Google appears to be moving away from its traditional HDMI dongle design for streaming devices in favor of a more conventional set-top box. According to images published by 9to5Google, the new product is called the “Google TV Streamer,” signaling not just a design shift but also a departure from the Chromecast name.
The Google TV Streamer is expected to be unveiled at Google’s August 13th hardware event, alongside other products like the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Watch 3 XL, among potential surprises.
Many have anticipated a more powerful streaming player from Google to compete with the Apple TV 4K. The 2020 Chromecast with Google TV fell short of this mark, leaving the Nvidia Shield as the top alternative for performance. In a few weeks, we’ll see if the Google TV Streamer can raise the bar or if it will maintain Google’s typical under-$100 price point.