Google TV Streamer is now two years old: is it still worth getting?

The Google TV Streamer was a big swing when it arrived in 2024, marking the end of the company’s Chromecast legacy. It not only dropped the Chromecast name, but also delivered a much more premium experience.

I’ve personally owned Google’s latest streamer for all but the first six months of the product’s lifecycle, and while it’s not perfect, I’ve mostly enjoyed the experience. Of course, two years is a long time in the tech world. While there are rumors that a new model could eventually surface in the not-too-distant future, the bigger question isn’t just how well the hardware holds up. Is the Google TV Streamer line actually an improvement over the company’s older strategy? Honestly, I’m still not fully certain.

With this in mind, I wanted to take a look at what the Google TV Streamer gets right as both a brand and as a hardware product, while also touching on what I’d like to see from Google in the future.

What Google TV Streamer gets right, even two years later

Let’s start by focusing on how the Google TV Streamer’s experience has changed over the years. While Google hasn’t massively overhauled the UI since it first arrived, it has certainly introduced some noticeable changes.

Not only can you now add customized content recommendations around the streaming platforms you actually watch, but pairing Bluetooth headphones has also become much easier compared to older versions of Google TV. Those who prefer Roku’s cleaner UI will also be happy that Google added a “apps only mode” that essentially turns the UI into something that’s much closer to Roku’s plain, apps-focused interface.

Even more importantly, Google TV Streamer eventually added Gemini support to the mix. This brought much better conversational topic search, deep-dive walkthroughs, advanced show recaps, and extras like live sports scoreboards.

Beyond that, the experience has largely stayed the same, but that’s not a bad thing. The Google TV Streamer remains an ideal smart home companion thanks to Matter and Thread support, which has been updated to Thread 1.4. I use it to control lights and our smart thermostat, as well as check our front and back door security cameras. While the interface isn’t perfect, it’s functional enough and gets the job done.

Ever since the Google TV interface replaced the aging Android TV UI in 2020, I’ve been a fan, and that remains true even now. While some people find Google TV’s interface a bit overwhelming and crowded, I appreciate that it actively gives you suggested content that often is worth watching. Its continue-watching feature is also a favorite of mine, though sometimes I admit it can be a bit wonky and refuses to display stuff I’ve watched recently. Still, that’s true of similar features from rivals like Fire TV as well.

I also greatly appreciate that casting continues to be part of the Google TV experience, even if it’s not exactly a massive marketing point anymore. If I’m honest, it’s still the main way I launch streaming apps, especially for our bedroom’s Chromecast, as the remote broke years ago. If that wasn’t enough, I’ve also found the Google TV Streamer to be a great companion for emulation and light Android gaming. Not only does it offer a decent amount of storage space for the job, but it also supports Bluetooth gaming controllers.

What’s less great, and what I’d like to see from its eventual successor

As much as it’s still a decent experience, there are some aspects where the device either lacks features or simply shows its age. Google’s choice of Wi-Fi standards is a great example. Despite Wi-Fi 7 debuting in 2024 and Wi-Fi 6 arriving in 2019, the Google TV Streamer is still clinging to the older Wi-Fi 5 standard.

Another big weakness is the lack of an additional USB port. While Bluetooth controller support is great, wired controllers currently require you to use the Streamer’s single USB-C port with a hub. My Onn 4K Pro has a full USB port that I’ve used many times to hook up webcams, USB controllers, and more. I’d really love to see Google copy this.

Really, though, the biggest thing missing is hands-free support. Rumors suggest Apple and Google are both preparing to bring this to their next streamers, but it’s already been here for a while! The Onn 4K Pro arrived in 2024 with this feature, and the Onn 4K Pro (2026) further improves on it.

While Onn’s hardware isn’t as polished as Google’s, its hands-free support is pretty impressive for a device that costs about half as much as the Google TV Streamer. Even if it wasn’t perfect, I have personally used the Onn 4K Pro’s hands-free features to quickly ask questions, change settings, or ping a lost remote. If Google really is going down this route, I’m excited as it will surely feature higher-quality mics and better software support.

While the Google TV Streamer still holds up well in 2026, I can’t say the same about pricing. I was honestly a bit sad to see Google abandon its more budget-oriented roots.

While it’s a nice piece of hardware, $99 is a hefty price to swallow if you aren’t into things like Thread or Matter support. If Google wants to continue to lean on premium pricing, it needs to do more to win over general streaming enthusiasts who aren’t necessarily after the smart home benefits, and well-polished hands-free interactions would go a long way here. I’d also like to see the original continue to float around the market for a few more years as a budget tier with a price cut to something around $50-$75.

If you don’t already own a Google TV Streamer, there’s probably no reason to buy one now until we know more about its successor. For those still rocking one, there’s also very little need to upgrade to anything newer on the market either.