Google has launched a new version of its Chromecast media-streaming stick that is a bit different to its popular predecessors. It still works as a Chromecast receiver, meaning you can cast photos, audio and video from your phone, but it also has a new smart TV experience called Google TV.
The new £59.99 Chromecast with Google TV is a slightly fatter HDMI dongle that’s made of 49% recycled plastic and plugs into your TV, but now comes with a remote and a full smart TV interface that is a modernised version of that seen on various Android TVs.
According to Google, a remote control was the number one requested feature for the next Chromecast. The company has delivered: the neat little remote can initiate voice control and has shortcut buttons for the more popular streaming services. It can also be used as a universal remote to control your TV’s input selection, volume and power.
The dongle supports the latest TV formats, including 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. The remote has a Google Assistant button and mic for voice control, while a new unified search will find TV shows and movies across your various subscriptions, apps or rental stores.
Google TV brings access to over 6500 apps, including Disney+, Netflix, ITV, My 5 and YouTube, as well as the ability to browse 400,000 films and TV episodes in one place. From there, it will offer personalised suggestions of what you might like to watch next in the Google TV Watchlist. The voice search will let you filter content by genre, too.
As ever, Chromecast with Google TV will allow casting from mobile devices and will work with other Chromecast-enabled kit to play multi-room music from your favourite audio apps. When you aren’t watching TV, Ambient Mode turns the TV screen into a photo frame, letting users fill the interface with a photo(s).
Google TV is debuting in the new Chromecast but is coming to Android TV devices in the future.
Chromecast with Google TV will not have Google’s Stadia game-streaming service on launch and will ship in mid-October. While it is priced at £59.99 here in the UK, it will cost $49.99 in the US.
Chromecast with Google TV pre-orders have already launched, which comes in a choice of Snow (white), Sky (blue) and Sunrise (pink). You can earmark yours from Google, Currys PC World, Argos, John Lewis and Tesco, among other stores. It will hit the shelves on 15th October.
How to Install and Set Up Chromecast with Google TV
Step 1: Plug in your Chromecast device
Plug Chromecast into your TV, then connect the USB power cable to your Chromecast. Plug either the other end of the USB power cable into an open USB port on your TV OR into the included power adaptor which you will then plug into a power socket.
Step 2: Download the Google Home app
On your mobile device or tablet, download the Google Home app.
Step 3: Set up Chromecast
- Make sure that you connect your mobile device or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network that you intend to use to set up your Chromecast device.
- Open the Google Home
- Follow the steps.
- If you don’t see the steps to set up your Chromecast:
- At the top left of the Google Home app home screen, tap Add -> Set up device -> Set up new devices.
- Follow the remaining steps.
- If you don’t see the steps to set up your Chromecast:
- Setup is successful. You’ve finished!
