Google Chromecast 3 (3rd Gen, 2018)

Simple, intuitive HD streaming ; Slick new design ; Quick and easy setup ; Google Home app keeps improving

No 4K or HDR ; No magnet

Google’s new Chromecast is essentially just the old Chromecast with a new coat of paint. The higher framerate may be enjoyable for some in very specific situations such as live sports in 1080p resolution, but it’s no reason to trade in the older model....

Inexpensive. Responsive. Lots of supported apps. Can mirror mobile device screens and display Chrome tabs.

1080p maximum resolution. No on-screen interface or remote.

Bottom Line: The new Google Chromecast media streamer is almost completely unchanged from its previous version. It's still functional and affordable, but without 4K it's much less appealing than the competition.

Great remote ; Google Assistant integration for great search ; 4K HDR support ; Dolby Atmos ; Great performance ; New UI makes life easier ; TV/Sound system control

Some services missing - no Apple TV+ or All 4 ; Recommendations need development ; Only supports one top level user account ; No Stadia support

It was previously hard to recommend getting a Chromecast for TV, but this product - thanks to its remote control and user interface - is a much more complete offering. There are some absences to services - Apple TV+ an obvious one - but the platform...

Bargain price ; Easy setup ; Good app selection ; Google Home integration

No remote ; No Amazon Prime Video app ; Voice control is limited

Google’s awesome little budget streamer just got (very slightly) better

The super-affordable Chromecast streams Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, HBO Now and thousands of other apps and games to your TV using an smartphone, PC or even voice as the controller. It hides neatly behind your TV.

The lack of a dedicated remote means you always need a smartphone, tablet or PC nearby to use it. Competitors at the same price offer physical remotes and onscreen displays, which are easier to use. There still no app support for Amazon Prime Video.

The newest version of Google Chromecast is basically identical to the old one and falls short of the budget competition from Amazon and Roku.

A solid speed upgrade for first-gen Chromecast owners ; Google Assistant enables powerful home automation ; Launching videos by phone can be faster than using a proper remote

No infrared control for TV volume or A/V gear ; The Google Home app is bad at aggregating and searching for content ; Pausing or adjusting volume by phone can be inconvenient at times

Chromecast’s phone-as-remote approach is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. It can be faster than a proper remote with TV-based menus, and it lets you look for other things to watch without disrupting playback on the big screen. With...

Fast, easy, well-supported way to stream from mobile devices to your TV ; Ability to include Chromecast in a speaker group facilitates easy multi-room audio ; Added support for 60fps 1080p videos ; Discounted bundles with Google Home Mini are...

No 4K support (4K only available in the older Chromecast Ultra for now) ; No Bluetooth support

Fantastic interface ; Google Assistant is wildly handy ; Combines nearly every streaming service into one ; Cute dedicated remote ; Affordable ; Also allows for standard casting

Only one user profile per Chromecast ; Volume/input controls don't work for all TVs ; No Stadia support ; Remote is very slippery

The Chromecast with Google TV is an affordable way to get nearly every streaming service in one place. Google TV will learn what you like and recommend content, and having the power of Google Assistant at an arm's reach makes this an incredible...