Google is fighting back against the might of the Fire TV Stick with a new way to watch the telly. Here’s our full Google TV Streamer review.
Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks continue to rule the roost when it comes to streaming content. Their very low price, ease of use and instant access to endless hours of shows and movies make them very tough to beat. Now, in a bid to take on the might of Amazon, Google is back with a new telly streamer and it’s certainly no slouch if you fancy a quick boxset binge or movie night.
It’s called the Google TV Streamer 4K and we’ve been putting it through its paces to see how it stacks up against the all-conquering Fire TV Stick.
It’s worth noting that Google is no stranger to streaming devices. In fact, its first Chromecast telly-viewing device launched all the way back in 2013 – a whole year before the Fire TV Stick arrived.
This latest Streamer gadget from the US technology giant aims to take things up a notch and even includes a feature Amazon will ask you to pay more to enable. Tucked on the back of Google’s mini set-top box is a small button which, once pressed, sets off an in-built alarm tucked inside the neat Streamer remote.
You can add this sound feature to Fire TV Sticks, but you have to spend an extra £35 on the more premium Pro Remote to access it.
Along with that bundled controller, there are plenty more treats from Google with a simple set-up meaning you’ll be watching shows and boxsets from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and more in minutes.
Of course, being powered by Google also means there’s some very advanced search features which will help you find favourites in a flash. In fact, you can pretty much ask Google anything you like, such as “find films with Tom Cruise” or “show me Top Gun movies” and it will track them down in the blink of an eye.
It will even show you what’s available to watch via your existing subscriptions so you don’t end up paying extra for something by mistake.
As the name suggests, it’s fully 4K compatible and also lets you view things in full HDR10 and Dolby Vision quality.
The on-screen interface looks slick with glossy graphics and a super easy way to navigate around content and settings using the iPod-style click wheel on the supplied remote. If you have loads of Google cameras or video doorbells dotted around your home you can even view live footage from their lenses on the big screen.
Other features include 32GB of internal storage, a neat design, and it works with the Matter and Thread standards for seamless connection to a swathe of smart devices such as lightbulbs and plugs. You can even link it to your Google Photos and turn your telly into a giant family picture album.
There’s no question that the Google TV Streamer is neat device that even offers features Amazon won’t match. However, we do have some gripes. Firstly, it costs £99 which is far more expensive than a Fire TV Stick.
Then there’s the app issue. The Streamer lets you download loads of apps, including Netflix, Apple TV+, ITVX and Channel 4, but there’s no sign of BBC iPlayer.
A recent update from the BBC has said all the tests on the Google TV Streamer have been completed so it might arrive soon. However, out of the box you won’t find access to Gavin and Stacey, Have I Got News for You, Traitors or Match of the Day and that might be a dealbreaker for some.
All in all, Google’s latest set-top box is a blockbuster hit. Just be aware of its price and current BBC limitations.
