Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD) vs. Chromecast with Google TV (4K): What’s the difference?

• Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

  For 4K Screens

  Higher resolution, higher price

  The first-generation Chromecast with Google TV provides a decent smart TV experience at resolutions up to 4K for an MSRP of $50. With support for standards like Dolby Vision and Atmos, there’s not much else to want from an A/V perspective, but the Chromecast’s 8GB of storage space might not be enough if you want to install a lot of apps.

  Pros

  • 4K resolution
  • Adequate performance
  • Comfortable remote remote
  • Multiple color options

  Cons

  • $20 more expensive
  • 8GB of storage isn’t enough

• Chromecast with Google TV (HD)

  Super Budget Friendly

  The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is essentially the same device as the 4K version, but it costs $20 less and tops out at a resolution of 1080p. It also doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR, which the 4K model does. Otherwise, the experience here is identical. So if you’ve got a 1080p TV you want to add streaming capabilities to, there’s not much harm in going HD to save 20 bucks.

  Pros

  • Super affordable at $30
  • Quick enough
  • Same great remote

  Cons

  • Resolution tops out at 1080p
  • 8GB of storage isn’t enough here either

The Chromecast with Google TV is one of the best home streaming devices at a very reasonable price point of $50. But in 2022, Google added a new option to the mix: the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), a physically identical device that costs just a little less at 30 bucks. If you don’t follow the Android TV space very closely, the differences between the two devices may not be immediately apparent. There actually aren’t many differences — but a couple are pretty major.

Price and availability

The 4K-capable Chromecast with Google TV costs $50 at retail, though sale prices around $40 aren’t unusual. The 1080p Chromecast with Google TV (HD) has an MSRP of $30, but is often available for $20. You can get either just about anywhere that sells electronics: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and others all carry both versions.

What’s different: Resolution, RAM, video formats

The most significant difference between Google’s two Chromecast with Google TV options is resolution. While 2020’s Chromecast with Google TV can output video in 4K at 60 frames per second, the newer Chromecast with Google TV (HD) can only manage 1080p in up to 60 frames per second. So if you’ve got a 4K TV, you’ll need to buy the older, $50 Chromecast with Google TV to take advantage of all those pixels. Meanwhile, TVs that top out at 1080p are a good match for the $30 Chromecast with Google TV (HD).

The HD version also doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR, but it does come with support for HDR10 and HDR10+. You’ll have to check which HDR protocols your specific TV supports to see if that matters for you.

There are also some differences under the hood, but they’re not things most users will notice. Thanks to using a different chipset, the 1080p model supports AV1 video decoding — due to hardware differences, the 4K model does not. AV1 is a video codec known to be especially efficient, so the newer 1080p Chromecast might use less bandwidth to stream video. In addition, the 1080p version has less RAM: 1.5GB, whereas the 4K model has 2GB. That sounds like a downgrade, but in our experience, it isn’t especially noticeable in normal use.

The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) launched with a newer version of Android TV than the 4K model had at the time — one built on Android 12 — but thanks to an update to the 2020 model, both devices are now running the same software.

Finally, color options vary between the two models. While the 4K Chromecast with Google TV is available in Snow (white), Sky (blue), and Sunrise (a Google Store-exclusive pink), the Chromecast with Google TV HD is only available in the white Snow colorway.

What’s the same: Everything else

Both versions of Chromecast with Google TV share most features. The HD version is only available in white, but it’s visually identical to the white version of the 4K model. Each comes with the same voice-enabled remote, and each runs Google TV — the more modern, ad-laden interface that sits on top of Android TV on an increasing number of devices. They’re each powered by USB-C, but can’t be powered by the USB ports on the back of your TV; both require a dedicated power brick (each includes a power brick in the box).

Storage space, a sore spot for many users of the original 4K Chromecast with Google TV, is also unchanged in the 1080p version. Both come with just 8GB, which can be limiting if you use a lot of different streaming services. Neither model has expandable storage built in, but either one will accept a compatible USB-C hub, so you can add additional storage using a USB-C hub if you need it.

Which should you buy?

Knowing the differences, it’s pretty simple to figure out which Chromecast with Google TV is right for you. Assuming price isn’t a consideration, the older 4K model should be your go-to if you intend to use it with a 4K display, as the HD model only goes up to 1080p. And if you happen to have a 1080p display that supports Dolby Vision, the 4K edition might also be better for you, as the 1080p model offers HDR10 and HDR10+, but not Dolby Vision.

If your screen is 1080p or lower and doesn’t support Dolby Vision, the $50 Chromecast with Google TV won’t have any advantages over the $30 HD model. So go for the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) if your TV or budget calls for it.

Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

Although it’s a couple of years old now, the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is still holding its own as a great all-around option for your home theater. Long-term usage has proven a couple of flaws — namely, a limited amount of storage space that can get bogged down with system files and apps — but that hasn’t stopped us from highly recommending Google’s latest puck-shaped gadget. With a great UI, an excellent remote, and support for all the audio and video standards you’d expect, it’s still a solid buy.

Chromecast with Google TV (HD)

The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) has everything we like about 2020’s Chromecast with Google TV, minus the 4K resolution and Dolby Vision HDR. If you’re looking for a streaming dongle to use on a sub-4K display, this is a great pick — but consider springing for the previous generation if you think you might upgrade your TV in the near future.