Fancy a new way to stream TV? Google’s rival to the Fire TV Stick is about to go on sale and tech reviewers are recommending it.
The Fire TV Stick might be one of the most popular devices for streaming content to the big screen in your home but Amazon’s armu of gadgets have a new rival to fend off. Google announced the launch of its new TV Streamer back in August and it’s finally going on sale in some parts of the world, including the UK, this week.
This neat set-top box-style device offers a simple way to tune into premium services such as Netflix, YouTube TV, Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV.
However, Google is promising that homes will also be able to tune into over 800 free channels as well so there won’t be any need to reach for the credit card to get a content boost.
To help you find things to watch faster, the TV Streamer comes packed with clever AI which will serve up recommended content based on your previous viewing habits. It’s even possible to build lists for each member of the family and thanks to Google’s smart Gemini assistant users can see full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of content right from the device.
It’s fully compatible with 4K content and includes a neat voice-powered remote with an in-built alarm to help find it when it gets lost – that’s a feature Amazon charges extra for.
Other bonus extras on the TV Streamer include being able to control all of your smart home devices and you can see live footage from your doorbell camera on your telly.
Although Google’s own UK store isn’t showing the TV Streamer for sale just yet, it is available – for £99 – via other retailers including Amazon.
Mirror Online hopes to get our hands on this device soon but other technology sites appear impressed by what it offers. The Verge has given Google’s TV Streamer a sold 9 out 10 with its review saying, “this is the set-top box we’d recommend to most people”.
Whilst T3 is yet to give a final verdict the tech site says it’s “impressed” by its initial time with the box and the team at Tom’s Guide reckon this gadget is “a streaming device for the AI era”.
The Fire TV Stick might need to watch out!
