Google wowed us with the Chromecast when it launched two years ago. At the time, the idea of a $35 device you could plug into your HDTV to watch streaming media was remarkable. It no longer seems as novel, with other inexpensive solutions on the market, even still the Chromecast remains a top-notch media streamer. And now it gets a refresh. The newly released Chromecast is slightly different in design, and a bit faster in operation, but it keeps the same $35 price tag and mobile device control scheme that made the original so popular. Don't rush out to buy one if you already own the original Chromecast, but as a new iteration it's every bit as strong an option, and earns our Editors' Choice for media streamers.
New Design
A small plastic puck with a glossy, colorful front side (it's available in black, pink, or yellow versions), the new Chomecast has a matte gray bottom side. A short, flat cable comes out of one end and terminates in an HDMI connector. A micro USB port sits opposite the cable, flanked by a small Reset button and an indicator light. The matte side of the device is magnetized, letting the HDMI connector stick to it when not in use. Like the colorful glossy shell, neither of these features really matter once it's set up behind your television.
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Setup
Getting started with the Chromecast is incredibly fast and easy. Plug it into a free HDMI port on your HDTV, plug the included power cable into the Chromecast on one end, and to a power outlet on the other, and switch to the correct TV input. Download and run the Chromecast app on your Android or iOS device, follow a few prompts, enter your network and password, and you're ready to start streaming from any compatible app.
Google Cast
Like the original, the new Chromecast lacks any sort of on-screen interface or remote control. Instead, you need to use Google Cast-compatible apps to send content to the device. Any app that supports Google Cast will display a small Chromecast icon, which you can tap to stream video to the Chromecast and view it on your TV screen. Currently, several hundred apps and services on Android and iOS and through Chrome on PCs and Macs can stream content to the device. That selection covers a wide array of apps and services, including most major video providers like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and (of course, the Google-owned) YouTube. Amazon Instant Video isn't compatible with Google Cast, however.
All of the audio and video media available on Google Play can be streamed through the Chromecast. That covers a massive amount of movies, television shows, and songs. However, two of the other biggest streaming media stores, iTunes and Amazon, don't work with Google Cast.
Support is dependent on the app, but the Google Cast platform allows for some interesting second-screen tricks. For instance, if you load a Twitch stream on the Chromecast, your tablet becomes the chat window for the channel, so you can comment as you watch.
Slightly Quicker
Google claims the new Chromecast is faster than the original. The devices are dependent on network speeds, and direct benchmarking isn't technically possible in terms of getting hard numbers. However, I tested the old and new Chromecast models side by side to determine if there is an anecdotal performance difference, and the new version definitely feels much faster and more responsive than the original. It loaded Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube streams rapidly, never taking more than a second or two to play video or respond to a command, while the old Chromecast lagged behind slightly. It's not a huge performance boost, but it's a welcome one.
The new Google Chromecast doesn't offer any significant changes over the original one, so you don't need to run out and replace the Chromecast already plugged into the back of your HDTV. However, if you're interested in jumping into the Google Cast ecosystem, the new Chromecast feels quicker and sports the same $35 price tag, making it every bit as compelling a simple streaming solution as the original. If you don't want to rely on your smartphone or tablet to control streaming media on your HDTV, you should consider a slightly more expensive media streamer with a dedicated remote and an on-screen interface, like the Roku Streaming Stick ($99.68 at Amazon) or the Amazon Fire TV Stick ($39.99 at Amazon) . They don't offer the versatility of the Google Cast platform, but they're very capable standalone streamers.
The new Google Chromecast doesn't make any big changes from the original media streamer, but it's a bit quicker and every bit as handy, for the same very reasonable $35.
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