thanks to the larger design, including 4GB RAM and 32GB of on-board storage, a large jump from the 2GB RAM and 8GB storage on the Chromecast with Google TV (CCwGTV).
There’s also more connections with a dedicated HDMI (2.1) port, Ethernet port and USB-C power jack, and while it comes with the same Wifi and Bluetooth as the CCwGTV. What you do get on the Google TV Streamer is a Thread Border Router, letting the Google TV Streamer act as a smart home hub for your Google Home, with Matter support built-in.
The Google TV Streamer will also bring the Google Home panel, introduced on the Pixel Tablet, to the streaming device, giving you the ability to ‘check your cameras (see who’s there when your Nest Doorbell rings!), adjust the lights and temperature, close the blinds and more’.
AI will also be playing a part in the new Google TV Streamer experience, with Google’s Gemini on-board and able to curate content suggestions across all your streaming subscriptions, as well as building watchlists with recommendations for everyone in your household, and you can also get ‘full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of content.
There’s also a new remote, though similarly shaped to the previous generation, it’s now larger in size and has improved ergonomics and button layout including bringing volume controls to the front, making it easier to use and more comfortable to hold. There’s also a new customisable button to create shortcuts – and it even has a Find My Remote function to help when you inevitably lose it.
Google has said they are discontinuing the existing Chromecast range – so if you think you may need some stock, grab a couple while they’re still on shelves. In the meantime, here’s how the new Google TV Streamer stacks up
We’ll be getting a review of the new Google TV Streamer out soon, but in the meantime you can just try one for yourself. You can find them on shelf this week at a RRP of $159 from Google Store, JB HIFI, Harvey Norman and next week for Officeworks.
Daniel has been talking about, learning about and using tech since he was able to toggle switches and push buttons. If it flashes, turns on or off or connects he wants to use it, talk about it and learn more about it. Like this article? Buy me a coffee!
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