Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) review
Our Verdict
The new Google Chromecast is fast and intuitive, just the attractive fiddling dongle is behind the times.
For
- Fast functioning
- Inexpensive
- Intuitive interface
Against
- Ho-hum, stripped-down design
- No significant improvements over second gen
Tom's Guide Verdict
The new Google Chromecast is fast and intuitive, simply the attractive little dongle is behind the times.
Pros
- +
Fast operation
- +
Cheap
- +
Intuitive interface
Cons
- -
Boring, stripped-down design
- -
No significant improvements over second gen
The Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) sits as the entry-level casting-just selection in Google's streaming arsenal. It originally arrived without much hype from Google, and information technology's pretty easy to encounter why. Notwithstanding one of the best streaming devices, this Google Chromecast review will show how model is most identical to the 2nd-gen Google Chromecast model from 2015, just it'southward a little faster.
The third gen Chromecast has besides lost a very handy physical characteristic, and information technology has most zilch to show to reflect iii years of hardware advancement in the streaming space.
This Google Chromecast (third Generation) review volition explain why it'southward still worthy, but check out our Chromecast with Google Goggle box review to see why the latest Google streaming device is worthy that lilliputian chip more.
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- What is Google Chromecast?
If you've got a 1080p Television set kicking around in your kitchen or invitee room, and the set up doesn't have smart features built-in, the Chromecast is nevertheless one of the best Google Dwelling house compatible devices for inexpensively watching Netflix, Hulu, et al. on a big screen. Otherwise, Google's attractive little dongle is behind the times.
Google Chromecast (third Generation) specs
Ports: microUSB (power), HDMI (video out)
Resolution: Upwards to 1080p
Wi-Fi: 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5GHz)
Measurements: 2 x two 10 0.v inches
Weight: i.4 oz
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Price and availability
The Google Chromecast costs $30 and it's available practically everywhere, from Amazon to Best Buy, and (of course) Google.
Also, we've got our eyes on the rumored Google Chromecast iv 'Sabrina'. Yes, that's an interesting code-name. More interestingly, it could ditch the whole Chromecast interface for Android TV. And it could piece of work with a remote, something that the Chromecast never has before.
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Pattern
Every bit earlier, the Chromecast is a circular dongle with a 2-inch circumference that attaches to the back of your TV. But now, instead of coming in a drove of vibrant colors with a absurd, screw pattern on the forepart, it comes in your choice of patently, boring black or plain, boring white. (Information technology sports a rather tasteful little "G" logo, either way.)
On 1 side, in that location's a born HDMI cablevision, while the other hosts a micro USB port for power. (The Chromecast comes with both a micro USB cablevision and a power adapter, although yous probably won't need the latter, unless yous have a very, very old, USB-less TV.) There's also a button you can press for a hard reboot, although I never needed this.
Considering the Chromecast lives behind your TV, its physical blueprint isn't all that important. Merely the device'south latest edition did lose i of my favorite features: a small magnet on the HDMI cablevision that let you tuck the device neatly against itself. Now, the Chromecast dangles helplessly. This is probably not a big deal, although I wonder if gravity will stress the HDMI cable over time.
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Interface
The best reason to buy the Chromecast, as e'er, is that it has the simplest, easiest-to-sympathize interface of any streaming device on the market. That's considering the Chromecast doesn't require you to larn a whole new Os or play around with an idiosyncratic remote control. Instead, you control the unabridged experience from your phone, tablet or computer.
By installing the Google Dwelling house app on your mobile device or past clicking the Cast option in a figurer-based Chrome browser, you can simply "cast" whatever content you're watching onto your Tv. This isn't a form of screen-mirroring. Instead, your phone is but instructing the Chromecast to go pick up a signal directly from the content provider (Netflix, for instance). This may seem like a subtle point, but true screen-mirroring requires daisy-chaining devices together and often results in a subpar experience.
The all-time reason to buy the Chromecast, every bit always, is that it has the simplest, easiest-to-sympathize interface of any streaming device on the market place.
Controlling the Chromecast is as easy as any given app makes it. For example, in Netflix, all yous have to do is open up the content y'all want to sentry, press the Cast button and await for your media to appear on your Television. From there, you can pause, play, fast-frontwards, rewind and adjust book via your telephone. The process is but as straightforward now as information technology was when the Chromecast debuted, only it's as well quite a flake faster at present.
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Performance
The just significant departure that Google advertises between the third-gen Chromecast and its second-gen predecessor is better hardware. This is supposed to make the new gadget up to 15 pct faster than the old one.
Because 15 percent is not a night-and-twenty-four hours increase, and because the old device wasn't tiresome to begin with, this is not piece of cake to examination. So, I tried to evaluate the difference using a stopwatch, a general sense of of what Hard disk vs. SD resolutions look like, and a collection of videos on Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.
When I watched Thor: Ragnarok on Netflix, the movie took 11 seconds to offset and 41 seconds to attain 1080p on the 2nd-gen Chromecast, while the same moving-picture show took 9 seconds to start and 41 seconds to reach 1080p on the third-gen device. That'southward a xx percent difference in get-go fourth dimension but simply a three percent difference in optimization time.
The contrast in Hulu was a picayune more striking: 15 seconds to start, 20 to optimize on the second-gen machine and nine seconds to start, 19 seconds to optimize on the 3rd-gen machine. That'southward a forty percent difference in start speed but only a 5 percent difference in optimization.
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Information technology's a little bit harder to pinpoint resolution on YouTube, because a lot of content comes courtesy of phone cameras shooting under less-than-ideal lighting atmospheric condition. But videos from this service took 12 seconds to start on a second-gen Chromecast and nine seconds to offset on a third-gen version. That's a difference of 25 percent, even so in backlog of Google's claims.
If anything, Google undersold how much faster the new Chromecast is. But it's too worth pointing out that the very greatest difference I observed between the two models was 6 seconds. If you were to stream one video per twenty-four hour period, that'd price you well-nigh 37 minutes over the course of a whole year — almost enough time for an extra prime number-time drama but not that much in the grand scheme of things
Although this is harder to quantify, colors as well looked a footling richer on the tertiary-gen Chromecast, particularly the deep blacks and otherworldly dejection in sci-fi films like Star Expedition Across.
Of course, the colour on the Chromecast isn't anywhere close to what you lot'd get with a 4K HDR device — which is, honestly, the route I was expecting Google would go. The Chromecast Ultra ($70/£69) supports 4K HDR content, but that device'due south power-consumption specs make setup inconvenient. Information technology's also now a bit expensive in comparing to other 4K HDR devices, like the Roku Premiere ($40, or £lx for the closest specced model available in the UK).
In fact, the Chromecast'due south 1080p output is arguably its biggest weakness. While 1080p TVs still make upwardly the majority of sets worldwide, their reign could come up to an terminate equally early on as side by side year. If you lot just bought a make-new 4K smart TV, in that location'south no reason to get a third-gen Chromecast for that set — and even if you didn't, it's meliorate to spend the actress $5-$35 on something a little more than future-proof.
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Search
Using the Google Home app, you lot can search for content beyond a few dozen apps, including heavy hitters like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Vudu. The app does a pretty practiced chore of directing you toward apps you already have installed on your phone or tablet. Google Home hardly approaches the subtlety of an Apple tree Tv set search (which can discover movies based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings or TV shows based on a single, obscure guest star) or the breadth of a Roku search (which blazes through hundreds of different content providers). Simply information technology'll get the chore done for ordinary Television receiver and movies.
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Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Content and Apps
Considering Chromecast released its SDK to the public a few years back, but about every major provider offers Chromecast functionality. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, Vudu, Sling Television set and the list goes on.
Chromecast owners with Amazon Prime number Video have lived through the ordeal that Burn Tv set and Roku owners who wanted HBO Max endured in 2020. Yes, years ago, Amazon and Google spent forever negotiating to bring Amazon Video support to the Chromecast.
The only hassle left is that Peacock is still not on Burn down Goggle box, one of the more popular streaming services in America.
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I nice matter about Chromecast is that Google's audiovisual apps have casting functionality congenital right in. If you want to brandish your Google Photos on a TV, listen to your Google Play Music, or evidence off your library of Google Play Movies and Tv, all yous accept to do is open up the app and press the Cast button. Almost other streaming devices offer similar functionality, only there's commonly a bit of tedious media-server setup involved. However, Google Play Music won't let you cast music from your personal collection — merely stuff yous've purchased through Google.
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): Bottom line
The new Chromecast is a divisive streaming gadget. Information technology'south easy to like it for the intuitive interface and wide variety of content, and the speed improvement is noticeable. However, the new Chromecast doesn't innovate in any real way.
Overall, as this Google Chromecast review has shown, the latest edition feels behind the times, and it's lost one good characteristic forth the way. But for $35/£30, it'southward still a very capable 1080p streaming gadget. Pick it up if you like the interface and take a full-HD TV that needs some love. Otherwise, your money is better spent on a 4K HDR device like the $xl Roku Premiere, which volition provide better picture quality for a longer period.
Credit: Tom's Guide
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/google-chromecast-3rd-generation,review-5843.html
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