What we like

  • Best content discovery and recommendations in streaming
  • 32 GB storage and a fast, fluid interface
  • Ethernet built in, plus Thread for smart home
  • Remote finder chime built into the box
  • Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

What gives us pause

  • Recommendations inevitably lean on Google's data about you
  • Remote buttons aren't backlit
  • No hands-free voice — you press the button
  • Casting works, but some apps push you to the native app instead

Who it's for

Anyone who opens the TV and asks 'what should we watch?' Google TV's cross-service recommendations and watchlist answer that better than any rival. Also the natural pick for Google Home smart homes, thanks to the built-in Thread radio and home panel.

Hardware

The wedge-shaped box sits in the open rather than hiding behind the TV, and it's better for it: Ethernet and power on the back, a remote-finder button on the rear edge, and a Thread radio inside for Matter smart-home devices. The 32 GB of storage is a relief after the Chromecast's cramped 8 GB.

The recommendations engine

Google TV aggregates your subscriptions into one 'For you' row, and after a week of ratings it gets genuinely good at surfacing things you'll actually watch. The universal watchlist — add from the TV or from a Google search on your phone — is the feature we miss on other platforms.

Performance

The faster chip and 32 GB of storage keep apps responsive. It's not Apple TV fast, but it's comfortably ahead of stick-class hardware. Dolby Vision and Atmos are supported across Netflix, Disney+ and Max.

The remote

The new remote is slightly larger than the Chromecast's, with a customizable shortcut button and — the killer feature — a chime triggered from the box when it slides into the couch. Buttons aren't backlit, which at this price feels like an omission.

Key specifications

Resolution 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Storage 32 GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Thread, HDMI 2.1
Remote Voice remote with find-my-remote chime
Audio Dolby Atmos, spatial audio