Google has had a long run with Chromecast, and it’s a vital part of their home theater plans, especially with Google Stadia making waves. But it looks like it might be time for Google to really start taking Android TV seriously, at least if the latest hardware rumors are accurate.
Chromecast turns to Android TV
Technically there is quite a bit of overlap between Chromecast and Android TV. You can use an Android TV box exclusively as a Chromecast device, if you want, and you can even control the interface with your phone just like you do with a dedicated Chromecast device. The opposite isn’t true, however; a Chromecast doesn’t and can’t have its own apps installed, and won’t work with any remotes.
This rumor points to a refresh of the Google Chromecast Ultra, but the dongle would adopt a full version of Android TV instead of the lightweight Chromecast software. It’ll still look like a Chromecast, which means it’ll be small and easy to hide, but it’ll come with a remote that appears to be a cross between Google’s own Daydream View remote and the Apple TV remote.
Google Assistant would of course be at the heart of this, and the remote would feature a dedicated microphone for accessing Google Assistant voice commands. That could be the exact reason why Google is interested in finally bringing Android TV to the masses the way they’ve done with Chromecast; it’s hard to really use Google Assistant with a Chromecast unless you use an extra device, so putting it all in one removes another barrier to entry and gets more people on the digital assistant train.
So when is it launching, and how much will it cost? We have no idea. With Google I/O 2020’s physical event getting canceled, we might still see some of these devices announced at the online conference, but we might have to hold out for another dedicated event before Google brings out the fun stuff. We’re only a couple months away, so keep your ears out.