Looking for an HD streamer that doesn’t break the bank? Our Chromecast review breaks down why it’s still one of the best value products in streaming video.
Sometimes, a product is so far ahead of its time that it can last for years without requiring a substantial redesign or going out of style. That was the case for the iPhone and iPod, and the same is true for the Chromecast – the HD streaming video player from Google that will make any TV smarter and more user-friendly almost instantly. Released in 2018, the third generation Chromecast works by hooking directly into the HDMI port on the back of your TV, drawing power from its USB port and can then act as a receiver for streaming video links sent from your phone or tablet. The magic happens when you press the Google Cast button that’s built into most streaming video apps which sends a link to the Chromecast and immediately starts streaming. It’s an incredibly intuitive system when you use it, and circumvents the need for a discrete remote control. While Chromecast provides a lot of value for its absurdly cheap $35 (£30, AU$59) price point, there are a few things that could be improved — like, importantly, the fact that it doesn’t stream 4K content. For that you’ll need the twice-as-expensive Chromecast Ultra, Roku Streaming Stick+ or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Also, like we mentioned before, it’s really not all that different from the 2nd Gen streaming device that – in Google’s own words – is only about 15% slower than the newest version. None of these issues detract from the extensive appeal of the Chromecast. It remains one of the best streaming devices we’ve ever used and should be a staple in every AV enthusiast’s entertainment center. The Chromecast’s calling card is the ability to sync with your mobile phone, tablet and PC. Few devices work as seamlessly with your electronics as Chromecast does, and any that do require you to be bought into a particular family of products. Chromecast vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Chromecast is by far the cheaper streaming stick and can outperform Amazon’s streaming devices, thanks to its new-and-improved 802.11ac Wi-Fi antenna. Amazon’s streamer comes with a remote, but also relies heavily on a subscription to Amazon Prime to function at its fullest potential. That said, if you are an Amazon Prime subscriber you won’t be able to watch the service on Google’s streaming stick – Amazon’s mobile app doesn’t support Google Cast functionality. Chromecast vs. Roku streaming devices: Here’s a story of David and the Goliath. The circular Chromecast does much of what the Roku streaming sticks do, though it depends more on your phone, tablet and PC to keep pace. Roku is known for having thousands of channels of content and universal search functionality that allows you to search multiple sources at once, plus 4K. Google has adopted the latter into the latest version of its Chromecast app, but doesn’t have near the amount of channels Roku has. If you’re looking for full-size streaming device with access to any and every streaming service, Roku can’t be beat. If you’re looking for a simplistic solution to putting audio and video on your TV, however, Chromecast is the way to go. Chromecast vs. the Apple TV 4K: the newest Apple TV 4K, like Amazon’s streamer, favors its own ecosystem, at least in terms of hardware. On the software side of things, Apple has opened up its TV app store to third-party developers, making it a bit more well-rounded than the Chromecast.
