In terms of branding, Google isn’t the actual at laying apart confusion. The traces between the agency’s streaming merchandise received even blurrier with the introduction of the Chromecast with Google TV. So, what exactly is the variation between Chromecast and Google TV? Let’s spoil it down!
The mess that is Google Dwelling and Nest is appropriate one instance of superior Google branding, nevertheless its streaming media merchandise might per likelihood per likelihood appropriately be even worse. There’s Google TV versus Android TV, Android TV versus Chromecast, and now Chromecast versus Google TV. Yikes!
What Is Chromecast?
Chromecast is Google’s title for its line of streaming media dongles. Basically, these units don’t include bodily remotes. Barely, you appropriate creep them right into a TV’s HDMI port to salvage articulate from a cell system.
That’s what makes a Chromecast a Chromecast: your phone, pill, or laptop is, in reality, the “a ways flung.” There isn’t an interface on the TV you can navigate; it’s merely a clean canvas able to salvage articulate from however some other system.
To protect out this, faucet or click on the Solid icon (proven throughout the picture under) in a cell app or Chrome browser. A listing of units you can solid to, collectively alongside along with your Chromecast, will then seem.
You might per likelihood per likelihood per likelihood be in a connect to solid movies, slideshows, tune, and even display screen choose. That’s made that it is most likely you will think about by a protocol referred to as “Google Solid.” No longer completely can Google Solid ship streaming video to a Chromecast dongle related to a TV, on the totally different hand it’s furthermore what sends tune to Google Nest neat audio system.
The timeframe “Google Solid” completely refers once more to the protocol, not consumer merchandise. Devices that occupy the Google Solid know-how are marketed as having “Chromecast constructed-in.”
This brings us to the confusingly named Chromecast with Google TV. It’s not in fact a Chromecast throughout the method we described above. Barely, it entails a bodily a ways flung and an correct interface on the TV. It will, on the totally different hand, nonetheless salvage articulate you solid from however some other system.
What Is Google TV?
Briefly, Google TV is Android TV for televisions. Android TV units, space-high containers, and televisions bustle Android 9 or later, whereas Google TV is constructed on Android 10+.
Not like the Chromecast with out Google TV units we coated above, Google TV affords a extra extinct Tidy TV interface. Apps, video video games, TV reveals, and movement images seem on a Dwelling display screen that it is most likely you will navigate with the included a ways flung (or a a ways flung app).
RELATED: How you can Regulate the Chromecast with Google TV with Your Cellphone
Exact esteem on Android telephones and capsules, you can entry the Google Play Retailer on Google TV. Most of the most in mannequin streaming companies are available on Google TV units, as are lots of of video video games.
RELATED: How you can Set up Apps and Video video games on Google TV
That’s the precept distinction between Chromecast and Google TV: Chromecast doesn’t occupy any apps (it appropriate receives articulate). Google TV is a chunky operating system that may per likelihood bustle apps and video video games.
You’ll furthermore acquire the beforehand talked about “Chromecast constructed-in” on Google TV units. The a ways flung and Dwelling display screen are meant to be the precept contrivance of navigation. Alternatively, you can furthermore solid articulate out of your phone, pill, or laptop.
Chromecast with Google TV does sound superior, on the totally different hand it in reality makes plenty of sense. Google TV units are in reality Chromecasts as a result of they’re going to salvage articulate you solid in unbiased the the identical method. The completely distinction is you furthermore occupy the Google TV interface.
Which Is Easiest for You?
Whether or not it is good to at all times salvage a Chromecast or Google TV comes all the way down to what you perform to your television. The traces between the two are getting blurrier, regardless that.
A Chromecast is an easy, low cost approach to transform any TV with an HDMI port right into a neat TV. It’s furthermore sizable for informal viewing. Many people use Chromecasts in a secondary enter to complement a cable field.
Chromecasts are furthermore at hand for events or teams as a result of somebody can connect with your Wi-Fi group and solid articulate to your TV. Many apps furthermore include a queue attribute so people can add movies to a listing, after which look them in expose.
Google TV is healthier everytime you occur to decide on a extra “lean-reduction” experience as a result of you can flick through your companies with a a ways flung. The Dwelling display screen is full of suggestions, as appropriately, which makes it easy to swiftly beginning up movement images or TV reveals.
These units are inclined to be extra extremely large than Chromecast dongles. You might per likelihood per likelihood per likelihood be in a connect to hold out points esteem sideload apps, change the display screen saver, look over-the-air TV, and fasten gaming controllers. Basically, they’re going to appropriate perform heaps extra.
Designate is the closing factor or not it’s well-known to occupy in thoughts. Luckily, proper here is the connect the two occupy gotten nearer. Chromecasts had been historically important extra reasonably priced, hovering spherical $30 fluctuate, whereas Android TV units went for $100 or extra.
At this writing, on the totally different hand, the Chromecast with Google TV is $50, making that imprint gap heaps smaller.
So, if casting movement images and TV reveals is the precept factor you esteem to favor to hold out, a Chromecast is all you want. If you happen to esteem to occupy casting skills and an on-screen menu you can navigate, you esteem to occupy Google TV.