The Verge90
The Google TV Streamer is a significant hardware upgrade over the previous Chromecast, offering a polished streaming experience combined with robust smart home hub capabilities.
Google TV Streamer
10 expert reviews#4 in streaming devicesChecked 1 Nov 2026
Quick answer
The Google TV Streamer has a critic score of 82 out of 100 from 10 professional reviews, and 10 of them recommend it. It ranks #4 of 4 streaming devices we score. Critics praise its performance and design. The most common complaint is missing features.
Reviews checked 1 Nov 2026
Image: GoogleSmart home hub
Our verdict
10 professional reviewers tested the Google TV Streamer, and 10 recommend it. Critics praise its performance and design. The most common complaint: missing features.
The catch: Limited to Wi-Fi 5, no HDMI cable.
Critic agreement: High
Scores run from 79 to 90
5 of these 10 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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What do critics say about the Google TV Streamer?
Engadget87
The Google TV Streamer is a highly capable and responsive device that offers the best streaming interface available, though its higher price point and lack of modern Wi-Fi standards prevent it from being perfect.
Android Central85
The Google TV Streamer is a solid, well-designed device that offers a great smart home hub experience, though it is held back by an aging processor and the omission of an HDMI cable in the box.
ZDNET85est.
The Google TV Streamer is a significant performance upgrade over previous Chromecast models, offering a snappy interface and excellent smart home integration.
CNET82
The Google TV Streamer is a capable, high-performance upgrade for those seeking a more powerful streaming experience and deep smart home integration, though it suffers from some software limitations and a busy interface.
Expert Reviews80
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is a significant improvement over its predecessors, offering a fast, polished interface and excellent smart home integration.
Business Insider79est.
The Google TV Streamer 4K is a solid, high-performing device that integrates well with the Google ecosystem, though it lacks some premium remote features and uses older Wi-Fi standards.
CNN Underscored79est.
The Google TV Streamer is a significant performance upgrade over the older Chromecast models and a capable smart home hub, though its higher price point and bulky design make it a less accessible option for budget-conscious users.
Good Housekeeping UK79est.
The Google TV Streamer is a well-designed, user-friendly device that integrates streaming and smart home control, though it is priced higher than many competing dongles.
Digital Trends79est.
The Google TV Streamer is a solid, responsive device with improved hardware and smart home integration, but its high price makes it difficult to recommend over cheaper alternatives like the Onn 4K Pro.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
Performance6 of 10
Design2 of 10
What critics dislike most
Missing features5 of 10
Price5 of 10
Software and app2 of 10
Alternatives
Not sure about the Google TV Streamer?
Common questions
Is the Google TV Streamer worth it?
Most critics think so: 10 of 10 recommend it. Limited to Wi-Fi 5, no HDMI cable.
What do critics dislike about the Google TV Streamer?
Missing features (5 of 10 reviews), Price (5 of 10 reviews), Software and app (2 of 10 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Google TV Streamer?
The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) (critic score 88), best overall.