The Google TV Streamer Is Excellent — But It's Not the Whole Story
Google has had a long and complicated relationship with its streaming hardware lineup. Over the years, the Chromecast evolved from a basic casting dongle into a fully fledged smart TV platform with the launch of the Chromecast with Google TV. Then, in 2024, Google took a different direction entirely and released the Google TV Streamer — a set-top box format that trades the iconic dongle design for something far more living-room-friendly. And while the Google TV Streamer is genuinely impressive, there's a growing chorus of fans, enthusiasts, and everyday users who feel something important has been left behind.
The most used Google product for many loyal users over the past decade isn't the Pixel phone, Nest Hub, or even Gmail. It's the humble Chromecast. And specifically, the Chromecast with Google TV. Small, affordable, powerful enough for most use cases, and easy to tuck behind any TV — it hit a sweet spot that the newer, bulkier Streamer simply doesn't replicate. So the question worth asking is: why hasn't Google released a proper Chromecast successor alongside it?
What Made the Chromecast with Google TV So Special
When Google launched the Chromecast with Google TV back in 2020, it felt like the company had finally cracked the code. Previous Chromecast devices were essentially casting receivers — you'd send content to them from your phone or laptop, and they'd display it on your TV. They were clever, but they weren't truly standalone streaming devices in the way that a Roku stick or Amazon Fire TV was.
The Chromecast with Google TV changed all of that. For the first time, you could navigate apps, browse content, and control everything directly from a bundled remote. The Google TV interface layered on top of Android TV was a revelation — bringing together recommendations from across streaming services into a single, unified home screen. The device was fast enough, affordable enough, and compact enough to appeal to a massive range of users.
Google later released a more affordable Chromecast with Google TV (HD) variant in 2022, bringing the experience down to an even lower price point. These small dongles became household staples, plugging directly into HDMI ports and disappearing neatly behind television sets without cluttering entertainment units.
What the Google TV Streamer Brings to the Table
The Google TV Streamer is undeniably a step forward in terms of raw capability. As a set-top box, it offers more processing power, an ethernet port for a stable wired internet connection, a USB-C port for added flexibility, and support for features like Matter and Thread — making it a potential smart home hub as well as a streaming device. The remote is refined, the interface is snappy, and the overall package feels premium.
For users who want the best possible Google TV experience and don't mind the additional footprint on their entertainment unit, the Streamer is an easy recommendation. It's the kind of device that power users, home theater enthusiasts, and smart home adopters will genuinely love. The shift away from the dongle format also means better thermal performance and room for more capable hardware inside.
But here's the thing: not everyone needs all of that. And not everyone wants a box sitting on their shelf.
The Case for a Modern Chromecast Dongle
There remains a huge market for compact, plug-and-play streaming dongles. Travel frequently? A dongle fits in a laptop bag and turns any hotel TV into your own personal home screen in seconds. Have multiple TVs in your home? Buying two or three streamers adds up fast, but smaller dongles remain affordable enough to spread across rooms. Renting a property and don't want a device sitting out permanently? A dongle tucks away neatly when not in use.
Beyond convenience, the compact format has a psychological appeal. It's unobtrusive. It doesn't demand shelf space. It doesn't require you to rearrange your entertainment setup. For the millions of people who just want a simple, reliable way to access Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Spotify on their TV, a modern Chromecast dongle with Google TV baked in would be perfect.
- Plug-and-play simplicity that requires no additional cables or shelf space
- Ideal for travel, secondary TVs, and rental properties
- Lower price point makes multi-room setups far more accessible
- Builds on an existing, beloved product line with years of brand loyalty behind it
- Keeps Google competitive with Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku Express in the budget dongle segment
What a Chromecast Follow-Up Could Look Like
A modern Chromecast successor wouldn't need to reinvent the wheel. It would simply need to take the best elements of the existing Chromecast with Google TV hardware and update them for 2025 and beyond. That means a faster processor capable of handling 4K HDR content without lag, Wi-Fi 6 support for improved wireless performance, and ideally a refined remote control that builds on the solid foundation Google already established.
Google could even differentiate the two product lines clearly: the Streamer for power users and smart home enthusiasts, and a refreshed Chromecast dongle for casual users, budget shoppers, and those who value portability above all else. This two-tier approach is exactly what competitors like Amazon and Roku have done successfully for years, offering both premium boxes and affordable sticks to cover the full spectrum of consumer needs.
The Bottom Line
The Google TV Streamer is a fantastic product, and it absolutely deserves its place in the Google hardware lineup. But loving the Streamer doesn't mean forgetting what made the Chromecast with Google TV so widely adopted and deeply appreciated. Google has an opportunity to serve both audiences — and given the brand loyalty that the Chromecast name still commands, leaving that segment without a proper successor feels like a missed opportunity. Here's hoping Google is already working on exactly that.