Google Chromecast (3rd generation) sits as the entry-only option in Google’s streaming arsenal. It originally arrived without much hype from Google, and it’s pretty easy to see why. One of the best streaming devices out there at the time, this Google Chromecast review will show how the model is nearly identical to the 2015 second generation Google Chromecast, except that it’s a bit faster.
The third-generation Chromecast has also lost a physical, user-friendly feature, and it has almost nothing to show to reflect three years of hardware advancement in the streaming space.
This Google Chromecast (3rd generation) review will explain why it continues, but know that Google has moved on. Check out our Chromecast with Google TV 4K review and our Chromecast with Google TV HD review for the next generation.
If you have a 1080p TV in the kitchen or guest room, and the set doesn’t have smart features built in, Chromecast is still one of the best Google Home-compatible devices for inexpensively watching Netflix, Hulu, etc. The. on a big screen. Otherwise, the cute little Google dongle is way behind the times.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation) specifications
Ports: microUSB (power), HDMI (video out)
the decision: up to 1080p
WIFI: 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5GHz)
Measurements: 2 x 2 x 0.5 inches
Weight: 1.4 oz
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Price and availability
The Google Chromecast costs $30 and is available practically everywhere, from Amazon to Best Buy and (of course) Google.
Also, we have our eyes set on the rumored Google Chromecast 4 “Sabrina”. Yes, this is an interesting code name. And most interestingly, it can completely do away with the Chromecast interface for Android TV. And it can work with a remote control, something Chromecast hasn’t done before.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Design
As before, the Chromecast is a circular 2-inch surround dongle that attaches to the back of the TV. But now, instead of coming in a range of vibrant colors with a gorgeous spiral design on the front, it comes in your choice of plain black, boring black, plain white or boring white. (It has a rather tasty little “G” logo, either way.)
On one side is a built-in HDMI cable, while the other hosts a micro USB port for power. (The Chromecast comes with a micro USB cable and power adapter, though you probably won’t need the latter, unless you have a very old TV that doesn’t have USB.) There’s also a button you can press to get the reboot device, though I didn’t need this.
Since Chromecast lives behind your TV, its physical design isn’t that important. But the latest version of the device lost one of my favorite features: a tiny magnet on the HDMI cable that lets you bend the device neatly onto itself. Now, Chromecast is hanging around helplessly. This probably isn’t a big deal, although I wonder if gravity will put pressure on the HDMI cable over time.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Interface
The best reason to buy a Chromecast, as always, is that it has the simplest and easiest-to-understand interface of any streaming device on the market. This is because Chromecast does not require you to learn a whole new operating system or play with a special remote control. Instead, you can control the entire experience from your phone, tablet, or computer.
By installing the Google Home app on your mobile device or clicking the Cast option in your computer-based Chrome browser, you can simply “cast” whatever content you’re watching on your TV. This is not a form of screen mirroring. Instead, your phone simply instructs your Chromecast to go pick up a signal directly from your content provider (Netflix, for example). This may seem like a subtle point, but screen mirroring requires hardware chaining together and often results in a sub-par experience.
The best reason to buy a Chromecast, as always, is that it has the simplest and easiest-to-understand interface of any streaming device on the market.
Controlling your Chromecast is as easy as doing any particular app. For example, on Netflix, all you have to do is open the content you want to watch, press the Cast button and wait for your media to appear on the TV. From there, you can pause, play, fast forward, rewind, and adjust the volume via your phone. The process is just as easy now as it was when Chromecast first came out, but it’s also a little faster now.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Performance
The only significant difference that Google announces between the 3rd generation Chromecast and its 2nd generation predecessor is better hardware. This should make this new device up to 15 percent faster than the old one.
Since 15 percent isn’t a day and night increase, and because the old one wasn’t slow to start, it’s not easy to test. So, I tried to assess the difference with a stopwatch, a general sense of what HD vs. SD resolution looks like, and a bunch of videos on Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube.
When I watched Thor: Ragnarok on Netflix, the movie took 11 seconds to start and 41 seconds to reach 1080p on the second generation Chromecast, while the movie itself took 9 seconds to start and 41 seconds to reach 1080p on the 3G device. . This represents a 20 percent difference in start-up time but only a 3 percent difference in optimization time.
Hulu’s variance was even more impressive: 15 seconds to start, 20 to improve on the second generation machine and 9 seconds to start, 19 seconds to improve on the third generation machine. That’s a 40 percent difference in start-up speed but only a 5 percent improvement difference.
It’s a little tricky to pin down the resolution on YouTube, because a lot of the content comes courtesy of phone cameras that are shot in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. But videos from this service took 12 seconds to start playing on a 2nd generation Chromecast and 9 seconds to start playing a 3rd generation version. That’s a difference of 25 percent, and it still exceeds Google’s claims.
If anything, Google has downplayed how fast the new Chromecast is. But it’s also worth noting that the biggest difference I noticed between the two models was 6 seconds. If you were to stream one video per day, it would cost you about 37 minutes over the course of an entire year — about enough time to watch additional prime-time drama but not much in the grand scheme of things.
Although it’s hard to tell, colors also looked richer on the third-generation Chromecast, particularly the bold blacks and blues in sci-fi movies like Star Trek Beyond.
Of course, color on a Chromecast isn’t anywhere near anywhere you’d get with a 4K HDR device — which is, frankly, the path I would have expected Google to take. The Chromecast Ultra ($70 / £69) supports 4K HDR content, but this device’s power consumption specifications make setup inconvenient. It’s also a bit expensive compared to other 4K HDR devices, such as the Roku Premiere ($40 or £60 for the closest selected model available in the UK).
In fact, Chromecast’s 1080p output is arguably its biggest weakness. While 1080p TVs still make up the majority of collections around the world, their era may come to an end Early next year. If you’ve just bought a new 4K Smart TV, there’s no reason to get a 3rd generation Chromecast for this set – and even if you don’t, it’s best to spend an extra $5-$35 on something in the future-proof – Proof.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Search
With the Google Home app, you can search for content across a few dozen apps, including big hitters like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Vudu. The app does a good job of directing you towards the apps you already have installed on your phone or tablet. Google Home hardly comes close to the accuracy of Apple TV’s search (which can find movies based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings or TV shows based on one obscure guest star) or Roku’s search scope (which spreads across hundreds of different content providers). But it will get the job done for regular TV and movies.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Content and applications
Since Chromecast released its SDK to the public a few years ago, almost every major provider offers Chromecast functionality. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, Vudu, Sling TV, the list goes on.
Chromecast owners with Amazon Prime Video have gone through the ordeal of Fire TV and Roku owners who wanted HBO Max in 2020. Yes, years ago, Amazon and Google spent forever negotiating to bring Amazon Video support to Chromecast.
The only hassle left is that Peacock still isn’t on Fire TV, one of America’s most popular streaming services.
One of the great things about Chromecast is that Google’s audio and video apps have a built-in casting function. If you want to view Google Photos on a TV, listen to Google Play Music, or browse your library of Google Play Movies and TV, all you need to do is open the app and hit the send button. Most other streaming devices offer similar functionality, but there is usually a little tedious setup of the media server. However, Google Play Music won’t let you send music from your personal collection – only things you’ve purchased through Google.
Google Chromecast (3rd generation): Conclusion
The new Chromecast is a divisive streaming tool. It is easy to impress because of the intuitive interface and variety of content, and the speed improvement is noticeable. However, the new Chromecast isn’t innovative in any real way.
Overall, as this Google Chromecast review has shown, the latest version appears to be late, and has lost one good feature along the way. But for $35/£30, the 1080p streaming tool is still very capable. Pick it up if you like the interface and have a Full HD TV that needs some love. Otherwise, it’s better to spend your money on a 4K HDR device like the $40 Roku Premiere, which will provide better picture quality for a longer time.
Credit: Tom’s Guide
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