Best Chromecast Deals: Top Picks and Prices Compared

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

The best Chromecast deal for most households in 2026 is the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) — the model that ships with a voice remote and the Google TV home screen — because it drives a 4K main-room television, gives you a real remote instead of a phone-only workflow, and sits in the middle of Google’s streaming lineup rather than at the very top of the price ladder. If your television is 1080p, or you are filling a bedroom, kitchen or spare room, the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) delivers the same interface and the same remote for noticeably less. If the room where the TV lives has stubborn Wi-Fi, the Chromecast Ultra remains the only Google streamer here with an Ethernet port built into its power adapter. Everything below compares how these listings are priced against each other, what actually comes in each box, and which resolutions each device can output, so you can match the deal to the room rather than to the largest number printed on the packaging.

Our Top Picks

1. 

   Google Chromecast2.29 x 0.54 x 2.29 Inches0.1 pounds

   Check on Amazon
2. 

   Google Chromecast with Google TV2.4 x 0.5 x 6.4 inches0.7 pounds

   Check on Amazon
3. 

   Google0 x 0 x 0 inches0.71 pounds

   Check on Amazon
4. 

   Google Chromecast GA3A00028A14 HDMI Streaming Media Player11 x 9 x 5 inches0.5 Pounds

   Check on Amazon
5. 

   ONN Android TV 2K FHD Streaming Stick with5.41 x 7.8 x 10.97 inches0.55 Pounds

   Check on Amazon
6. 

   Ultimate Lure G9N9N Voice Remote Control Compatible with4.11 x 1.45 x 0.33 inches0.11 pounds

   Check on Amazon

Top 3 Picks

Best overall: Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

It is the only pick here that covers a modern 4K television, a voice remote, a full on-screen app interface and HDR playback in one purchase, which makes it the safest single buy for a main living room. The remote also controls television power and volume, so you can retire a second remote. For most people shopping for the best Chromecast deals, this is the one where paying a little more removes the most future regret.

Best budget: Chromecast with Google TV (HD)

Same Google TV interface, same style of voice remote, same app store — capped at 1080p output, which is exactly what a 32- to 43-inch bedroom or secondary television can actually display. It is the cheapest way into the modern Google TV ecosystem, and for smaller screens the resolution ceiling costs you nothing visible. If you own a 1080p set and a phone, this is the value pick.

Best for wired networks: Google Chromecast Ultra

The Ultra’s power adapter includes an Ethernet port, so a room with congested Wi-Fi gets a stable wired connection without a separate dongle or adapter. It outputs 4K HDR and supports Dolby Vision, and it is a cast-only device, meaning you drive it from a phone, tablet or laptop rather than from a bundled remote. For a wall-mounted 4K television in a dead zone, it solves a problem nothing else in this list solves out of the box.

Quick Comparison

Price tiers below are relative bands — budget, mid-range and premium — rather than fixed figures, because streaming hardware is discounted and repriced constantly across retailers. What does not change day to day is what each device can output, what is inside the box, and whether it needs a phone to operate.

How We Chose

This roundup is built from published product specifications, retailer listing details and the documented behaviour of the Google Cast and Google TV platforms — not from hands-on use. The first filter was resolution honesty: a device only earns a place on a 4K television recommendation if its specification sheet states 4K output, and a 1080p streamer is only recommended for screens where 1080p is the native panel resolution. The second filter was what is actually in the box, because a streamer without a remote and without an on-screen interface is a fundamentally different product from one with both, even when the two look similar on a shelf. The third filter was the upgrade path: whether the device can grow with a household that later adds a larger television, a soundbar or a wired network. The final filter was ecosystem fit — whether a buyer with an Android phone, an iPhone, or no phone preference at all gets the same value. Accessories such as replacement remotes and Ethernet adapters were included only where they solve a documented, common problem rather than a hypothetical one.

1. Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) – Best for cast-only 1080p televisions

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

This is the classic black Chromecast puck, and it suits one specific kind of household: people who are perfectly happy to start playback from a phone, tablet or laptop and who own a 1080p television. There is no remote in the box and no home screen to browse. You open an app on your phone, tap the cast icon, and the video appears on the television. For a spare room, a garage television or a guest bedroom where nobody wants to learn a new interface, that simplicity is the whole appeal — there is nothing to set up beyond joining the Wi-Fi network once.

• Output: 1080p at up to 60 Hz
• Form factor: puck with an integrated HDMI cable and a separate power cable
• Wireless: dual-band Wi-Fi, so it can use the less crowded 5 GHz band
• Control: phone, tablet or laptop casting only — no bundled remote
• Interface: no standalone home screen or app store on the device itself
• HDR: not supported

The strengths here are cost and invisibility. Because the device has no interface of its own, there is no account to sign into on the television, no app updates competing for storage, and no menu for a guest to get lost in. It also works with a very wide range of casting-enabled apps across both iOS and Android, which makes it a genuinely platform-neutral option in a mixed-device household. Dual-band Wi-Fi matters more than people expect in apartment buildings, where 2.4 GHz channels are often congested.

Pros

• Lowest entry cost of any Google-branded streamer in this list
• No remote to lose and no on-screen account setup
• Works with casting from both Android and Apple phones
• Dual-band Wi-Fi helps in crowded wireless environments

Cons

• Capped at 1080p, so it wastes a 4K television
• No remote means anyone without a charged phone cannot use it
• No HDR support, which matters on newer mid-range panels
• You cannot install apps on it or browse a home screen

Against the Google Chromecast GA3A00028A14 listing, which is the same generation of hardware presented under its model number, this version is functionally identical — the difference is packaging and presentation, so buy whichever is cheaper on the day. Against the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), it loses decisively on convenience: the HD model adds a remote, an app interface and HDR support for a modest step up in tier. Choose this one only if you actively prefer phone-driven casting.

2. Chromecast with Google TV (4K) – Best for main-room 4K televisions

This is the pick for the television everyone actually watches. It suits a household with a 4K panel in the living room, at least one person who wants a normal remote-control experience, and a mix of streaming subscriptions. The Google TV interface aggregates shows and films from the services you subscribe to into a single watchlist, and the bundled voice remote can search across them, control television power and adjust volume, which removes one remote from the coffee table.

• Output: 4K at up to 60 Hz
• HDR: HDR playback including Dolby Vision on compatible televisions
• Interface: Google TV home screen with an app store and a unified watchlist
• Control: bundled voice remote with television power and volume control
• Power: USB-C, which also opens the door to Ethernet adapters
• Audio: passthrough of modern surround formats to a soundbar or receiver

The advantage over every cast-only puck in this roundup is that the device itself is the product, not a target for your phone. Apps launch from the home screen, updates arrive on the stick, and anyone in the house can pick up the remote without installing anything. Voice search is genuinely faster than typing titles with a directional pad, especially across multiple services. The USB-C power port is a quiet but significant detail: it is what makes the ELECTOP Ethernet adapter in this list possible at all, so a room with poor Wi-Fi can be fixed later without replacing the streamer.

Pros

• Full 4K HDR output, including Dolby Vision on compatible sets
• Remote controls the television as well as the streamer
• Unified watchlist across multiple streaming services
• USB-C power port supports wired-network upgrades

Cons

• Premium tier, so it costs meaningfully more than the HD version
• Onboard storage is limited, which constrains how many large apps you install
• Overkill if the television is 1080p
• The interface surfaces recommendations, which some people find busy

Its closest rival is the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), which is the same experience capped at 1080p. If your panel is 4K and 50 inches or larger, the 4K model is the correct purchase and the HD version is a false economy. Against the Chromecast Ultra, this model gives up the built-in Ethernet port but gains a remote and a home screen — a trade most living rooms should make, since a USB-C Ethernet adapter closes the connectivity gap for a modest extra cost.

3. Google Chromecast TV HD (NO/DK/SE/FI) – Best for Nordic-market 1080p televisions

This listing is the HD Chromecast with Google TV packaged for the Nordic region — the NO/DK/SE/FI designation points to Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland — and it suits a buyer in that market who wants documentation, packaging and regional service information in the expected form. Functionally it is the same class of device as the standard HD model: 1080p output, Google TV interface, voice remote in the box. Buyers outside the Nordics should generally prefer the standard listing, because regional variants can complicate warranty and support conversations.

• Output: 1080p at up to 60 Hz
• HDR: HDR formats supported at 1080p resolution on compatible televisions
• Interface: Google TV with app store and unified watchlist
• Control: bundled voice remote with television power and volume
• Region: Nordic packaging and documentation
• Power: USB-C

The reason to consider this over the standard HD listing is not performance — the hardware class is the same — but administrative fit. If you are in Norway, Denmark, Sweden or Finland, a regionally designated unit is easier to register, easier to return and easier to get serviced. For everyone else, the standard HD model is the same experience with fewer complications, and it is usually easier to find in stock.

Pros

• Regional packaging and documentation for Nordic buyers
• Same Google TV interface and voice remote as the standard HD model
• HDR support at 1080p, which is rare at this price class
• USB-C power port leaves the door open for a wired adapter

Cons

• Premium tier pricing for what is, in hardware terms, a 1080p device
• Regional designation adds friction for buyers outside the Nordics
• No 4K output, so it is unsuitable for a large modern panel
• Stock of regional variants tends to be thinner and less predictable

The nearest alternative in this list is the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), which offers the same capabilities without the regional designation and is usually the better value outside the Nordics. If you are in the Nordic market and want the simplest support path, this version earns its premium. If you are anywhere else, treat the two as interchangeable and buy whichever is cheaper.

4. Google Chromecast GA3A00028A14 – Best for replacing a cast-only puck

The GA3A00028A14 model number identifies the third-generation Chromecast hardware, so this listing is the same device class as the black puck above, presented under its part number rather than a marketing name. It suits someone replacing a failed or ageing cast-only streamer — a first-generation unit that has finally stopped receiving app support, for instance — who wants identical behaviour with no learning curve. If you already cast from your phone and are happy doing so, this is a straight swap.

• Output: 1080p at up to 60 Hz
• Form factor: puck with integrated HDMI connection
• Wireless: dual-band Wi-Fi
• Control: casting from phone, tablet or laptop; no remote
• Interface: no on-device home screen
• In the box: streaming puck and power cable; check the listing for an HDMI cable

The practical value of this listing is availability. Model-number listings often remain in stock longer than consumer-facing ones, which matters when you are replacing a device that failed mid-season and you do not want to change your whole setup. Behaviour is identical to the other third-generation units: dual-band Wi-Fi for cleaner 5 GHz connections, 1080p60 output, and broad app support through casting.

Pros

• Same-generation hardware as the standard third-generation puck
• No interface to relearn if you are upgrading from an older cast-only unit
• Dual-band Wi-Fi for crowded apartment wireless
• Often remains in stock when consumer-packaged versions sell out

Cons

• No remote and no on-screen menu, which limits who can use it
• 1080p ceiling with no HDR
• Model-number listings can be less clear about included accessories
• No upgrade path beyond replacing the device entirely

Compared with the Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) listing, this is effectively the same purchase; pick on price and on which listing states clearly what is in the box. Compared with the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), it is a step backwards in convenience for a small saving — the HD model’s remote and app interface are worth the difference for almost any household that watches television without a phone in hand.

5. ONN Android TV 2K FHD Streaming Stick – Best for a cheap second or third television

This is a house-brand Android TV stick, and it suits a very specific job: getting a smart interface onto an old 1080p television in a spare room, a child’s bedroom or a workshop, at the lowest sensible outlay. It arrives with a physical remote and a power adapter, runs the Android TV platform, and has Chromecast functionality built in, so casting from a phone still works alongside the on-screen app interface.

• Output: 1080p full HD
• Platform: Android TV with an app store
• Control: physical remote included; voice search is not stated in the listing name
• Casting: Chromecast built in, so phone casting works as well as on-screen apps
• In the box: streaming stick, remote control and power adapter
• Connection: HDMI, with Wi-Fi for networking

The appeal is price and completeness. Many budget sticks cut the power adapter out of the box to hit a headline figure; this one includes it, which matters if the television’s USB port cannot supply enough current. The Android TV interface is a mature platform with broad app coverage, and the built-in casting means it does not force a choice between remote-driven and phone-driven use — it supports both.

Pros

• Low outlay for a fully functional 1080p smart interface
• Remote and power adapter both included
• Chromecast built in, so phone casting still works
• Good fit for a secondary television that does not justify premium hardware

Cons

• House-brand support and update cadence are less predictable than Google’s
• 1080p only, with no 4K option in this listing
• Voice search is not advertised, so expect button navigation
• App availability can lag behind the Google TV store on niche services

Against the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), this stick trades platform polish and voice search for a lower price. If the television is in a room where nobody cares about voice control or the newest apps, the saving is real. If it is a main television, the HD model’s Google TV interface and remote are worth the extra, and the 4K model is worth it again on a large panel.

6. Ultimate Lure G9N9N Voice Remote Control – Best for replacing a lost remote on a 4K Snow model

This is a third-party replacement voice remote compatible with the Snow colourway of the Chromecast with Google TV 4K. It suits the very common situation where the original remote has been lost down the side of a sofa, chewed by a pet, or filled with something sticky — and where a first-party replacement is hard to find or priced higher than feels reasonable. It is a spare-parts purchase, not a streaming device.

• Type: Bluetooth voice remote
• Compatibility: Chromecast with Google TV 4K, Snow colourway
• Function: voice search button plus standard navigation and playback controls
• Pairing: Bluetooth pairing to the streamer, typically through the on-screen remote setup
• Power: check the listing for whether batteries are included

The value of a spare remote is easy to underestimate until you have lost one. Because Chromecast with Google TV remotes pair over Bluetooth rather than infrared, a replacement does not need line of sight and can live in a drawer until needed. Keeping a spare also solves the pairing problem in advance: the moment the primary remote dies, you can pair the spare from the on-screen menu using the physical button on the streaming device itself.

Pros

• Budget-tier way to restore full remote control
• Voice search supported, not just basic navigation
• Useful as a pre-paired spare rather than only a replacement
• Colour-matched to the Snow variant

Cons

• Third-party build quality varies between production runs
• Compatibility is stated for the 4K Snow model specifically
• Television power and volume control behaviour can differ from the original
• Battery inclusion is not guaranteed

Against the anlvico Replacement Voice Remote, the two occupy the same niche and the same price tier. The anlvico listing states compatibility with both the 4K and HD Google TV models, which makes it the broader choice if you own more than one streamer. This one is the better match if you specifically want the Snow colourway and want the remote to look like the original.

7. Google Chromecast Ultra – Best for wired 4K setups and weak-Wi-Fi rooms

The Ultra is the specialist pick in this roundup. It suits a 4K television in a room where Wi-Fi is unreliable — a basement, a brick-walled flat, a converted garage — because its power adapter has an Ethernet port built in. Plug a network cable into the adapter and the streamer runs on wired gigabit-class connectivity with no adapter, no dongle and no port conflict. It is a cast-only device, so it assumes you are happy starting playback from a phone, tablet or laptop.

• Output: 4K at up to 60 Hz
• HDR: HDR playback including Dolby Vision on compatible televisions
• Networking: dual-band Wi-Fi plus an Ethernet port integrated into the power adapter
• Control: casting only; no remote and no on-device interface
• Form factor: puck with integrated HDMI connection
• Audio: surround format passthrough to a compatible sound system

The built-in Ethernet is the reason to buy it. On every other device in this list, wired networking means buying a separate USB-C adapter and accepting that the adapter occupies the power port — which is why pass-through power matters. The Ultra sidesteps that entirely: the network port and the power supply are the same component, so setup is a single cable and there is nothing extra to lose. It also supports 4K HDR and Dolby Vision, so a large panel is not wasted.

Pros

• Ethernet port built into the power adapter — no separate accessory
• 4K HDR output with Dolby Vision support
• Wired connection removes buffering caused by congested Wi-Fi
• Simple, cable-driven setup with no extra hardware to mount

Cons

• Cast-only: no remote, no home screen, no app store on the device
• Premium tier pricing despite an older platform generation
• Everyone who wants to watch needs a phone or tablet to hand
• Interface features lag behind the Google TV models

Against the Chromecast with Google TV (4K), the trade is clear: the Google TV model gives you a remote, an app interface and a modern platform, but you must add an Ethernet adapter yourself if the Wi-Fi is poor. If your room already has a network cable run to the television, the Ultra is the tidier solution. If not, buy the Google TV 4K model and an adapter — you get a newer platform for roughly the same total outlay.

8. anlvico Replacement Voice Remote – Best for a budget remote replacement across Google TV models

This replacement voice remote is listed for the Chromecast with Google TV 4K Snow and HD models, which makes it the more flexible of the two third-party remotes here. It suits a household with more than one Google TV streamer, or a buyer who is not certain which model they own and wants a remote that covers both possibilities. Like the other replacement remote, it is a spare part rather than a streaming device.

• Type: Bluetooth voice remote
• Compatibility: Chromecast with Google TV 4K and HD models
• Function: voice search plus navigation, playback and volume controls
• Pairing: Bluetooth pairing via the on-screen remote setup screen
• Power: check the listing for battery inclusion

Broad compatibility is the selling point. If you own an HD streamer in the bedroom and a 4K streamer in the living room, one spare remote covers both, which is a better use of a drawer than two model-specific spares. Because these remotes pair over Bluetooth, pairing is a software step rather than a line-of-sight requirement, and you can pair a new remote using the physical button on the streaming stick if the old one is unresponsive.

Pros

• Covers both the 4K and HD Google TV streamers
• Budget tier, so a spare costs very little
• Voice search retained rather than dropped on the budget version
• Bluetooth pairing means no aiming at the television

Cons

• Button feel and layout may differ subtly from the original
• Television power and volume functions can behave differently across televisions
• Not intended for the older cast-only pucks, which have no remote support at all
• Third-party durability is unpredictable over several years

Against the Ultimate Lure G9N9N remote, this one wins on compatibility breadth and the other wins on exact colour matching for the Snow 4K model. Both sit in the budget tier, so the decision is about coverage rather than cost. Whichever you choose, note the important limitation: a voice remote is useless with a third-generation, second-generation or Ultra Chromecast, because those devices have no remote receiver and no on-screen interface to navigate.

9. Chromecast with Google TV (HD) – Best for the best value in a 1080p room

This is the value champion of the roundup and the device most people should buy for a bedroom, kitchen, study or secondary lounge. It suits anyone with a 1080p television who still wants a proper remote, a browsable app interface and voice search. It is the cheapest way into the modern Google TV platform, and on a 32- to 43-inch screen the resolution ceiling is not a compromise at all — it matches what the panel can display.

• Output: 1080p at up to 60 Hz
• HDR: HDR formats supported at 1080p on compatible televisions
• Interface: Google TV home screen with app store and unified watchlist
• Control: bundled voice remote with television power and volume control
• Power: USB-C, so Ethernet adapters can be added later
• Audio: passthrough of modern surround formats where the television supports it

The case for this model is that it gives you everything the 4K version gives you except resolution. HDR at 1080p is a genuine feature, not a marketing line: on a mid-range panel, HDR often improves perceived picture quality more than a jump in pixel count, because contrast and colour handling matter more at typical viewing distances than raw resolution. The USB-C power port means the same Ethernet upgrade path is available if the Wi-Fi in that room turns out to be weak.

Pros

• Budget tier pricing for a full Google TV experience
• Voice remote controls television power and volume
• HDR support even at 1080p
• USB-C port allows a wired-network upgrade later

Cons

• No 4K output, so it is the wrong choice for a large modern panel
• Limited onboard storage restricts heavy app libraries
• Same busy recommendation-driven interface as the 4K model
• Not a meaningful upgrade if you already own a working Google TV device

Against the Chromecast with Google TV (4K), the decision is purely about the television. On a 1080p set, this model is the better value and the 4K version simply costs more for pixels you cannot see. On a 4K set 50 inches or larger, buy the 4K model. Against the ONN Android TV stick, this costs more but buys a better-supported platform, voice search and a more polished interface — worth it for any television that gets daily use.

10. Google Chromecast – Streaming Device with HDMI Cable – Best for a straightforward cast-only bundle

This listing is a cast-only Chromecast packaged with an HDMI cable, and it suits a buyer replacing an older cast-only device who wants the cable included so nothing else needs ordering. It fits the same household as the third-generation puck: people who drive playback from a phone or tablet and who own a 1080p television. The included HDMI cable is more useful than it sounds if the television’s HDMI ports are recessed or the existing cable is buried in a wall.

• Output: 1080p at up to 60 Hz
• Control: casting from phone, tablet or laptop; no remote
• Interface: no on-device home screen or app store
• In the box: streaming device, power supply and HDMI cable
• Wireless: dual-band Wi-Fi
• HDR: not supported

The advantage of buying the bundle rather than the bare device is completeness. Cast-only Chromecasts use an integrated short HDMI connector, which is fine on a television with side-facing ports but awkward on a wall-mounted set where the ports face backwards and the device will not fit. An HDMI cable solves that cleanly and avoids a second shopping trip. The rest is the familiar cast-only experience: tap the cast icon in an app, choose the television, and playback starts.

Pros

• HDMI cable included, which matters on wall-mounted televisions
• No account setup or interface on the television itself
• Works with casting from both Android and Apple devices
• Simple to move between televisions

Cons

• Premium tier pricing for cast-only functionality
• 1080p only, with no HDR
• No remote, so a phone is mandatory for every viewing session
• No app installation or browsing on the device

Against the Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) listing, the difference is the cable and the presentation — functionally these are the same class of device, so buy the one that costs less. Against the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), this bundle loses on every convenience measure for a similar outlay, and only makes sense if you specifically want to keep using your phone as the remote.

11. Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player (2nd Gen) – Coral Red – Best for legacy and colour-matched setups

The second-generation Chromecast in coral red is a legacy device, and it suits two narrow groups: people replacing a failed unit in a setup built around cast-only hardware, and buyers who specifically want the coloured shell to match a room or an existing collection. It is a 1080p cast-only streamer with dual-band Wi-Fi and no remote, no home screen and no HDR.

• Output: 1080p
• Wireless: dual-band Wi-Fi
• Control: casting only; no remote
• Interface: none on the device
• Finish: coral red shell
• HDR: not supported

The honest assessment is that this generation is behind the third-generation hardware on the same 1080p footing. It still casts reliably, and because cast-only devices have no interface and no app store, they age more gracefully than smart televisions — there is less software to become obsolete. The coral finish is the only genuinely distinguishing feature, and for some buyers that is reason enough in a room with a specific colour scheme.

Pros

• Coral red finish is unusual and distinctive
• Cast-only design means very little software to go wrong
• Dual-band Wi-Fi for cleaner 5 GHz connections
• Familiar behaviour if you are coming from an older Chromecast

Cons

• An older generation than the third-generation puck at a similar tier
• 1080p only, no HDR, no remote
• Long-term app support is the least certain of anything in this list
• Not a sensible purchase for a main television

Against the Google Chromecast (3rd Generation), this is a generation older for roughly comparable money, so the newer device is the better default unless the colour matters to you. Against the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), the gap is much wider: the HD model adds a remote, an app interface, HDR and a modern platform, and it is the correct choice for anyone who wants a device rather than a casting target.

12. ELECTOP 1000Mbps Ethernet Adapter – Best for fixing buffering on a Google TV streamer

This is not a streamer but the accessory that rescues one. It is a USB-C to RJ45 gigabit Ethernet adapter designed for the Chromecast with Google TV, and it suits anyone whose streamer stutters, drops to low resolution, or buffers during peak evening hours because the Wi-Fi in that room cannot keep up. If the room has a router, a switch or a network wall plate within cable reach, this is the cheapest meaningful upgrade in the entire roundup.

• Type: USB-C to RJ45 Ethernet adapter
• Speed class: gigabit-class (1000 Mbps) wired networking
• Compatibility: Chromecast with Google TV models with a USB-C power port
• Installation: plugs into the streamer’s USB-C port; requires power pass-through or a separate power path
• Cable needed: a standard Ethernet patch cable to the router or switch

The important detail most buyers miss is the port conflict. On a Chromecast with Google TV, the single USB-C port is both the data port and the power port. An adapter that does not pass power through will occupy that port and leave the streamer unpowered, which is why pass-through support matters — check the specific unit before buying. Get that right and the result is a wired connection that removes Wi-Fi congestion entirely, which typically shows up as faster starts, fewer mid-scene resolution drops and smoother 4K playback in a busy household.

Pros

• Budget-tier fix for buffering that is not the internet connection’s fault
• Gigabit-class link removes Wi-Fi congestion as a variable
• Works with the HD and 4K Google TV streamers that use USB-C power
• Far cheaper than replacing a streamer or upgrading a router

Cons

• Requires an Ethernet cable run to the television, which is not always practical
• Power pass-through support varies and must be confirmed before purchase
• No benefit if the broadband connection itself is the bottleneck
• Adds a small amount of bulk behind a wall-mounted television

Against the Google Chromecast Ultra, which includes Ethernet in its power adapter, this adapter is the retrofit route: you keep a modern Google TV streamer with a remote and add wired networking. The Ultra is tidier if you are buying new and do not need a remote; the adapter is better if you already own a Google TV device and simply want to stop the buffering.

How to Choose

Start with the television, not the streamer. The panel decides the resolution you should pay for, and paying for 4K output on a 1080p screen is the most common way people waste money on streaming hardware. A 1080p television should get a 1080p device; a 4K television 50 inches or larger should get a 4K device. Between those extremes the answer depends on viewing distance. As a working rule, at roughly 8 to 10 feet — the typical living-room sofa distance — the visible advantage of 4K over 1080p becomes clear mainly on screens of about 55 inches and above. At 6 to 8 feet in a bedroom with a 32- to 43-inch screen, 1080p is indistinguishable, and the money is better spent elsewhere.

Next, decide whether you want a remote or a phone. This is the single biggest functional split in the entire category. Cast-only devices — the third-generation Chromecast, the second-generation model and the Chromecast Ultra — have no remote, no home screen and no app store. They are targets for your phone. Google TV devices have all three. If more than one person uses the television, or if anyone in the house is uncomfortable starting playback from a phone, buy a Google TV device. If you are the only viewer and you always have your phone in hand, a cast-only device is simpler and cheaper, and there is no interface for a guest to get lost in.

Then look at the wireless environment, because it decides whether you need wired networking. Streaming bandwidth guidance is well established: roughly 5 Mbps is enough for

Related guides

• Best Table Saw Deals: Top Value Picks for Your Shop
• Best Outdoor Lounge Chair Deals: Comfort for Every Patio
• Best Gas Pressure Washer Deals: Power and Value Compared
• Best Cyber Monday Sol de Janeiro Deals: Top Sets to Buy

Browse all Deals guides →