The streaming wars are hotting up once again with Google revealing its latest device aimed at taking on the might of Amazon’s Fire TV Stick. It’s called the Google TV Streamer and it comes packed with features that should help to make a nightly boxset binge super simple and rich with things to watch. Just like most streaming gadgets, this telly-viewing device includes access to all the most popular premium apps like YouTube TV, Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV. Google is also promising that homes will be able to tune into over 800 free channels as well meaning there should never be a dull moment.
Of course, all that content can mean there’s too much choice but Google reckons it can ease the pain of a night in front of the TV by using clever AI – and personal preferences – to curate content suggestions across all of subscriptions.
It’s even possible to build lists for each member of the family and thanks to Google’s smart Gemini assistant users can see full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of content right from the device.
Anyone with a house full of connected gadgets will be able to control them right from the TV Streamer plus a full view of every home smart camera that’s online can be seen on the big screen and
Of course, many of these features are also found on the Fire TV Stick but one thing you can’t do Amazon’s gadgets is track down your remote if it slips down the side of the sofa.
Amazon does offer a Pro Remote with an in-built alarm but that costs £35 extra. Google’s TV Streamer comes with a clever channel changer as standard so when it goes missing you simply shout “Hey Google, find my remote,” and it lets out a loud bleep.
Other features include 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos compatibility plus it’s possible to turn an idle TV into a work of art. Voice search will pull up favourite memories from personal Google Photos accounts.
“Google TV Streamer is designed to give you the best entertainment and smart home experience possible. It replaces Chromecast, bringing its best features to our next-generation 4K TV streaming device — but as a faster, more premium version.”
This new gadget will launch later next month but Google has only announced US availability so far. There’s no word yet on a global release but we expect it will come to the UK at a later date.
In the US it costs $99.99 (£78) which is more expensive than Amazon’s £69.99 Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
