Shopping for Google’s cheapest TV streamers? Good luck with that

It wasn’t that long ago that you could easily snap up a Chromecast with Google TV streaming device for as little as $30. Now those days appear to be over. 

A quick check on the Google Store reveals that Google’s cheapest Chromecast streamers are gone, and now there’s only one streaming video option: The $99.99 Google TV Streamer, which made its debut last year. 

As 9to5Google notes, Google had previously said it would only sell its cheaper Chromecast with Google TV models until supplies ran out. Looking at the Chromecast with Google TV product page on the Google Store, both the HD and 4K versions of the streamer are now listed as “No longer available.” It’s still possible to find the Chromecast with Google TV at third-party retailers, but their supplies seem to be dwindling too.  

I spotted the HD version of the Chromecast with Google TV at Walmart for $56.99, a hefty markup over its former $30 list price. Macy’s has the same player for $50.40, while searches at Best Buy and Target came up empty.  

Even if you do manage to track down a Chromecast with Google TV, I’d argue that $50 is way too much to pay for the HD version. Fifty bucks with the 4K-enabled Chromecast with Google TV would be more like it but I couldn’t find that variant at all today. Now, if you’re dead-set on getting a Google TV streaming player for less than the $99.99 Google TV Streamer, there are a couple of attractive alternatives. 

First, there’s Walmart’s Onn Google TV 4K Pro, a $50 streaming box that packs in 4K video resolution, Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, 32GB of storage, a USB 3.0 port, and a fast (100Mbps) ethernet port. Those specs are way better than those you’ll find in the Chromecast with Google TV HD, which is now selling for roughly the same price. 

Looking for a Google TV streamer that’s even cheaper? Check out Walmart’s Onn TV 4K Streaming Box, which drops Dolby Vision and Atmos, whittles down the storage to 8GB, and loses the USB and ethernet ports, while still offering 4K HDR resolution—all for $20. That’s a pretty sweet deal. Of course, you could always suck it up and get the new Google TV Streamer for a cool $100, but we don’t love it for the price.  

Designed to double as a smart home hub (including a Thread border router for Matter devices), the Google TV Streamer is a good choice for those looking to kick-start their smart homes, and it offers Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and a gigabit ethernet port. That said, our reviewer Jared Newman was bummed by the lack of hands-free voice control, the “minimal AI features, and absence of an easy-to-use app switcher. 

“Smart home enthusiasts might still find this reaming box worthwhile, but Google TV fans should seek out Walmart’s Onn Google TV 4K at half the price,” Newman concluded.