CHROMECAST WITH GOOGLE TV

One of the best 4K streaming upgrades out there, offering a great HDR picture and plenty of apps

Google’s new streaming dongle frees you from casting with your phone

£59.99 store.google.com

The revamped Chromecast video streamer is here, albeit a bit bigger and more expensive than before – but that’s because it does more than it used to. It’s no longer just something you can stream to from your phone, but now a fullyfledged smart TV add-on, with Android TV and the new Google TV app that aims to make it easier to find what you want to watch.

Given the best 4K HDR sources to work with, the Chromecast with Google TV turns in an impressive performance. Dolby-Vision-assisted images are crisp and detailed, with plenty of dark-tone information available and contrasts handled well. Motion is gripped with authority and edges are drawn cleanly.

As far as audio quality goes, it’s a success of the qualified kind. Dolby Atmos material has plenty of presence, and as far as music is concerned, it hangs together as a performance too. There’s a good level of detail retrieved and – as long as you have an Atmos soundbar or a surround system – ample space in both the ‘left/ right’ and ‘up/down’ planes. What there isn’t, though, is all that much dynamic expression – everything tends to happen at a set, uniform level, without much variation.

The new Chromecast is supplied with a remote control handset that incorporates a mic for use with Google Assistant and while it’s nicely laid out and fits neatly in the palm, the hard and slippery plastic it’s made from means it moves about with button-presses more than is ideal. Other than that minor gripe, though, it’s simple and swift to operate. No matter if you’re using Google Assistant voice-control or the handset itself, it’s straightforward to operate.

You can load any number of different apps onto the Google TV home page, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube. Apple TV isn’t available, and UK users should note that All 4 isn’t either. The smart recommendation system is responsive, both to your selections and to titles you’ve flagged as watched – and the more you use it, the more genuinely attuned to your tastes it becomes.

Thanks to the addition of “...with Google TV”, the latest Chromecast is not only the best yet but it’s one of the very best 4K video streamers around. It’s easy to find what you want, the video quality is excellent, and there’s impressive audio. It’s a shame about the occasional missing apps, but overall it’s an excellent choice.