Pros & Cons
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- Extremely inexpensive.
- Smooth integration with supported apps.
- Easy to set up.
- Useful accessories.
- Supports multiple Chromecasts on the same network.
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- No local media playback.
- Chrome integration is limited.
There are tons of ways to watch online content on your HDTV. Your media hub, your game console, your Blu-ray player—even your HDTV itself might be able to access YouTube and Netflix. The Google Chromecast is an alternative to all of the above. It's a $35 (direct) stick that plugs into your HDTV's HDMI port and lets you stream media from Netflix, YouTube, and Google Play through your smartphone, tablet, or notebook. It's not quite Google's answer to AirPlay and it's not quite a full-featured media streamer, but it's an incredibly inexpensive way to access online media and Google Play's generous movie and music libraries on your HDTV.
Editors' Note: This version of the Google Chromecast has been replaced. Read the review of the current Google Chromecast.
However, since the launch of the Chromecast, the $50 Roku Streaming Stick has come out, offering simpler access to a much wider breadth of content without requiring a smartphone or tablet, along with local media streaming support. If you live by your smartphone and want to put your favorite YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu Plus shows on your HDTV, the Chromecast is an excellent way to bring your devices together. As a media hub, though, it doesn't offer nearly as smooth or simple an experience as the competition.
View All Design
The Chromecast is a simple HDMI stick you plug into the back of your HDTV, just like the Roku Streaming Stick. It plugs directly into your HDTV's HDMI port, and the included USB cable connects to the micro USB port on the other end of the stick to power it. The Chromecast has a single button on the back for setup and a single LED light to indicate it's on. Everything else is on-screen and controlled by an app.Google was surprisingly thoughtful in its choice of accessories for the Chromecast. While it will work with just the stick and the micro-USB-to-USB cable plugged in to your TV, it also includes a USB power adapter if you don't have any spare ports. It even comes with a short HDMI extender, which can be very useful if the Chromecast is a little too thick to fit against other HDMI devices if the HDTV's ports are clustered tightly together.
