I can’t believe it took me 4 months to finally write that review… I bought the Google Streamer in September last year and been testing it since and full disclosure, I just have been lazy… 2025 is here now and publishing the review was one of my resolution (not).

Ironically, the Google streamer is one of my favorite streaming device despite some disappointments, let’s dive-in.

First Impressions

The Google TV streamer 4k arrives in a flimsy cardboard box and while I appreciate the recyclability, it doesn’t make me believe Google is an especially environment-friendly company and it looks cheap. The design of the device itself is a bit uninspired, it’s an awkward bean shape with a tilted angle. The material quality is decent, but the overall design feels somewhat bland, just like most Nest products but the Google Nest Mini with its fabric exterior. Additionally, unlike many other devices, there are no visible LEDs to provide feedback on the streamer’s status.

The remote control is very similar to the previous Chromecast remote, but slightly larger. It’s made of white plastic, which I don’t personally like in my interior. At least, it’s hard to lose and easy to find in the dark.

Specifications and Performance

The Google TV streamer 4k supports most common video formats. While it can handle 4K video playback, the benchmarks suggest that the CPU, essentially a 2021 ARM processor, might struggle with more demanding usage. This is especially disappointing considering the Chromecast with Google TV (the previous version) offered similar performance.

See the benchmark on flatpanelsHD (screenshot below)

Another letdown is the Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 is a minimum now Wi-Fi 7 is available.

Dealbreaker for audiophiles, the streamer doesn’t support DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD audio passthrough.

Read Also: Google TV Streamer does not support Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, or DTS:X audio passthrough (AFTV News)

Video Formats	HDR10 HDR10+ HLG Dolby Vision
Audio Formats	Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby Atmos
CPU	4x ARM A55 2.0GHz
RAM	4GB
Storage	32GB (8GB for the system)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5GHz) Bluetooth 5.1 Ethernet via RJ45 1Gbps

More specs on the Google Store website

UI and Software

The setup process is straightforward and can be done entirely through your phone using a QR code. If you have a Google account and another Android TV device, the setup process is even easier as it can automatically transfer your settings. Easy but not without issues despite owning a Pixel phone, it couldn’t always correctly display the on-screen buttons. Huge bummer. This highlights a lack of seamlessness within the Google ecosystem, especially compared to Apple. (and I’m not an Apple fan-boy)

The UI itself looks great, despite being welcome with a huge promotional content but for a TV show so still relevant and appreciate compared to recent campaigns on Roku which felt way more intrusive. While the UI isn’t technically in 4K resolution, it appears sharper than the experience on some competing devices like the Nvidia Shield TV, possibly due to a more efficient rendering engine.

Read also: Google TV Streamer: UI not in native 4K? (Reddit)

(quick) Comparison with Google Chromecast with Google TV

The Google TV streamer 4k offers similar CPU performance to the Chromecast with Google TV, but with double the RAM and overall feels snappier. However, the Chromecast with Google TV is arguably more portable due to its smaller size, making it a better choice for travel.

This begs the question of who the Google TV streamer 4k is designed for. It doesn’t offer a significant leap in performance over the Chromecast with Google TV, and its bulky design makes it less portable. It’s a decent streaming device, but it doesn’t quite justify its existence considering the competition.

Conclusion