Chromecast with Google TV review: Make your stupid TV smart

Want to get more out of your TV? Well, the newest kid on the block, Google’s Chromecast (now with Google TV) is available in India for Rs. 6,399. Google TV is a user interface that runs on Android TV (Android TV is a smart TV operating system based on the Android operating system) with a different look and feel. It comes pre-installed on the latest Chromecast, which makes dumb TVs smart and could become home to all your streaming apps and more.

It’s not the first time Google has launched Chromecast in India, but it is the first model to come with Google TV. The Chromecast now brings a dedicated TV UI right to your big screen. The Chromecast with Google TV is a standalone device with a Bluetooth-enabled remote control and is powered by the Google Assistant.

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The Chromecast includes a very good remote control, can stream 4K content (60Hz frame rate) and supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound. The best part of Chromecast is the unified home screen, now known as Google TV. It’s relatively easy to browse and view different apps. Google Assistant integration has also improved significantly over its predecessors.

The Chromecast competes head-to-head with Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The big advantage for the Chromecast over the Fire TV Stick is that the user interface is more intuitive, ad-free, and provides much better search results. If you’re going deep into the YouTube ecosystem, Chromecast is perfect for you and your TV.

Let’s set it up

Setting up the Chromecast with Google TV is extremely easy. Simply connect the stick to your TV/monitor/projector’s HDMI port and power it up with the included adapter and cable. After that, all you have to do is follow a few simple steps on the TV, connect to your favorite wireless network, enter your Google account details and voila. That’s it. If you don’t have an Android smartphone handy, don’t worry because the remote control is here to take over.

One of the best remotes in the business

Let me tell you one thing. The remote control that comes with this Chromecast is best in class. It is neither too high nor is it strong. It has a very comfortable feel in hand. The icing on the cake is the clicker function with a four-way control pad arranged in a circle. In the center of the circle is a select button. Then there are two rows of buttons at the bottom – Back, Google Assistant, Home, Mute, YouTube & Netflix. There are also power and input buttons (to switch back and forth from Chromecast).

Easily accessible volume buttons are located on the right side of the device. It’s a compact and curved remote that gets the job done.

Google TV

Google TV integration eliminates the need to rely on your phone, tablet, or computer to access all apps, stream content, chat with the Google Assistant, and more. You can search and control the interface with the brand new remote control.

Google TV has over 6,500 apps including all your favorite streaming apps – YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Voot and more – music apps like Spotify, Gaana and TuneIn, lifestyle apps like Loup, health and Fitness apps like Workout At Home, cult.fit, Gymondo, business apps like AnyDesk (for remote desktop), FX File Explorer and many more.

The Google TV UI also features a content-centric home screen (instead of the Apple TV’s app-centric home screen) and displays rows of movies and TV shows. The top bar contains search, the For You section, and tabs for movies and TV shows and apps.

The For You section has movie and TV show suggestions (based on my preferences). In the For You section, I can see what’s new on my favorite streaming apps, resume shows, and view content that might interest me.

Sometimes the UI lagged, especially when switching between apps. That wasn’t enough to put off my wonderful experience with the new Chromecast. It might not be as snappy as Amazon’s Fire TV Stick interface, but it does a good job on its own.

The built-in Google Assistant gets the job done without hiccups either. The function, which can be called up via a black button on the remote control, is almost flawless. I asked Google Assistant several questions. From “Play NDTV on YouTube” to “What’s the weather like?” and from “Open SonyLIV” to just “No Time To Die”. The results were exactly what I asked for.

Saying “no time to die” brought up a page where I could watch the latest James Bond film (it was automatically told me where to watch it, this time on Amazon Prime Video) and its trailer and the Read description and details from cast and crew. It also threw up similar action films. I also asked about the latest India-West Indies T20I, which threw up the scores with no problem.

Basically anything you can do with the Google Assistant on your Android smartphone, you can now do on your TV through the Chromecast device.

Last but not least, there is also an ambient mode. This mode allows you to enjoy a slideshow of photos (chosen by you) from your Google Photos library when Chromecast is not in use.

Verdict: Is this the streaming device to buy?

So far, the Chromecast could only be controlled via a smartphone. The game has changed with the new Chromecast with Google TV. With a very good remote control, Google has finally caught up with the competition.

The problem is that Google priced the Chromecast a bit expensive with Google TV. at €6,399 it is significantly more expensive than the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (RRP of €5,999 but usually discounted at €4,499) and on par with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which is included in price €6,499. There’s also competition from Xiaomi and Realme, which come at a lower price but omit many features. Xiaomi’s Mi Box 4K comes into play €3,699 while the Realme 4k Smart Google TV Stick retails €3,999.

The Google TV interface is cleaner than the rest, the remote control is great, and the performance is pretty good. Chromecast with Google TV is also easy to use. A great advantage of Google Chromecast is that you can cast apps from your smartphone. You can even mirror your Google Chrome browser tab to your TV.

One wishes Google had more competitive pricing for the Chromecast with Google TV. Prices aside, the new Chromecast is a pretty big contender in today’s industry. For a 4K streaming device, Google Chromecast should be at the top of your list.

In the end, it may come down to which ecosystem you are more embedded in and which you prefer more. If your house is full of Alexa products, you might prefer the Fire TV Stick. If you’re a big fan of Google Assistant, then Chromecast with Google TV is the way to go.

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