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Chromecast Or Google Cast? Google's Confusing Wireless Streaming Tech Explained
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends In 2013, Google debuted a small gadget called Chromecast. The device let you stream audio and video from your smartphone, tablet, or computer to your TV. At the time, when smart TVs were still a rarity, it was a far more affordable way to do TV streaming than dedicated streaming media devices like Roku and Apple TV.
The way you used that first Chromecast device was to "cast," the act of wirelessly sending content from your other devices. It didn't come with its own remote, so casting was the only way to get it to play audio and video on your TV. The technology that enabled casting from one device to another was given its own name: Google Cast.
So, it's "Chromecast" (the physical product) and "Google Cast" — the technology that lets you play content on that product from your other devices. Fairly straightforward, right?
Not so fast. Soon after the launch of that original Chromecast device, Google gave other companies the ability to embed Chromecast functionality in their TVs, soundbars, projectors, and speakers. Suddenly, a Chromecast device could be almost anything — not just a small dongle attached to your TV.
This has led to some confusion around Google's technology, and more importantly, the words we use to describe what it does and how it works. But don't worry — we're going to break it all down — and you'll be a Chromecast/Google Cast expert in just a few minutes.
Here's everything you need to know.
Let's start by explaining the most important concept when it comes to Google's streaming devices and technology: the difference between hardware and software.
Chromecast hardwareAs we noted above, the original Chromecast device made by Google was a small HDMI dongle that you plugged into your TV. Once connected to power and your Wi-Fi network, it let you transmit video content from your computer, smartphone, or tablet to your TV.
That device proved very popular thanks to its low price and simplicity of operation, and was quickly followed by the Chromecast Audio (for transmitting just audio to a set of powered speakers or any device with an audio input). Google eventually introduced two more Chromecasts, including the 4K/HDR-capable Chromecast Ultra.
All of these devices shared a common philosophy. They depended on a source device to "cast" content to them. They didn't have remote controls — everything from the choice of what is being cast to playback control was done from the source device. There was no on-screen interface and no built-in apps or functions.
In 2016, when Google wanted to make it clear that you could also cast to select third-party devices, it created the label "Chromecast built-in." At the time, this made sense. If your smart TV had Chromecast built-in, it meant it could do the same things as a Chromecast Ultra (if it was a 4K/HDR TV) and if your soundbar has Chromecast built-in, it meant it could the same things as a Chromecast Audio.
Enter Google TVWhile Google's portfolio of Chromecast devices proved popular, there was no getting around the fact that the lack of an on-screen interface and remote control was becoming a problem. As devices from Roku and Amazon became cheaper and cheaper, Chromecast devices began to lose their appeal.
Strangely, Google had already created a competitive platform known as Android TV, which several TV and set-top box makers were using to create rich, app-driven streaming media experiences. But Google had never created its own Android TV product.
That changed in 2020 with the release of Google Chromecast with Google TV, a complete streaming media device based on Android TV, but enhanced with a special content discovery interface known as Google TV. Shortly after the emergence of this new device, Google discontinued all of its older Chromecast products.
Google Chromecast with Google TV proved to be a very compelling product that kept all of the casting capabilities of the older Chromecast devices, but could also be used independently as a standalone streaming platform. Today, there are two versions: one that handles 4K/HDR, and a less expensive model that is limited to 1080p/HDR. Unfortunately, this created a disconnect in the minds of buyers. If you buy a soundbar with "Chromecast built-in," does that mean it does the same things as a Google Chromecast with Google TV? What about a wireless speaker? Or an Android TV set-top box? Back to Google CastNew Google Chromecast With Google TV Wishlist: All The Features I Want To See
The Chromecast with Google TV was a major game-changer when it first arrived back in 2020. It represented the evolution of Chromecast from a simple casting device into a powerful Android TV streamer with a new Google TV interface, a remote, and plenty of other new features. Four years later, the streamer still works quite well but is definitely starting to show its age.
Recently, I had the opportunity to review the Onn 4K Pro. With rumors and leaks starting to ramp up about a new streamer from Google, there are a lot of features here that I'm hoping to see in the next Chromecast with Google TV to match Walmart's budget box. With that in mind, here's what I'd like to see from the new Chromecast with Google TV HD and/or 4K when it finally arrives.
Hands-free voice control
Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority
The addition of hands-free voice control is one of the best features of the Onn 4K Pro, and it's made using my Chromecast with Google TV just a little less satisfying now that I know what's possible. It's extremely handy to have voice commands to quickly pause or unpause whatever you're watching without having to fumble for a remote. This is especially true in my family, as I have three kids, and it can get pretty hectic. Let's just say remotes go missing a lot.
Beyond using it to pause or unpause, you can also rewind specific time intervals with your voice, ask it to put on specific platforms or even a specific show on a platform, ask it basic questions, and so much more.
After trying the Onn 4K Pro, I can't go back to the Chromecast. Why? I love hands-free voice control.
It seems pretty obvious that if the platform now supports hands-free mics like this, it's only a matter of time before Google comes on board with its own take. Although there's only so much Google can do to build on this concept, there is one thing they could do: add a hands-free speaker into the remote too. You wouldn't have to push a button to trigger it; you could just use the same "Hey Google." This would mean you wouldn't have to shout as loudly to get it to register commands when the TV is on (as the remote would be closer), something I have noticed can be a slight problem with the current speaker setup on the Onn.
A remote control finderAs I mentioned, I have three kids, and the remote often goes missing. (If I'm actually honest, I also wander off with it and leave it in random rooms…) That was one of the things I didn't like about the Chromecast with Google TV. I've used other streamers and DVRs in the past that had "find my remote" functionality, but Google just flat-out didn't offer this feature. Even worse, they made the remote small and slippery. It's almost like they want you to lose it and buy another (puts on a tin foil hat).
This might seem silly, but if the new Chromecast with Google TV ignores the remote control finder function again, I'm likely going to stick to the Onn 4K Pro. With the Onn, all you have to do is ask Google to find your remote, and it starts ringing immediately with a range that's good enough to cover the average home size without any issue. Thankfully, we've discovered some evidence that a remote finder is likely to be widely supported as a native feature in future Google TV builds through Android 14 for TV.
A redesigned remote with at least one Magic button, but I'd prefer two!
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
It's not just the lack of a remote finder that I find annoying about the current Chromecast remote. In my Onn 4K Pro review, I noted that the remote felt cheaper than the Chromecast with Google TV remote, even though it was more functional. I stand by this. The plastic quality and button presses definitely feel inferior. However, that doesn't mean I necessarily prefer the Chromecast's remote. I've already mentioned it's small and slippery, but that's not the only drawback. The current Chromecast remote is extremely minimalist, and while I can appreciate that, it's almost too sparse.
On the front, there's the circular navigation bar, a back button, a Google Assistant button, Home, mute, YouTube, Netflix, Power, and an input switch. On the side, you find a volume rocker. The Onn 4K Pro has a much more conventional-looking remote, though it's still relatively small and streamlined. It includes a Power button, four partner channel buttons, a Magic customizable button, a profile button, a settings button, a live TV button, volume rockers, and even up/down channel change buttons.
Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority
I don't want Google to necessarily massively redesign the remote's looks. I liked its rounded corners and clean aesthetics. I also like minimalism, but at the very least, a Profile button, Settings key, and some Magic buttons would be pretty nice. In fact, I'd love to see Magic buttons replace partner buttons for services like Netflix completely. That's probably not going to happen, but one can dream. If Google made its current YouTube and Netflix buttons into Magic keys and just lengthened the remote a little, they could easily fit a few more keys and features without necessarily losing what's good about the current remote.
A new aesthetic better suited for visibility
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
I actually really like the way the Chromecast with Google TV dongle looks right now. It's clean and minimalist, like the remote, and it has some nice improvements over its predecessor, such as a slightly longer built-in HDMI cord. Of course, it's also designed to stay hidden behind the TV set. If Google adds voice-free mics into the body, this would have to change.
I'm hoping the next design takes some cues from the Nest Audio and creates something that looks reasonable and unassuming in a typical living room. I'd also like built-in speakers that work even when the TV is off, effectively turning it into a music player as well. This would be a major departure from the current design, which is basically an iterative style that traces its roots back to the first Chromecasts.
While we're at it, I hope that Google gives us an HDMI port this time, with an included external HDMI cord. I dislike the built-in cord on the Chromecast, as HDMI cords are known to break from time to time. Right now, if the HDMI cord gets broken or damaged, the Chromecast with Google TV becomes, at best, a doorstop.
New Chromecast with Google TV wishlist: What feature would you like to see?315 votes
Hands-free voice control
14%
A remote control finder
17%
A redesigned remote with at least one Magic button
28%
A new aesthetic better suited for visibility
10%
Other (Tell us in comments)
31%
Will there be a new Chromecast with Google TV 4K/HD for 2024?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Considering the Chromecast has existed in one form or another since 2013, it's certain that a new Chromecast with Google TV will emerge at some point in the future. Although Google has yet to clarify its plans, there have been more than a few rumors and signs suggesting that new hardware is imminent.
While there were early whispers in January that the Chromecast would get a new model this year, these rumors didn't really heat up until March. An update to the Google Home app revealed a mysterious device codenamed YTD, which was referenced alongside YTC and YTB, the current 4K and HD models.
A new Chromecast is coming, it's just a matter of when not if.
Shortly thereafter, a new report suggested that the launch of the Chromecast with Google TV was imminent and would include upgrades such as the Magic button. Many believed this indicated a Google IO reveal, but that never materialized. Thankfully, we have seen the Magic button and many other innovative features surface in the Onn 4K Pro, which suggests that these rumors are true, but Google is just taking its time.
For now, we can't say exactly when you'll see the new Chromecast with Google TV, only that it is likely to come this year. The next model will likely be an upgrade to the 4K hardware only, though it's possible Google could launch both updates in the same timeframe.
Looking into the Chromecast's history, all we can say is that a new 4K Chromecast is very overdue.
The Chromecast family has typically introduced new generations every two to three years. In fact, the larger gap between the 2nd and 3rd generation was due to the introduction of the Chromecast Ultra as an interim device, similar to the release of the Chromecast with Google TV HD in 2022.
If the Chromecast with Google TV does come out this year, it is very possible it will arrive in late summer, based on their traditional release windows, but again, that's really just a guess at this stage.
Should you wait for a new Chromecast with Google TV in 2024?
David Imel / Android Authority
The new Chromecast with Google TV has yet to be officially mentioned by Google, and while the increase in rumors makes a 2024 release fairly likely, there are no guarantees. If you need a new streamer right now, you might consider picking up the aging Chromecast with Google TV ($45 at Amazon). Conversely, the Onn 4K Pro ($49.88 at Walmart) is a more powerful alternative if the idea of getting a Walmart store brand doesn't turn you off.
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