All of the options I need to see

The Chromecast with Google TV was a significant game-changer when it first arrived again in 2020. It represented the evolution of Chromecast from a easy casting machine into a strong Android TV streamer with a brand new Google TV interface, a distant, and loads of different new options. 4 years later, the streamer nonetheless works fairly nicely however is certainly beginning to present its age.

Not too long ago, I had the chance to overview the Onn 4K Professional. With rumors and leaks beginning to ramp up a couple of new streamer from Google, there are loads of options right here that I’m hoping to see within the subsequent Chromecast with Google TV to match Walmart’s price range field. With that in thoughts, right here’s what I’d wish to see from the brand new Chromecast with Google TV HD and/or 4K when it lastly arrives.

The addition of hands-free voice management is without doubt one of the greatest options of the Onn 4K Professional, and it’s made utilizing my Chromecast with Google TV just a bit much less satisfying now that I do know what’s doable. It’s extraordinarily helpful to have voice instructions to rapidly pause or unpause no matter you’re watching with out having to fumble for a distant. That is very true in my household, as I’ve three children, and it may possibly get fairly hectic. Let’s simply say remotes go lacking so much.

Past utilizing it to pause or unpause, you too can rewind particular time intervals along with your voice, ask it to placed on particular platforms or perhaps a particular present on a platform, ask it primary questions, and a lot extra.

It appears fairly apparent that if the platform now helps hands-free mics like this, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than Google comes on board with its personal take. Though there’s solely a lot Google can do to construct on this idea, there may be one factor they might do: add a hands-free speaker into the distant too. You wouldn’t must push a button to set off it; you can simply use the identical “Hey Google.” This could imply you wouldn’t must shout as loudly to get it to register instructions when the TV is on (because the distant can be nearer), one thing I’ve observed generally is a slight drawback with the present speaker setup on the Onn.

A distant management finder

As I discussed, I’ve three children, and the distant usually goes lacking. (If I’m really trustworthy, I additionally wander away with it and depart it in random rooms…) That was one of many issues I didn’t like concerning the Chromecast with Google TV. I’ve used different streamers and DVRs prior to now that had “discover my distant” performance, however Google simply flat-out didn’t supply this function. Even worse, they made the distant small and slippery. It’s virtually like they need you to lose it and purchase one other (places on a tin foil hat).

This may appear foolish, but when the brand new Chromecast with Google TV ignores the distant management finder perform once more, I’m probably going to stay to the Onn 4K Professional. With the Onn, all it’s important to do is ask Google to search out your distant, and it begins ringing instantly with a spread that’s ok to cowl the typical residence dimension with none situation. Fortunately, we’ve found some proof {that a} distant finder is more likely to be broadly supported as a local function in future Google TV builds by Android 14 for TV.

It’s not simply the dearth of a distant finder that I discover annoying concerning the present Chromecast distant. In my Onn 4K Professional overview, I famous that the distant felt cheaper than the Chromecast with Google TV distant, though it was extra practical. I stand by this. The plastic high quality and button presses positively really feel inferior. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply I essentially choose the Chromecast’s distant. I’ve already talked about it’s small and slippery, however that’s not the one disadvantage. The present Chromecast distant is extraordinarily minimalist, and whereas I can admire that, it’s virtually too sparse.

On the entrance, there’s the round navigation bar, a again button, a Google Assistant button, Residence, mute, YouTube, Netflix, Energy, and an enter change. On the aspect, you discover a quantity rocker. The Onn 4K Professional has a way more conventional-looking distant, although it’s nonetheless comparatively small and streamlined. It features a Energy button, 4 companion channel buttons, a Magic customizable button, a profile button, a settings button, a reside TV button, quantity rockers, and even up/down channel change buttons.

I don’t need Google to essentially massively redesign the distant’s seems. I favored its rounded corners and clear aesthetics. I additionally like minimalism, however on the very least, a Profile button, Settings key, and a few Magic buttons can be fairly good. In actual fact, I’d like to see Magic buttons substitute companion buttons for companies like Netflix utterly. That’s in all probability not going to occur, however one can dream. If Google made its present YouTube and Netflix buttons into Magic keys and simply lengthened the distant somewhat, they might simply match a number of extra keys and options with out essentially dropping what’s good concerning the present distant.

I really actually like the way in which the Chromecast with Google TV dongle seems proper now. It’s clear and minimalist, just like the distant, and it has some good enhancements over its predecessor, reminiscent of a barely longer built-in HDMI twine. In fact, it’s additionally designed to remain hidden behind the TV set. If Google provides voice-free mics into the physique, this must change.

I’m hoping the subsequent design takes some cues from the Nest Audio and creates one thing that appears affordable and unassuming in a typical front room. I’d additionally like built-in audio system that work even when the TV is off, successfully turning it right into a music participant as nicely. This could be a significant departure from the present design, which is principally an iterative type that traces its roots again to the primary Chromecasts.

Whereas we’re at it, I hope that Google offers us an HDMI port this time, with an included exterior HDMI twine. I dislike the built-in twine on the Chromecast, as HDMI cords are recognized to interrupt occasionally. Proper now, if the HDMI twine will get damaged or broken, the Chromecast with Google TV turns into, at greatest, a doorstop.

Contemplating the Chromecast has existed in a single type or one other since 2013, it’s sure {that a} new Chromecast with Google TV will emerge sooner or later sooner or later. Though Google has but to make clear its plans, there have been various rumors and indicators suggesting that new {hardware} is imminent.

Whereas there have been early whispers in January that the Chromecast would get a brand new mannequin this yr, these rumors didn’t actually warmth up till March. An replace to the Google Residence app revealed a mysterious machine codenamed YTD, which was referenced alongside YTC and YTB, the present 4K and HD fashions.

Shortly thereafter, a brand new report urged that the launch of the Chromecast with Google TV was imminent and would come with upgrades such because the Magic button. Many believed this indicated a Google IO reveal, however that by no means materialized. Fortunately, we now have seen the Magic button and plenty of different modern options floor within the Onn 4K Professional, which means that these rumors are true, however Google is simply taking its time.

For now, we will’t say precisely whenever you’ll see the brand new Chromecast with Google TV, solely that it’s more likely to come this yr. The following mannequin will probably be an improve to the 4K {hardware} solely, although it’s doable Google may launch each updates in the identical timeframe.

Trying into the Chromecast’s historical past, all we will say is {that a} new 4K Chromecast could be very overdue.

• Chromecast (2nd gen)  — September 29, 2015
• Chromecast (third gen) — October 10, 2018
• Chromecast with Google TV 4K (4th gen) — September 20, 2020

The Chromecast household has sometimes launched new generations each two to a few years. In actual fact, the bigger hole between the 2nd and third era was as a result of introduction of the Chromecast Extremely as an interim machine, much like the discharge of the Chromecast with Google TV HD in 2022.

If the Chromecast with Google TV does come out this yr, it is vitally doable it’ll arrive in late summer time, based mostly on their conventional launch home windows, however once more, that’s actually only a guess at this stage.

The brand new Chromecast with Google TV has but to be formally talked about by Google, and whereas the rise in rumors makes a 2024 launch pretty probably, there are not any ensures. When you want a brand new streamer proper now, you may think about selecting up the growing older Chromecast with Google TV ($35.55 at Amazon). Conversely, the Onn 4K Professional ($49.88 at Walmart) is a extra highly effective different if the concept of getting a Walmart retailer model doesn’t flip you off.