Chromecast Gets Makeover and Speed Boost, No Price Hike

Google today gave its popular Chromecast dongle a colorful upgrade and speed boost, and introduced a new device specifically for audio.

The new Chromecast will retain its affordable $35 price tag, though, as will the new Chromecast Audio.

The new Chromecast supports MicroUSB and HDMI, which "makes it really easy to plug into virtually any TV, especially if you have crowded ports," Google said today.

The company promised "significantly improved Wi-Fi performance" with support for 802.11ac on 2.4 and 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi. A new antenna system, meanwhile, ensures that Chromecast's Wi-Fi chip is always using the best antenna and radio frequency for changing Wi-Fi conditions in the home, Google said.

The dongle got a bit of a makeover; it's now a circular pod with the Chrome logo on top and a flexible connector to make it easier to plug in to the back of your TV. You can also add a bit of color to your device with coral, lemonade, and black options.

The new Chromecast will run on Android 4.1 and higher, iOS 7.0 and higher, Mac OS X 10.7 and higher, and Windows 7 and higher.

Chromecast Audio, meanwhile, works with your existing speakers. Plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and cast your library of songs right to your speaker. Using your phone as the controller, stream from Pandora, Google Play Music, and more. Speakers must have an aux/line, RCA, or optical input.

Speaking of music, the Chromecast will now finally support Spotify, so Premium members can stream their libraries to TVs via the Chromecast dongle or speakers via Chromecast Audio. Existing Chromecasts will get a firmware update over the next few weeks.

Google also wants to make it easier to discover content, so its redesigned Chromecast apps feature a single place to browse or search content across apps. It's available on Android starting today and rolling out to iOS over the coming weeks.

Google has a couple offers for Chromecast buyers, including a free one-month trial of CBS All Access, 90 days of free music from Google Play, and more.

Google today also unveiled its new Nexus 6P and 5X smartphones.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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