When Chromecast launched in 2013, it was a little under the radar. It was a simple little streaming dongle that let you cast your favorite TV show or movie from your smartphone or tablet to your TV. It was a great way to watch content on the big screen without having to pay for an expensive streaming service like Netflix or Hulu.
Luckily, Google decided to take notice of this little device’s hidden potential and brought Chromecast to market in various forms to better serve its users. The first-generation Chromecast was launched in 2014, followed by the Chromecast Audio in 2015, the Chromecast Ultra in 2018, and the Chromecast Auto in 2019.
The last few years have seen the release of multiple Google Chromecasts, and it’s time to take a deep dive into the world of these little dongles and figure out if they’re worth buying. In this post, we’ll explain what a Chromecast is and what you can use it for. We’ll also talk about the different versions of Chromecast, as well as its pros and cons.
What is Google Chromecast?
A Chromecast is a tiny device that you connect to your TV, and it lets you stream content from your smartphone or tablet to the big screen. The first-generation Chromecast was released in 2014 and let you cast your favorite videos from YouTube and Netflix, among others. Google also released the Chromecast Audio in 2015, which allowed you to cast audio to any speakers around your home and use a pair of headphones or earbuds with an attached microphone. The last few years have seen the release of multiple versions of Chromecasts, all with increasing capabilities.
The latest version of Google's streaming dongle is the Chromecast Ultra. This new device has many improvements over its predecessors and some downsides as well. We'll cover all these issues and more in our review below!
Google Chromecast Ultra review: Design
The first thing you’ll notice about the Chromecast Ultra is its design. It’s a little more sleek than your average Chromecast. The black casing and a matte finish make it look like one of those Apple headphones. It's in your face, but not in an obnoxious way.
One of the few differences between the Chromecast Ultra and other Chromecasts is that it has an Ethernet port on the backside for power-hungry users who don’t have Wi-Fi at home or need to plug their devices into a wired connection. It also has a USB-C port for charging devices without needing to use the power outlet from your TV.
Although it may be considered a small feature, this is one of my favorite things about the Chromecast Ultra because I am constantly forgetting to charge my phones and tablets with other dongles I have.
Google Chromecast Ultra review: Interface
The interface of the Chromecast Ultra is by far the best feature. It’s a sleek black and white interface that makes it easy to navigate through your media without any troubles. On the left side of the screen, you can find all your favorite apps, like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Spotify. You can also find the cast icon that lets you stream media from your phone or tablet to your TV.
In addition to this, there are three tabs on the bottom of the screen: Library, Devices, and Control Center. The Library tab displays all the apps installed on your Chromecast, and you can quickly switch between them with a flick of a button. The Devices tab allows you to see all your devices connected to your Chromecast and watch content from them or change their settings by clicking on them.
Finally, the Control Center gives you quick-access to a number of settings that are useful during use of your Chromecast: volume controls for Netflix videos; brightness controls; exit button; restart button; search bar; power socket icon; power status indicator; and connection status indicator.
Google Chromecast Ultra review: Content and Apps
The Google Chromecast Ultra is the company’s most powerful streaming device yet. It offers 4K resolution and HDR content, a built-in speaker, and an Ethernet port to provide a more stable connection. When it comes to streaming services, this little dongle can do it all – Netflix, YouTube, HBO NOW, Hulu, and Spotify. With so many apps allowing for Chromecast connections, you have no excuse not to get one of these devices in your living room! The Chromecast Ultra also supports 4K streaming and HDR content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and others.
Google Chromecast Ultra review: Performance
The Chromecast Ultra is the newest and most powerful of the Google Chromecasts. It’s also more expensive than some of its predecessors, but it has a few features that can’t be found in other versions of the dongle. The Ultra is capable of 4K HDR streaming from Netflix and YouTube, which makes it one of the best available for this type of content.
Another great feature is that you can cast to multiple devices at once. One person can watch a movie on their television while another person watches the same movie on their phone or tablet. If you have more than one TV in your home, you might want to consider getting a Chromecast Ultra as it supports up to six different devices simultaneously.
Google Chromecast Ultra review: Verdict
The Chromecast Ultra is more expensive than the original Chromecast at $69.99, but it has many features that make it worth the price. If you want to stream 4K content though, then you’ll need to shell out a lot more money for the Ultra. On top of that, Google isn’t at fault for this price hike because they’re a private company and can charge whatever they want. So if you don't mind shelling out a little bit extra for a premium product that works well and long-lasting, then there is no reason not to buy this device!
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