Introduction
Google TV has a new flagship, and the old Chromecast is gone. If you are shopping for a Google TV device in Europe in 2026, there is really one dedicated streamer to consider, plus a growing range of TVs with Google TV built in. This guide explains your options, what the Google TV Streamer does better than the old Chromecast, and which setup makes sense for your home.
The short version: buy the Google TV Streamer (£99) if you want the best Google TV experience on any television. Buy a TV with Google TV built in if you are upgrading your set anyway. And do not pay full price for a leftover Chromecast.
Chromecast is discontinued
Google retired the Chromecast brand. The Chromecast with Google TV (which sold for £59.99) is no longer made, and remaining stock is drying up. Its replacement is the Google TV Streamer, a small set-top box rather than a dongle, priced at £99 in the UK.
This is an upgrade in almost every way: 32GB of storage instead of 8GB (room for far more apps), 4GB of RAM instead of 2GB (smoother menus), an Ethernet port for wired streaming, and a built-in smart home hub with Matter and Thread support. It also gets five years of security updates. The one thing to know: the HDMI 2.1 cable is not in the box, so you will need your own.
A warning for bargain hunters: do not pay near-retail for a used or leftover Chromecast with Google TV in 2026. At £60 it made sense; at inflated reseller prices it does not, when the Streamer is £99 new.
📊 Quick Comparison Overview
| Device | Best For | 4K | Dolby Vision | Voice Assistant | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromecast with Google TV (HD) | Budget HD | No | No | Google Assistant | €30 |
| Chromecast with Google TV (4K) | Balanced 4K | Yes | Yes | Google Assistant | €50–€60 |
| Google TV Streamer (4K models) | Premium | Yes | Yes | Google Assistant | €100+ |
Availability may vary slightly by country.
🏆 Best Overall: Google TV Streamer 4K (£99)
The Google TV Streamer is the best Google TV device you can buy in Europe, and it is not close. For £99 you get 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, Dolby Atmos audio, 32GB of storage, and the fastest Google TV interface to date (Google claims a 22 percent faster processor than the old Chromecast).
For UK and EU viewers, the strengths are: built-in Chromecast (cast from any Android phone or Chrome browser tab), excellent Google Assistant voice search on the remote, and deep integration if you already use Google Home, Nest devices or a Pixel phone. The home panel controls Matter smart home devices right from your TV.
Honest drawbacks, from UK testing: the interface can still stutter occasionally, some UK catch-up apps do not integrate neatly with the “continue watching” row, frame-rate matching for 50Hz European broadcasts is hit and miss, and there is no Wi-Fi 6 (Wi-Fi 5 only). None of these are dealbreakers, but Apple TV 4K remains smoother if you want perfection and are willing to pay more.
Price watch: in the US, Google raised the Streamer from $99.99 to $149.99 in August 2026, blaming component costs. The UK price is still £99, but it may not stay there. If you are considering one, sooner is safer than later.
Alternative: a TV with Google TV built in
Dozens of TVs from Sony, TCL, Philips and others ship with Google TV built in. If you are buying a new television anyway, this is often the neatest option: no extra box, no extra remote, no extra HDMI port used.
The trade-off is longevity. TV makers are slower with updates than Google is with the Streamer, and a £99 box is cheaper to replace in three years than a whole TV. Our advice: if your current TV is fine, buy the Streamer. If you are TV shopping, put Google TV on your shortlist of smart platforms.
What about the old Chromecast with Google TV?
If you already own one, keep using it. It still works and still gets app updates. But do not buy one new in 2026: no warranty support going forward, only 8GB of storage, and reseller prices are often close to the Streamer’s £99 anyway.
💰 Best Budget Option: Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
If you only need 1080p streaming for a secondary TV, the HD version is cheaper.
View Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
However, since many TVs now support 4K, the 4K model is usually the better long-term investment.
⚡ Performance & Speed
Google TV runs on Android-based software, offering:
✔ Smooth app navigation
✔ Personalized recommendations
✔ Google Search integration
✔ Voice-based content discovery
Performance is solid, though not as fast as Apple TV’s premium hardware.
For typical streaming use, speed is more than sufficient.
Performance Verdict: Very Good
🏆View Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
🎬 Video & Audio Quality
Most 4K Google TV devices support:
✔ 4K HDR
✔ Dolby Vision
✔ HDR10+ (depending on model)
If your TV supports Dolby Vision, Google TV devices deliver strong picture performance comparable to Fire TV.
📺 App Availability in Europe
Google TV’s Android base gives it the broadest app library of any streaming platform in Europe: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, all the UK catch-up apps (iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5), and most continental services. Sideloading APKs is also possible for apps missing from your country’s Play Store, which is useful for expats.
One caveat from UK testing: Google’s “continue watching” aggregation does not always play nicely with British catch-up apps, so you may still open iPlayer directly. Minor, but worth knowing.
🎨 Interface & Recommendations
Google TV’s interface focuses heavily on:
✔ Content discovery
✔ Personalized suggestions
✔ Watchlists
✔ Google-powered search
Unlike Fire TV (Amazon-focused), Google TV recommendations pull from multiple services more neutrally.
However, the home screen can feel content-heavy.
🏠 Smart Home Integration
Google TV integrates with:
✔ Google Assistant
✔ Google Nest devices
✔ Android smartphones
✔ Google Home app
You can:
Control smart lights
Adjust thermostats
View compatible camera feeds
For Android users or Google ecosystem households, integration is seamless.
🎮 Gaming & Extra Features
Google TV supports:
✔ Cloud gaming apps
✔ Bluetooth controllers
✔ Built-in Chromecast streaming from phone
The Chromecast feature allows instant casting from Android phones and Chrome browser.
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Affordable 4K option
Dolby Vision support
Built-in Chromecast
Strong app availability
Google Assistant integration
❌ Cons
Interface more recommendation-heavy
Hardware not as powerful as Apple TV
Some lower-cost models may feel slower over time
🏆 Final Recommendation (2026)
Buy the Google TV Streamer at £99. It is the only dedicated Google TV device worth buying in 2026, it fixes every weakness of the old Chromecast, and the UK price has not yet followed the US increase. Skip leftover Chromecasts, and only consider a Google TV television if you are already TV shopping.
FAQ
Is Chromecast discontinued?
Yes. Google retired the Chromecast brand. The Chromecast with Google TV is no longer manufactured; the Google TV Streamer (£99) is its replacement.
How much is the Google TV Streamer in the UK?
£99 from the Google Store (an HDMI 2.1 cable is not included). In the US the price rose to $149.99 in August 2026; the UK price has not risen yet.
Is the Google TV Streamer better than Chromecast with Google TV?
Yes: 32GB vs 8GB storage, 4GB vs 2GB RAM, Ethernet port, Dolby Vision and Atmos, Matter/Thread smart home hub, and five years of security updates.
Does the Google TV Streamer come with an HDMI cable?
No. You need your own HDMI 2.1 cable (sold separately).
Should I buy a Google TV Streamer or a TV with Google TV built in?
Buy the Streamer if your TV is fine; it is faster and easier to replace. Buy a Google TV television if you are upgrading your set anyway.
Does Google TV work well in Europe?
Yes, with the broadest app library of any platform. Note some UK catch-up apps do not integrate perfectly with the continue-watching row.
