The Chromecast is a handy device with which you can make practically any TV smarter. By now, tens of millions of Chromecast have been sold worldwide. After years of Chromecast use, I have gained a lot of experience with this device. In this article I will answer the question: when buying a Chromecast, which one should you choose? Have some tips on the Chromecast best buy of your own? Let me know in the comments below!
Which Chromecast to buy? The best Chromecast to buy at the moment, in terms of price, is the Chromecast V3. However, if you want to stream in 4K and also want to use a remote control, then you should choose the Chromecast with Google TV.
Chromecast: small but brilliant
I remember it clearly: the launch of the Chromecast in 2013, when Google revealed all the details about this little streaming device. What we didn’t know then was that tens of millions would be sold worldwide.
The Chromecast basically turns any TV (or other device) with an HDMI connection into a smart device. This makes it possible to stream all kinds of content via, for example, Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, Spotify and many other services. Gaming is also possible on (and via) the Chromecast, with Stadia for example.
A lot has changed and improved in recent years and this article will help you answer the question: which Chromecast to buy?
Of course, you don’t have to take my word for it, but I have tested and used all Chromecasts extensively since 2013 (even the Chromecast Audio), so keep reading.
The very first Chromecast…
This is the very first Chromecast that was launched in 2013. The basics are still the same: you open an app and press the cast icon and the Chromecast does the rest. This was the start of a revolution that eventually resulted in several new versions of the Chromecast.
Buying a Chromecast: an overview of the different models
Let’s start with an overview of the different Chromecasts that are currently for sale. Of course there are more Chromecasts, but in this overview I have limited myself to the Chromecast with Google TV, Chromecast Ultra and the ‘regular’ Chromecast (V3).
Features
Full HD-video (60fps)
Operated via app
Wi-Fi ac (2.4 & 5GHz)
+ Operated via app
+ Connect via USB to TV or power supply
Full HD (60fps)
Connectivity/connection
Wi-Fi ac (2.4 and 5GHz)
HDMI and micro USB
Dimensions
520 x 138 x 519 mm
55 grams
Electric lead: 1.52m
Inside the box
Chromecast
Power cable (micro-USB)
Power adapter (USB)
Requirements
TV with HDMI
Wi-Fi
Support device with Wi-Fi (smartphone or tablet)
Streaming
Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Prime and many others
Launch year
2018
Price guide ↓
Features
4K video (60fps)
HDR 10+
Android TV
Remote control
Wi-Fi ac (2.4 & 5GHz)
+ Remote control included
+ Android TV (and therefore a TV screen interface)
+ Suitable for Google Stadia (gaming)
4K (60fps)
HDR10+
Connectivity/connection
Wi-Fi ac (2.4 and 5GHz)
Bluetooth
HDMI and USB-C
Google Assistant
Dimensions
162 x 61 x 12.5 mm
55 grams
Electric lead: 2m
Inside the box
Chromecast
Power cable (USB-C)
Power Adapter (USB)
Remote control
AA batteries (2x)
Requirements
TV with HDMI
Wi-Fi
Support device with Wi-Fi (smartphone or tablet)
Streaming
Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Prime and many others
Launch year
2020
Price guide ↓
Features
4K video (60fps)
HDR 10
Operated via app
Wi-Fi ac (2.4 & 5GHz)
+ Operated via app
+ Google Stadia ready (gaming)
+ Ethernet port
– Relatively expensive
– Being phased out
4K (60fps)
HDR10
Connectivity/connection
Wi-Fi ac (2.4 and 5GHz)
HDMI and micro USB
Ethernet
Dimensions
552 x 137 x 582 mm
55 grams
Electric lead: 2m
Inside the box
Chromecast
Power cable (micro-USB)
Power adapter (USB)
Requirements
TV with HDMI
Wi-Fi
Support device with Wi-Fi (smartphone or tablet)
Streaming
Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Prime and many others
Launch year
2016
How exactly does a Chromecast work?
The Chromecast is a small device that needs to be connected to the HDMI port on your TV (or monitor) and needs power via USB/plug. This is also one of the reasons why the Chromecast is so successful: it can be used in a huge number of places, since HDMI is a commonly used connection.
Then you install the Chromecast and you are ready to go. The Chromecast makes it possible to send, for example, videos or photos to the big screen. Think of Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and Prime. But many lesser known services now also support the Chromecast.
Because the device is made by Google, many tools are offered to developers to work with it, so the cast icon is often featured.
Operating a Chromecast is easy: for example, open Netflix (or another supported app) on your smartphone, tablet or PC and click on the cast icon. Then select the Chromecast and you can stream! Only in the latest version, the Chromecast with Google TV, has a remote control been added, but in principle you do not need it.
In short, the Chromecast is a device that allows you to stream quickly and easily from your smartphone, tablet or laptop/pc to the TV or other large screen. And all that for just that small amount of money.
Learn more about how a Chromecast works in our article: What is casting?
Chromecast best buy: which one to choose
The reason you came here is because you want to know which version of the Chromecast you should buy now.
As you can see, there are three different versions available at the time of writing. For your convenience, here is an overview.
The Chromecast Ultra is a bit of an oddity: it is slowly being phased out and does not really offer any added value compared to the other two models. That is why I did not consider it when selecting a model.
The following is an overview of the most suitable model for different situations.
Chromecast (V3)
The Chromecast (V3) is the most popular Chromecast at the moment and represents excellent value for money. With this version, you can stream all content from your smartphone, tablet or laptop effortlessly to the big screen.
This one is especially suitable if you…
Compare prices Chromecast (V3)
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Chromecast with Google TV
The Chromecast with Google TV is the latest Chromecast and offers a number of interesting features, including streaming in 4K and remote control operation. If you want to buy the Chromecast with Google TV, keep the following in mind.
This one is especially suitable if you…
Compare prices of Chromecast with Google TV
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Latest Chromecast: this is the most recent model [2021]
If you are looking for the latest Chromecast, there is only one choice to make. The latest Chromecast (update 2021) is the Chromecast with Google TV, which not only allows you to stream to the big screen, but also comes with a remote control. Bear in mind, though, that if you don’t have a 4K screen, the latest may not be the best choice.
Besides the Chromecast with Google TV, there is of course also the “standard” Chromecast 3. Not necessarily new, but certainly no less interesting.
5 tips for buying a Chromecast
Bad Wi-Fi: there is a solution
Do you have bad Wi-Fi or don’t expect optimal coverage at the location of the Chromecast? Then it might be useful to buy a so-called ethernet adapter. This makes it possible to connect the Chromecast to the internet by cable, giving you a more stable (and usually faster) connection.
There are several models available, both officially from Google and from other manufacturers. An example of such an Ethernet adapter can be found here (suitable for the “standard” Chromecast, as it uses a micro-USB connector).
A proper connection is and remains essential for optimal streaming via a Chromecast.
Download the Google Home app
To get started with the Chromecast that you may be buying soon, you need an app. This is how you can install the Chromecast. The app is available for both iOS and Android.
In addition to setting up the Chromecast, you may have other devices in your home that can be connected to it. The app is basically the nerve centre of everything connected with Google Home.
Switch on the TV with your Chromecast
I personally find this a very useful feature and one you should definitely check out if you’re going to buy a Chromecast. It is possible – provided your TV supports it – to switch the TV on with the Chromecast. You do this by connecting the Chromecast to a suitable HDMI port.
In addition, it is required to have the Chromecast connected to the mains. So if you have it connected to the USB port of your TV as a power supply, this function will unfortunately not work.
In any case, it is a very useful feature that I personally use quite a lot.
Gaming on the Chromecast
Gaming on the Chromecast does not immediately sound logical. A device of a few euros on which you can play games and even games with a lot of graphics. Yet Google has come up with a solution: Google Stadia.
This cloud gaming service makes it possible to play (heavy) games on a Chromecast with Google TV or Chromecast Ultra in combination with a Stadia controller. These games are all streamed from Google’s servers and it is actually unprecedented how smoothly and with little delay this happens.
You can find out more about Google Stadia, the cost and the possibilities at stadia.google.com.
Personalise your Chromecast
The Chromecast is of course mainly used for streaming (or gaming), but you can also change the background when it is on standby. You can choose to have your own photos rotate on it, for example.
This so-called “backdrop” of the Chromecast is easy to set up by using, for example, Google Photos.
The Chromecast may initially seem like a small, cheap streaming device, but it has become a media player giant for good reason.
Buying a Chromecast: in conclusion
If you decide to connect a Chromecast, you will undoubtedly enjoy it. Of course, things can also go wrong. Maybe you can’t get the Chromecast to work properly, or you want to reset a Chromecast. Because I have been using the Chromecast for years, I have created many useful guides with solutions for common problems. Here is a list:
Have some questions or remarks on the Chromecast best buy? Let me know in the comments below!
