Google TV Streamer (4K) with smart home hub functionality launches for $99

Ahead of its Made by Google event scheduled for August 13, Google has announced the Google TV Streamer (4K), its newest TV streaming device for households. The new streamer is bigger, better, and costs more than the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) (available on Amazon for $48.90).

The Google TV Streamer (4K) comes with a brand new design, one that changes where it would be placed in your home. Unlike the Chromecast with Google TV which has a dongle-like design and plugs directly into the back or side of your TV, the Google TV Streamer (4K) will sit in front of your TV. This means owners will need an HDMI cable to plug it into their TV. 

Shaped like a giant pill, the streaming device is made from 65% recycled plastic and is available in Hazel (Google Store exclusive) and Porcelain with a matching remote. The remote, while similar to that of the Chromecast with Google TV, is larger and comes with a handful of new features as well as additional buttons on the face.

Google's new streaming device is powered by a new unnamed processor that's 22% faster than the one in the Chromecast with Google TV (4K). It also comes with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of memory, which is a significant upgrade when compared to the 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage available on the Chromecast with Google TV (4K). With more RAM and storage, owners should experience faster app load times and also have more space for their favorite apps.

The Google TV Streamer (4K) supports AV1, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. It also has support for Dolby Atmos which means you don't need an AV receiver for sound decoding. The redesigned voice remote has a customizable button and support for Find My Remote. With the press of a button on the back of the streamer, the remote will ring so you can easily find it.

Google says the streamer can be paired with Nest Speakers or with the Pixel Buds Pro with spatial audio. In addition to streaming shows and movies, the Google TV Streamer (4K) doubles as a Matter hub and a Thread border router. Google has also made it easier to control smart home devices from the TV with the new home panel.

For connectivity, the Google TV Streamer (4K) has dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, and a USB-C port at the back of the device for power and data. It also has an ethernet port and an HDMI 2.1 port. While you will have to provide your own HDMI 2.1 cable, Google ships the streamer with a power adapter, USB-C cable, and batteries for the remote.

At $99.99, the Google TV Streamer is pactically double the price of the Chromecast with Google TV 4K. It is already listed for pre-order and will be available on September 24.