Google TV Streamer Release Date, Price & Spec Rumours

Streaming sticks and dongles have dominated the media trade for a few years, with tech firms touting the advantages of units that may plug into the again of your telly – out of sight, out of thoughts.

Nonetheless, leaked photos and specs counsel that Google is taking a distinct tack, shifting again in direction of the standard set-top field type of units that aren’t as frequent as they was.

First reported by 9to5Google, this new set-top field will allegedly characteristic new port help and different components at present not obtainable on Google’s present Chromecast machine.

However is that this set-top field legit? And in that case, when will it launch? We’ve answered all of your burning questions beneath.

When may the Google TV Streamer be launched?

The leaks shared don’t specify a launch date for the Google TV Streamer. Nonetheless, the following ‘Made by Google’ occasion takes place on 13 August, and it’s anticipated to disclose the brand new Pixel 9 collection and different {hardware} resembling the following watch, foldable telephone and so on.

Subsequently, there’s a probability that Google may additionally reveal the TV Streamer right here. This may make sense, contemplating that rumours of the product have simply begun to floor, and that it’s been 4 years for the reason that final mannequin.

Nonetheless, it could nonetheless be within the early growth stage – we’ll be taught extra when the occasion begins.

How a lot will the Google TV Streamer value?

No costs had been introduced within the Google TV Streamer leaks. Nonetheless, we are able to have a look at the launch costs of previous media units from the model for reference:

Chromecast 1st-gen (2013) – £30/$35

Chromecast 2nd-gen (2015) – £30/$35

Chromecast Third-gen (2018) – £30/$35

Chromecast Extremely – £69/$70

Chromecast with Google TV – £59/$49

If the Google TV Streamer has extra options than the Chromecast with Google TV, then we’d anticipate the worth to be nearer to this and the price of the Extremely (between £59/$49 and £69/$70) – particularly contemplating that the present Google TV mannequin has dropped to nearly half value on the time of writing.

What are the specs and construct of the Google TV Streamer?

Design

The leaked Google TV Streamer is a set-top field, with a slanted pill-shape. The picture proven solely showcases a white color, although earlier Chromecast units got here in a number of shades. Two wires protrude from the again within the picture, which we assume are for the facility and HDMI.

The flattish form ought to imply that it’ll match underneath most TVs which have a spot beneath, or in a unit that your TV stands on. So, it received’t be fully inconspicuous – however that doesn’t appear to be a priority for Google.

The photographs additionally present an extended distant, quite than the round one seen on previous fashions. The quantity rocker has been moved from the facet to the entrance, with an additional magic/star shortcut button that may be customised to be assigned to a particular service.

You’ll additionally get the standard energy button, dwelling button (which is now greyed out) and a microphone, which now has a generic icon, quite than the dots that signify Google Assistant. There are additionally shortcuts for Netflix and YouTube.

Options

In line with a brand new report from 9to5Google (primarily based on information from Quanta Pc, the producer of the Pixelbook, Pixel Slate, and Pixelbook Go), the Google TV Streamer will characteristic Ethernet and USB ports.

Which means you may get a secure wired web connection (as with the Chromecast Extremely) and join different units with USB help.

The field additionally allegedly has the next radio alerts:

Bluetooth

Wi-Fi 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n

Wi-Fi 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac

Thread

The latter will can help you join with different units which have Google Assistant on your dwelling ecosystem, with out the necessity for a hub. The Pixel 9 units are additionally rumoured to be coming with Thread radio.

Different specification rumours haven’t but surfaced, so we don’t know what streaming high quality it can help, what processor it can run on or how a lot RAM/storage can be included. For reference, the present Chromecast with Google TV runs on an Amlogic S905X3 CPU and has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.

Contemplating Google is altering the dimensions of the machine considerably, we’d anticipate these specs to be beefed up barely.

Software program

As it is a Google machine, it can nearly definitely run on the most recent model of Google TV OS. The most recent model consists of AI suggestions for TV collection and movies, Android 14 help for TV and redesigned icons.

Primarily based on earlier units, the interface is clear and syncs with different Google accounts, and there’s a big selection of streaming and leisure apps supported.

Is Google ditching the Chromecast?

If 9to5Google’s claims are right, sure. The Google TV Streamer will change the present Chromecast with Google TV. Nonetheless, many of those merchandise are usually nonetheless obtainable from third-party retailers for a short while after new generations are launched.

This clearly is probably not very best for anybody brief on area – if that’s you, then check out our chart of one of the best streaming sticks for extra options.

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