Best Buy sold someone a third-gen Chromecast before its announcement (Update: More pics)

Update, 01/10/2018, 05:20 ET: More images of the new Google Chromecast have leaked via 9to5Google. Though it’s not clear where the photos are from, the device appears to be the same as the one previously leaked, and with the same product box. Check ’em out below.

Previous coverage, 29/09/2018, 21:35 ET: After an updated Chromecast with the inclusion of Bluetooth and likely better Wi-Fi reception passed through the FCC last month, it became clear that we’d probably see updated hardware at Google’s October 9 event. Well, the wait is over because Best Buy accidentally sold the third-gen streaming device to a customer before it was even announced.

As you can see from the image below, someone on Reddit was able to walk into their local Best Buy and buy the new device. When they were being checked out, the cashier wasn’t able to ring up the Chromecast initially because the store’s system said it wasn’t to be sold until October 9. The employee bypassed the warning and sold it using the outgoing device’s SKU because both devices were listed for $35.

The product’s packaging doesn’t look too different compared to the outgoing version’s, but there are some distinct differences between the Chromecast hardware. While the device keeps its puck shape with an attached HDMI plug, the Chromecast ditches the magnetic portion that helps users manage the cable and swapped out the Chrome logo found on the top of the hardware for Google’s “G” icon found on the back of Pixel smartphones.

The third-gen Chromecast is reportedly slightly thicker than the current model. It also replaces the outgoing device’s glossy plastic build for one with a matte finish. And lastly, Google decided to stick with microUSB instead of moving to USB-C to power the Chromecast.

Unfortunately, the Reddit user hasn’t found any proof of the inclusion of Bluetooth or any other changes. They weren’t able to actually use the device as the Home app states that the Chromecast needs an update first. It’s likely that the streaming hardware will remain useless until Google officially announces the device.

What do you think about this new Chromecast? Were you expecting more from the third-gen product? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!