Skip to main content

Are Chromecasts without Google TV still worth buying?

Stadia on your TV

Chromecast Ultra

$100 at Best Buy

Pros

  • Enables Google Stadia on TV
  • 4K HDR support
  • Includes ethernet adapter
  • Faster startup and streaming

Cons

  • No Google TV
  • Expensive

The Chromecast Ultra remains the only device that lets you stream Stadia games on your television. It can also cast any content in 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. Unfortunately, this device doesn't support the new Google TV platform and is also no longer sold on Google's website, making the Stadia Premiere edition the only way to get ahold of one.

Cheap 1080p casting

Chromecast (3rd gen)

$30 at Amazon $30 at Best Buy $30 at Walmart

Pros

  • Solid 1080p picture
  • Can be powered by your TV USB port
  • The cheapest Chromecast available

Cons

  • No 4K or HDR support
  • No ethernet port
  • No Stadia support
  • No Google TV support

The standard third-generation Chromecast is effectively the same device as the Chromecast Ultra, but it loses 4K streaming capabilities — and in return, it's less than the price. If you have no intention of streaming in 4K, or just need a Chromecast for a less-used TV, this fits the bill.

With the launch of the superb Chromecast with Google TV, the Chromecast Ultra vs. Chromecast 3rd Gen showdown is truly a battle to see which device is second-best. Neither device supports the new Google TV platform, but is the bargain-priced Chromecast or the Stadia-enabled Chromecast Ultra still worth buying? We'll explain which of the older Chromecast models remains relevant today.

Why buy a Chromecast?

A Chromecast plugs into an HDMI port on your TV, A/V receiver, or any other display that can play video and audio. Once the dongle is set up, it can mirror your phone or computer screen, or receive an online stream from many Android apps or any Chrome browser. Once a stream is connected, the Chromecast takes over the connection, so only the Chromecast's bandwidth is taken up; your phone or laptop, despite being the source of the stream, no longer uses processing resources or battery life to power it.

The unique casting tech and price make a Chromecast the best way to stream your media.

There are thousands of apps in Google Play and Apple App Store, including hundreds of the most popular streaming services, that are Chromecast-enabled. Google maintains a robust (but not necessarily complete) list of Chromecast-enabled apps, in case you want to check if your favorite niche app casts.

The Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra, and Chromecast with Google TV all receive Cast streams in the same way, though the base Chromecast has a lower max video resolution and doesn't support Dolby Vision. Neither the Chromecast nor Chromecast Ultra have a remote control or access to Google TV apps, so you have to use your phone as your remote and streaming library at the same time.

Chromecast Ultra vs. Chromecast 3rd Gen: Who should buy the 'regular' Chromecast?

This third-generation Chromecast is the basic media streamer many of us want. It handles 1080p video streams really well, it's small, and supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz for easy setup and good quality. It can be powered by your TV if you have a suitably powerful USB port on the back, but there's also a power adapter in the box so you can even plug it into older TVs.

If you don't have a 4K TV or fast internet, stick to the regular Chromecast.

This Chromecast's main shortcoming is that it doesn't support 4K or HDR video; it's limited to just 1080p. If you own a 4K-compatible TV, your Chromecast 3rd-Gen streams won't look as crisp and vibrant as they should. At the same time, not all streaming services offer 4K streams, and the ones that do often require higher bandwidth than your internet plan or router can handle.

The Chromecast 3rd Gen is cheaper than the Chromecast with Google TV (and much cheaper than the Chromecast Ultra), but the price difference comes with much less power and features, making the discount hard to justify as increasingly more apps and websites offer 1440p or 4K video. As such, in our Chromecast with Google TV vs. Chromecast article, we strongly recommended buying the newer model.

However, there are some exceptions. If you want a dongle that doesn't take up a power outlet, only the Chromecast is low-power enough to run on your TV's USB port. And if you own another streaming device for 4K video, and really just want a second, cheap device just for casting regardless of the lower resolution, then the Chromecast 3rd Gen will save you some cash.

Chromecast Ultra vs. Chromecast 3rd Gen: Who should buy the Chromecast Ultra?

Before the Chromecast with Google TV, the Chromecast Ultra was the only means we had of casting in 4K HDR. With a 2x1 MISO (Multi Input Single Output) antenna for faster network speeds and low latency, the Chromecast Ultra took advantage of its powerful hardware to stream with minimal buffering or skipping. It also features an ethernet port for a more consistent internet connection, in case your wireless is spotty wherever your TV is located.

Unless you want Google Stadia right now, there's little reason to buy an Ultra anymore.

Put plainly, Chromecast Ultra was far ahead of its time in specs, and easily wins the Chromecast Ultra vs. Chromecast 3rd Gen battle. But now, the Chromecast with Google TV also offers 4K HDR, plus Dolby Vision and Atmos (which the Ultra doesn't offer). Plus, while the Ultra has no remote or apps, the Google TV model offers thousands of free apps and a remote with built-in Google Assistant support. The Chromecast with Google TV is also more affordable, and Google has currently removed the Ultra from its stores and stopped stocking the Ultra on third-party retailers.

So, with the Ultra all but defunct, why buy one? Because it's the only Chromecast that works with Stadia and can stream games on a television. The Chromecast with Google TV will reportedly get access to Stadia streaming sometime in the first half of 2021, but that means you'll have to wait between three and eight months.

You can play Stadia on your phone, PC or laptop, but streaming games on your TV in 4K is an awesome perk. If you decide you don't want to wait patiently for Google to add the service, then you can buy the Google Stadia Premiere Edition, which includes a new Chromecast Ultra and the excellent Stadia controller. With these in hand, you'll get access to our favorite Stadia games months before Chromecast with Google TV owners.

The Ultra will never get access to Google TV, but many buyers won't mind: there are plenty of Chromecast alternatives for you to try for streaming, while relying on the Ultra for casting specifically.

Stadia on your TV

Chromecast Ultra

Your only Stadia option (for now)

$100 at Best Buy

This years-old dongle belies its age with excellent specs that make 4K HDR streams a breeze, and it remains your only 2020 method for streaming Stadia games on your TV. Unless you need Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos or another TV remote, the Ultra isn't a bad 4K alternative.

Cheap 1080p casting

Chromecast (3rd gen)

If casting is all you need

$30 at Amazon $30 at Best Buy $30 at Walmart

If you're looking for the cheapest possible way to start streaming to your TV, the 3rd-gen Chromecast fits the bill. It's less than half the price of the Ultra, making it appealing for anyone who doesn't care about 4K or wants to connect a secondary TV.



Source: androidcentral
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The hidden cost of food delivery

Noah Lichtenstein Contributor Share on Twitter Noah Lichtenstein is the founder and managing partner of Crossover , a diversified private technology fund backed by institutional investors, technology execs and professional athletes and entertainers. More posts by this contributor What Studying Students Teaches Us About Great Apps I’ll admit it: When it comes to food, I’m lazy. There are dozens of great dining options within a few blocks of my home, yet I still end up ordering food through delivery apps four or five times per week. With the growing coronavirus pandemic closing restaurants and consumers self-isolating, it is likely we will see a spike in food delivery much like the 20% jump China reported during the peak of its crisis. With the food delivery sector rocketing toward a projected $365 billion by the end of the decade, I’m clearly not the only one turning to delivery apps even before the pandemic hit. Thanks to technology (and VC funding) we can get a ri
Read more

Cyber Monday Canada: Last-minute deals for everyone on your list

Best Cyber Monday Canada deals: Smart Home Audio Phones, Tablets & Accessories Wearables Laptops & PC Components Amazon products Gaming Televisions Cameras Lifestyle & Kitchen Toys & Kids Cyber Monday Canada is here, and retailers are rolling out the red carpet for customers who want to shop for everything from tech to kitchenware to games and everything in between. Unlike years past, Cyber Monday Canada deals look a bit different than normal. Instead of retailers trying to pack their stores with as many shoppers as possible, we're seeing tons of online deals that you can take advantage of from the comfort of your home. We've rounded up our favorites below, so feel free to browse through the best of what Canada Cyber Monday has to offer! This list is being updated with new Cyber Monday deals all the time, so check back often. Spotlight deals It's a Switch Nintendo Switch Fortnite Edition bundle $399.95 at Amazon It's a Switch.
Read more

iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 50+ Differences Compared

The iPhone 15 Pro brings over 50 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, which was released two years prior. This buyer's guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations and helps you to decide whether it's worth upgrading. The ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro debuted in 2021, introducing a brighter display with ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz, the A15 Bionic chip, a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, Macro photography and photographic styles, Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field, ProRes video recording, a 1TB storage option, and five hours of additional battery life. The ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro was discontinued upon the announcement of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, but it is still possible to get hold of it second-hand. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you and serves as a way to c
Read more

Slack’s new integration deal with AWS could also be about tweaking Microsoft

Slack and Amazon announced a big integration late yesterday afternoon. As part of the deal, Slack will use Amazon Chime for its call feature, while reiterating its commitment to use AWS as its preferred cloud provider to run its infrastructure. At the same time, AWS has agreed to use Slack for internal communications. Make no mistake, this is a big deal as the SaaS communications tool increases its ties with AWS, but this agreement could also be about slighting Microsoft and its rival Teams product by making a deal with a cloud rival. In the past Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield has had choice words for Microsoft saying the Redmond technology giant sees his company as an “existential threat.” Whether that’s true or not — Teams is but one piece of a huge technology company — it’s impossible not to look at the deal in this context. Aligning more deeply with AWS sends a message to Microsoft, whose Azure infrastructure services compete with AWS. Butterfield didn’t say that of course
Read more