Google Chromecast 2020 review: what we always wanted
"Google's Chromecast with Google TV is a huge hit in our book."
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Affordable
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Support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
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Slick UI
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Responsive
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Integrated Google Assistant
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Dolby Vision is always activated by default
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Recommendation algorithm is still learning
I am impressed. The new Google Chromecast with Google TV looked pretty good on paper, but now that I've been using one for the past few weeks I can safely say it's even better than expected.
I never warmed myself to the original Chromecast. You call me old school, but I like a remote control and screen surface – the original Chromecasts didn't have one. I just couldn't handle my phone, tablet, or PC, which was the main controller for my television. The $ 35 Google Chromecast, which has been around for 7 years, was never for me, and the Google Chromecast Ultra's $ 70 4K resolution wasn't enough to attract me. To my surprise, I'm really excited.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the Google Chromecast with Google TV is for everyone. Let's examine what this little dongle can and can't do and if it's right for you.
Out of the box
Google Chromecast with Google TV has an unnecessarily long name, although technically it makes sense to distinguish what is different from previous Chromecast versions (more on that in a minute). Fortunately, almost everything else on the device is very simple.
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
It all starts with the packaging and what's in the box. The packaging appears to be almost entirely recyclable – and there isn't much of it. Inside the box is the Chromecast dongle, a remote control, a small USB-A chip, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and two AAA batteries – and folks, I love the batteries.
Yes, you read that right. The AAA batteries that Google ships with the new Chromecast share the same silky, rubbery silicone casing as the Chromecast dongle, remote control, and power cord. I actually giggled with glee as I slid it out of its plastic cocoon to place in the remote. Nice touch, Google. Win unboxing.
Features and Specifications
As is well known, the original Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra (4K) allow users to find content on their phones and cast it on their TV for viewing on the big screen. The original devices were essentially invisible. The big improvement here is the addition of an on-screen interface and remote control.
The remote has power and volume buttons that you can use to control your TV. Oddly enough, the power button is on the bottom left of the compact remote, but the volume buttons on the side are familiar to anyone who has used a Roku or Amazon Fire TV remote with similar buttons.
There is a circle on the top of the remote that you can click up, down, left, and right with. Below the circle is a Google Assistant button, a back button, a mute button, two hotkeys for accessing YouTube and Netflix, and a home button. The remote feels great, but the button layout took a bit of getting used to, if only because I've been using other streaming remote controls for so long.
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
The Chromecast dongle plugs directly into the HDMI port on a TV, so there is no need to worry about a high-speed HDMI cable that supports 4K HDR and Dolby Vision.
That brings up two of the most amazing features of the new Google Chromecast, especially for the $ 50 price tag: Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Dolby Vision content libraries are growing rapidly with services like Netflix, Disney +, and Amazon Prime Video. This content looks amazing on a Dolby Vision enabled television. Dolby Atmos surround sound support is also available, but availability varies from streaming app to streaming.
Google doesn't publish much about the new Chromecast's antenna, but in my experience it did an above-average job of getting Wi-Fi signals for steady streaming.
configuration
As easy as it is to use the new Chromecast, it will take some time to set up. This is true of many streaming devices today as they evolve. There are a few hoops to jump through here that are unique to the new Chromecast, however.
If you don't already have the Google Home app for iOS or Android, you'll want to download it. You need to set up the Chromecast. Once the Chromecast with Google TV is on, it will appear as a new device that can be set up in the Google Home app. Just follow the instructions and the device will be connected to your network in no time. Most people will be using Wi-Fi, but there is an ethernet adapter accessor available as an additional purchase.
From there, Chromecast will offer some apps to install (others will have to be installed manually at a later date), test that your TV's power and volume are working, get updates, restart a few times, and set up Google Assistant voice tracking. and finally the device is set up. This will take a while. But wait, there's more.
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
This is where Google could significantly improve the Google TV experience: By registering users with their streaming apps. Google saves all of my passwords. I am signed in to my apps on my Android phone. It's not a huge challenge for Google to automate the login process. So … please, Google?
Right now, users have to go through the tedious process of entering usernames and passwords for all of the streaming apps they subscribe to. In all fairness, this is probably the most time consuming part of the setup.
One last and very important note: By default, the new Chromecast is delivered with Dolby Vision always active. This means that if your television supports Dolby Vision, everything will be displayed in Dolby Vision and your picture preferences will therefore be limited. Additionally, non-Dolby Vision content will not look right. Even the colors of apps on Google TV don't look right. To fix this, navigate to Settings and under Video Settings select Synchronize content. This ensures that the TV will only switch to Dolby Vision mode when it is playing Dolby Vision content.
The Google TV part
The new Google Chromecast with Google TV is all about the screen surface of Google TV. Although it is very different from Sony's Android TV interface and some Hisense TVs, as well as the Nvidia Shield, it looks familiar with differences despite a few buttons.
Google TV is heavily focused on content recommendations. It learns what you like to see over time and tries to put the focus you want on the content you want. Plus, you don't have to go into a specific app to view it. At least not manually. You just see a place where you can click Captain Marvel, right next to a slide to click Stranger Things. There is no evidence that the content is on HBO Max or Netflix. At least not until the next screen when you press the play button.
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
If you want to explore content available on a specific platform like Netflix or HBO Max, the apps are all arranged on a strip just below the “For You” section. Whether you need / want to do this may depend on how well Google determines your display settings and habits.
For households with multiple viewers, the support of individual profiles is vital and don't worry, the new Chromecast supports it.
performance
The new Google Chromecast with Google TV works well as streaming hardware. It does a pretty good job of keeping up with my quick clicks and scrolls, although I can certainly tell if I press it hard, much like I did with the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku Streaming Stick +.
Apps and content also load quickly. The casting is the same as ever, so there are no changes there. Overall, given its $ 50 price tag, the device is perfectly capable. You'll need to upgrade to an Amazon Fire TV Cube or the new Roku Ultra to get something significantly faster or more powerful.
For me, however, the actual performance metric here is that of the Google TV experience. And on this front I have to say: So far, so good.
Google TV didn't completely set my display preferences, but to be fair, I've only been using it for a few weeks. I also expect Google to throw a few things against the wall to see what sticks with me. The process takes time and I will update this section as I learn more.
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
I also enjoy having my YouTube suggested videos look the same on my TV as they do on my phone. It's the little things.
The new Chromecast can also be combined with many other smart home devices from Google. This allows you to view video feeds from Google Nest cameras and Google Nest doorbells and act as part of a whole house audio solution. You can also control the new Chromecast using a Google Home or Google Nest speaker.
The Chromecast with Google TV clearly offers more value to Android phone users and fans of Google products in general. If you're a die-hard Apple fan, the Apple TV 4K offers a similar experience – for about three times the cost.
I think the new Google Chromecast with Google TV is a fantastic choice for just about anyone who isn't married to a smart TV platform yet.
Our opinion
The new Google Chromecast with Google TV is a smart step in the right direction for a large tech company that needs a little more presence in the streaming hardware space. The original Chromecast sold well because it was so cheap, but I think this new model will sell even better because it's a device that you can interact with. If Google can evolve its content recommendation engine, it could be the world's best-selling streamer in a matter of months.
Is there a better alternative?
The Roku Streaming Stick + offers a simple streaming platform with its own perks, but doesn't offer the kind of content recommendation that Google TV does. At $ 40 and 4K / HDR capabilities, this is a good option, but I hesitate to call it "better". In comparison, Amazon Fire TV 4K also supports Dolby Vision, is firmly connected to the Amazon universe with Alexa integration and costs 50 US dollars. If the specs are similar, the choice depends on whether you are with Team Google or Team Amazon.
How long it will take?
It's hard to imagine the new Google Chromecast with Google TV going irrelevant within four or five years. This is roughly how long you want to use the device before you get the new latest version.
Should you buy it?
Yes. The new Google Chromecast with Google TV is an outstanding product.
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