If you want to stream shows and movies on your television, wait a moment before you run out and drop hundreds of dollars on a smart TV. Streaming devices like the Google Chromecast are a cheap way to turn almost any reasonably modern television into a smart TV for streaming Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and more, and these little dongles are also cost-effective for adding streaming capabilities to a second TV in your kitchen, kids’ room, or guest bedroom.
You’ve got a couple different Chromecast models to choose from, so to help you find the right one, we’ve got the best Google Chromecast deals available this month right here, along with some bundle offers if you want to take your Google-powered smart home setup a little bit further:
Today’s best Chromecast deals
- Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) — $30
- Chromecast with Google TV (4K) — $50
- Jensen JSB-1000 Hi-Res Wireless Speaker with Chromecast — $108, was $136
Chromecast vs. Chromecast with Google TV
There are two Chromecast models on the market today, and which one you need will largely come down to what sort of TV you’re hooking it up to. The standard Chromecast, now in its third generation, can stream video content up to a resolution of 1080p; the new Chromecast with Google TV (which has officially replaced the now-discontinued Chromecast Ultra) is capable of 4K HDR streaming, however, so if you have an Ultra HD TV — one that doesn’t have built-in streaming capabilities as almost all modern 4K televisions do — then that’s the one you’ll want to spring for.
Google Chromecast with Google TV also includes a remote, not unlike the Roku family of streaming devices, whereas the regular Chromecast does not. Whichever Chromecast dongle you choose, the only requirement for use is that your TV must have an HDMI port as this is how the Chromecast interfaces with the television.
Related
What happened to Chromecast Audio?
Chromecast Audio was a unique little dongle that allowed you to stream content such as music and podcasts to any “dumb” speaker, similar to how the other Chromecast players allow you to use a “dumb” TV like a smart TV. Chromecast Audio never quite caught on, however, due to lack of demand for such a device as well as the huge popularity of audio streaming services like Pandora and Spotify. If you’re looking for something like Chromecast Audio, then we recommend the Amazon Echo Dot, which offers audio streaming along with Alexa A.I. and a built-in speaker for around the same price.
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