Google-branded Android TV stick passes through FCC (Update: Gone)

Update 4/11/2018 at 2:50 P.M. EST: The mysterious Google-branded media stick that hit the ‘net yesterday is gone from the FCC website that originally hosted the pics. Now, in place of the images printed below, is an image of the same device, just missing the Google branding. Curiously, there are also some new documents talking about confidentiality and other legal ramifications.

It seems likely that someone was supposed to upload pics of the device without the Google branding for the FCC site, but instead uploaded the branded images. So the way things are on the FCC site now is how it was supposed to be yesterday. WHOOPs, too late now.

With Google I/O right around the corner, it seems possible that this is an Android TV stick and it will make its debut at the Google developer’s event. Or is this some elaborate hoax?

Original Article: Google I/O 2018 isn’t far away, but it looks like the FCC may have spoilt one announcement, in the form of an Android TV stick.

The listing (spotted on r/AndroidTV) shows photos of a Google-branded Android TV stick, built by Shenzhen SEI Robotics. In fact, the device bears a strong resemblance to the Chromecast, albeit with a power adapter and Android TV capabilities.

As for specifications, the TV stick stacks up well to existing boxes, featuring 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 4K/60fps support and an AmLogic S905X chipset (quad-core Cortex-A53, Mali-450 GPU). In terms of software, it seems like the device is running Android 8.0, according to one FCC testing report.

Enjoy playing content off external storage? You might be disappointed, as the Google Android TV stick doesn’t seem to pack a full-sized USB port.

The user manual also shows support for the Google Assistant via a button on the remote.

Based purely on the specs , one would assume that we’re looking at an Android TV box such as the Mi Box. But it’s clear from the photos that Google is going for more of a Chromecast-style form factor.

Aside from an actual launch date, the price is a big mystery. At $69, the Chromecast Ultra already comes in at roughly the same price as the Mi Box 4K (although the newer Mi Box 4 family is out now). So unless Google is phasing out the Chromecast Ultra in favour of the new stick, we’re expecting Google’s Android TV device to be more expensive.