Will there ever be a new Google Chromecast with Google TV?

The Chromecast with Google TV was a major game-changer when it first arrived back in 2020. It represented the evolution of Chromecast from a simple casting device into a powerful Android TV streamer with a new Google TV interface, a remote, and plenty of other new features. Four years later, the streamer still works quite well but is definitely starting to show its age. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to review the Onn 4K Pro.

This device had me excited, as it seemed like a foregone conclusion the next Chromecast might offer many of the same features like a remote finder and hands-free voice control. Then Google announced the Google TV Streamer, a device that is a definite upgrade to the Chromecast but takes a form that’s quite a bit different from what we previously knew and loved. So where there ever be a new Chromecast again? Here’s what we know.

Will there be a new Chromecast with Google TV?

When I first made this post, I said it was likely the Chromecast would continue on this year with a new model, even if it was less certain what it might be called. This is for the most part still true. Google has announced it is retiring the Chromecast line in favor of the new Google TV Streamer. For now, this is a 4K-only option, but with 1080p TVs falling out of fashion Google probably isn’t in a hurry to roll out a cheaper HD model.

The new Google TV Streamer is the spiritual successor to the Chromecast with Google TV, sharing a similar remote and more. It’s also much more expensive with a starting price of $99, which is a big departure from the cheaper nature of the Chromecast. That makes it an interesting product that has a lot of potential, but it also means that the days of cheap Google streamers appear to be ending. Google is now positioning its streaming device as a more premium product, complete with a built-in Matter router and more.

The Google TV Streamer is a great device, but it’s still quite a bit different from the Chromecasts of old. The bigger question is if we could ever see the Chromecast return again. While Google makes it clear they are moving on, never say never. It’s possible that Google could eventually release a cheaper device if trends change, and such a product might still bear the Chromecast name in order to separate it from the more expensive nature of the Google TV Streamer. That said, we wouldn’t hold our breath.

Should you wait for a new Chromecast with Google TV or what’s your best option?

The new Chromecast with Google TV may never happen, as it’s clear Google is moving on to the much more premium (and expensive) Google TV Streamer. So yeah, there’s no reason to wait and hold out home for a new Chromecast. Need a new streaming device now? If you are simply looking for something that works well and is affordable, I highly recommend the Onn 4K TV Pro for those in the states. It might lack the polish of the Google TV Streamer but it’s half the price and offers a few features the other doesn’t, like voice control.

You also have the option of picking up a Chromecast with Google TV () on sale. I wouldn’t pay $50 for it, but I recently saw the 4K model at my local big box store on sale for just $25. At that price, the Chromecast is an absolute steal. Of course, there are also plenty of options outside of Camp Android, including the Roku Streaming Stick 4K ($49 at Amazon), Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max ($79 at Amazon), and the Apple TV 4K ($129.99 at Amazon).

If Chromecast ever returned, here’s what I’d want to see

The Chromecast may never return, but if it does, I’d like something that’s a bit more like the Onn 4K Pro, leaving the Google TV Streamer as a product that’s focused on a more upscale experience.

Hands-free voice control

The addition of hands-free voice control is one of the best features of the Onn 4K Pro, and it’s made using my Chromecast with Google TV just a little less satisfying now that I know what’s possible. It’s extremely handy to have voice commands to quickly pause or unpause whatever you’re watching without having to fumble for a remote. This is especially true in my family, as I have three kids, and it can get pretty hectic. Let’s just say remotes go missing a lot.

Beyond using it to pause or unpause, you can also rewind specific time intervals with your voice, you can ask it to put on specific platforms or even a specific show on a platform, ask it basic questions, and so much more.

A remote control finder

As I mentioned, I have three kids, and the remote often goes missing. (If I’m actually honest, I also wander off with it and leave it in random rooms…) That was one of the things I didn’t like about the Chromecast with Google TV. I’ve used other streamers and DVRs in the past that had “find my remote” functionality, but Google just flat-out didn’t offer this feature. Even worse, they made the remote small and slippery. It’s almost like they want you to lose it and buy another (puts on a tin foil hat). A new Chromecast would absolutely need this feature.

A redesigned remote with at least one Magic button, but I’d prefer two!

It’s not just the lack of a remote finder that I find annoying about the current Chromecast remote. In my Onn 4K Pro review, I noted that the remote felt cheaper than the Chromecast with Google TV remote, even though it was more functional. I stand by this. The plastic quality and button presses definitely feel inferior. However, that doesn’t mean I necessarily prefer the Chromecast’s remote. I’ve already mentioned it’s small and slippery, but that’s not the only drawback. The current Chromecast remote is extremely minimalist, and while I can appreciate that, it’s almost too sparse.

On the front, there’s the circular navigation bar, a back button, a Google Assistant button, Home, mute, YouTube, Netflix, Power, and an input switch. On the side, you find a volume rocker. The Onn 4K Pro has a much more conventional-looking remote, though it’s still relatively small and streamlined. It includes a Power button, four partner channel buttons, a Magic customizable button, a profile button, a settings button, a live TV button, volume rockers, and even up/down channel change buttons.

I don’t want Google to necessarily massively redesign the remote’s looks. I liked its rounded corners and clean aesthetics. I also like minimalism, but at the very least, a Profile button, Settings key, and some Magic buttons would be pretty nice. In fact, I’d love to see Magic buttons replace partner buttons for services like Netflix completely. That’s probably not going to happen, but one can dream. If Google made its current YouTube and Netflix buttons into Magic keys and just lengthened the remote a little, they could easily fit a few more keys and features without necessarily losing what’s good about the current remote.

To be fair, Google has already redesigned this remote for the Google TV Streamer, and it’s even compatible with the older Chromecast with Google TV. Still, not even that version fully hits the mark in my opinion.