Google Chromecast 4K 2024 to launch soon with performance upgrade and new remote control

The Chromecast 4K with Google TV was launched in 2020 as a competitor to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. In 2022, the device was joined by a less powerful 1080p model, and customers are still waiting for a successor. According to the latest information from 9to5Google, the wait is almost over, as Google is set to unveil a new model soon, which will come with a revised remote control.

Google is said to have shifted the volume buttons from the side to the front of the remote control and is introducing a new button with a star symbol that could be used as a user-programmable favorites button. The touch-sensitive scroll wheel will be retained, as will the oval shape and the integrated microphone for voice control of the HDMI dongle. While the current model is still based on Android 12, it can be assumed that the new model will be delivered with Android 14 and will thus have a new home screen and an improved audio output switcher.

There is still no further information on the hardware of the HDMI dongle. 9to5Google speculates that Google will replace the Amlogic S905X3 12 nm ARM chip with the newer Amlogic S905X5 and its four Cortex-A53 efficiency cores. The newer 6 nm chip reduces power consumption by up to 50%, while the Mali-G310 GPU is also able to decode the AV1 codec. Other specs may also be expanded because with only 2 GB RAM and 8 GB flash storage, the current Chromecast 4K offers rather limited working memory and storage space for apps.