ConsFirst / Streaming devices

Google

Google TV Streamer (4K): the downsides first

We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we report. Learn more

#2 of 8
$$$Box with smart-home hubScore 4.0/5
12%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)4,299 ratings; the listing may pool the Hazel and Porcelain colors.

Wirecutter's top pick: very fast, with the best cross-app home screen and search, plus a Google Home and Matter hub built in. It's Wi-Fi 5 only, has no hands-free voice or AirPlay, and Google's store now lists it at $149.99, up from the $99 most reviews were written at.

Top complaints

  • Price went up

    Reviewers note it launched at $99, twice the old Chromecast with Google TV, and CNET lists 'costs twice what most streaming sticks do' as a con. Google's own store now lists it at $149.99. Amazon's review summary says some owners consider it overpriced.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, CNET review, Google Store, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Busy interface, some app gaps

    CNET calls the interface very busy, says the content rows can't be customized and the simpler apps-only mode disables search. At its 2024 review CNET found Apple Music and BritBox didn't work and Xbox Cloud Gaming, Luna and PlayStation Plus were missing. Amazon owners report trouble with unofficial apps.

    Source: CNET review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Wi-Fi 5, no hands-free voice, no AirPlay

    Wirecutter lists Wi-Fi 5 only, no far-field microphones and no Alexa, Siri or AirPlay 2 support as flaws, and wishes an HDMI cable were included. PCMag notes the cheaper Onn 4K Pro has Wi-Fi 6 and hands-free voice. Amazon's summary says some owners report units that stop working.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), PCMag Onn 4K Pro review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)

What owners love

  • Fast, with the best content home screen

    Wirecutter says apps boot instantly and it felt faster than the Roku Ultra; Google TV shows what you were watching across services and searches all of them without pushing one store.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT)
  • Smart-home control on the TV

    Tom's Guide could view cameras and dim lights from an on-screen Google Home panel. It works as a Google Home hub with Matter and Thread (Wirecutter).

    Source: Tom's Guide review, Wirecutter (NYT)
  • Good remote with a finder button

    Wirecutter calls the remote's navigation pad fast and accurate. A button on the box makes the remote chime, which Tom's Guide could hear through couch cushions. Amazon owners praise the 4K picture and easy setup.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
Good for
  • Subscribers to many services who want one home screen
  • Google Home and Nest households
  • A wired Ethernet setup

Scores (tap for why)

  • Speed & interface4.5
    Why 4.5?Wirecutter found it faster than the Roku Ultra and the Onn box. CNET found the Apple TV 4K quicker and a slow 42-second restart.
    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), CNET review
  • Apps & formats4.0
    Why 4.0?Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Atmos and Google Cast (Wirecutter, Tom's Guide), but no AirPlay, and CNET found some app and cloud-gaming gaps.
    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), CNET review
  • Ads & privacy3.5
    Why 3.5?Wirecutter says Google TV is more service-neutral than Amazon or Apple. CNET calls the content-heavy home screen very busy. No microphones on the box itself.
    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), CNET review
  • Remote4.5
    Why 4.5?Fast, accurate pad and a remote finder (Wirecutter, Tom's Guide); CNET would have preferred a rechargeable battery to AA cells.
    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), Tom's Guide review, CNET review
  • Wi-Fi & reliability3.5
    Why 3.5?Gigabit Ethernet but only Wi-Fi 5 (Wirecutter, PCMag). 12% of Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, with some owners saying it stopped working.
    Source: Wirecutter (NYT), PCMag Roku Ultra review, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick (updated 2026-03-05): fastest and best at organizing content, with Dolby Vision and Atmos. Its flaws are Wi-Fi 5, no hands-free voice, no AirPlay and no HDMI cable in the box.
  • Tom's Guide: #2, best for live TV (updated 2026-10-01). It praises the smart-home controls and Gemini features; the cons are the higher price and that it can't fit behind a TV.
  • CNET: Best for Android users, 8.2/10. Powerful and great for smart homes, but the interface is busy and the Apple TV 4K is quicker.
Check price on AmazonMaker's pageWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked streaming devices whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in streaming devicesApple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 2022)

The fastest box testers have used, with clean tvOS, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Atmos, and a HomeKit/Thread hub. Apple raised its price to $199 in June 2026, it puts Apple's own content first, and the touch remote can be finicky. A new Apple event is set for Oct. 13, 2026, so a refresh is possible.

Its catch: expensive, and now pricier#3 in streaming devicesAmazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)

PCMag's pick for hands-free Alexa: a fast box with Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E and an HDMI input that puts Alexa over your cable box. It's expensive at $199.99, Prime-first like other Fire TVs, has no AirPlay or Cast, and 1 in 10 Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, with crash and Wi-Fi complaints.

Its catch: expensive#4 in streaming devicesRoku Ultra (2024)

The best Roku box: Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, Dolby Vision and Atmos, and a backlit hands-free Voice Remote Pro. Testers disagree on speed (Wirecutter found it sluggish next to Google TV), Tom's Guide flags intrusive ads, and Roku raised its list price from $100 to $150 in July 2026.

Its catch: expensive for what it adds

Head-to-head

See all 8 streaming devices ranked →