It's been four years since Google launched its Chromecast streaming device with Google TV, and the company hasn't said anything about its plans to introduce the next model. Thanks to recently leaked photos, it's likely that the “Google TV Streamer” will be Google's next model to compete with the best streaming devices.
The leaked images come from a 9to5Google article that shows what the device and its redesigned remote will look like. Not only is Google ditching the “Chromecast” name, but it also appears to be ditching the classic device that plugs into the back of the TV and is instead adopting a wedge-shaped design that shows up entirely underneath the TV.
Unlike other streaming devices like the Apple TV 4K (2022) or the Amazon Fire TV Cube, the Google TV Streamer looks slimmer and features a sloped top in a minimalist design similar to other Google products. The image also shows that the device will come with two cables, which we assume will be power and HDMI cables.
The Google TV streamer will also come with a new remote that looks similar to the one that comes with the Chromecast with Google TV, but it’s now longer and has a redesigned button panel. Its classic D-Pad remains the same, as do its YouTube and Netflix shortcut buttons, but the big differences are its volume buttons, which now appear on the front of the remote instead of the side, and then there’s the addition of Google’s “Magic” button, which can enable custom shortcuts.
We’ve been reporting on rumors of a new Chromecast with Google TV since they surfaced in January 2023, and back in April it looked like it could be coming soon and come with a new remote. And with Google’s next hardware event approaching, we could be getting to know the Google TV streamer sooner than you think.
What do we want to see?
While these images don’t represent an official announcement, Google’s upcoming hardware event on August 13 could be the day we see the new streaming service, alongside the already-announced Google Pixel 9 Pro. The images are an exciting sneak peek at the Google TV streamer, but they don’t point to any new features we can expect, so there are a few upgrades we’re hoping to see.
When we last expressed what we wanted to see in the next-generation Chromecast, we highlighted that the upcoming model would need a significant storage upgrade, as the Chromecast’s limited 8GB can be quickly taken up by apps. We also pointed out Google Gemini’s growing presence in Android products, and since it’s phasing out Google Assistant, it would make sense for Gemini to take on the role of designated voice assistant for the Google TV streamer.
The good news is that you won't have to wait much longer for an announcement, as Google's next hardware event is just a few weeks away. Four years is a long time to wait, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that the Google TV Streamer lives up to expectations.
