Leaked new Google TV Streamer box looks less like Fire TV Stick, more like Apple TV 4K
It’s been four years since Google launched its Chromecast with Google TV streaming device, and the company has been keeping mum about its plans to unveil a follow-up model. Thanks to recently leaked photos, it’s likely that the “Google TV Streamer” will be Google’s next model to take on the top streaming devices.
The leaked images come from an article by 9to5Google show what we can expect the device and its redesigned remote to look like. Not only is Google ditching the Chromecast name, it also appears to be ditching the classic dongle that plugs into the back of your TV, opting instead for a wedge-shaped design that sits entirely beneath your TV.
Unlike other on-display streaming devices like the Apple TV 4K (2022) or Amazon Fire TV Cube, the Google TV Streamer appears thinner and has a sloped top in a minimal design similar to other Google products. The image also shows that the device comes with two cables, which we assume are power and HDMI cables.
The Google TV streamer also comes with a new remote that looks similar to the one that ships with Chromecast with Google TV, but is now longer with a redesigned keypad. The classic D-Pad remains the same, as do the shortcut buttons for YouTube and Netflix, but the big differences are the volume buttons, which are now on the face of the remote rather than the side – and then there’s the addition of Google’s ‘Magic’ button, which can potentially enable custom shortcuts.
We’ve been reporting on rumors of a new Chromecast with Google TV since they first emerged in January 2023, and back in April it seemed like it was coming soon and with a brand new remote. Now, with Google’s next hardware event approaching, we could be seeing the Google TV Streamer sooner than you think.
What do we want to see?
While these images don’t make for an official announcement, Google’s upcoming August 13 hardware event could be the day we see the new streaming device, alongside the already-teased Google Pixel 9 Pro. The images are an exciting teaser for the Google TV Streamer, but they don’t hint at any new features we can expect, so there are a few upgrades we hope to see.
The last time we outlined what we wanted to see in the next-generation Chromecast, we highlighted that the next model would require a major storage upgrade, as the Chromecast’s limited 8GB can quickly be consumed by apps. We also pointed out Google Gemini’s growing presence across Android products , and given that it’s slowly phasing out Google Assistant, it would make sense for Gemini to take over as the designated voice assistant for the Google TV Streamer.
The good news is that you might not have to wait much longer for an announcement, as Google’s next hardware event is just a few weeks away. Four years is a long time to wait, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the Google TV Streamer lives up to expectations.