Streaming devices and smart TVs can access streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+, but you’ll need a streaming platform to actually stream this content. Enter Google TV, one of the best smart TV systems on the market. Competing with the likes of Roku TV OS, Apple TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV platforms, Google TV gives you access to numerous apps and games, personalized recommendations, Google Assistant, and a host of other features.
But which streaming devices even use Google TV? And which model is the best of the bunch? There are a handful of Google TV products to choose from, so we put together this list of favorites to help you pick a Google TV device that’s best for you and yours.
The best Google TV streaming devices in 2024
Best overall
Google TV Streamer
Bon voyage Chromecast era!
Google’s newest streaming device is the Google TV Streamer, a device that pays homage to its Chromecast roots while upping the ante when it comes to processing power and internet capabilities. It joins the ranks of triple digit-priced streamers, but Google’s latest brings Gigabit Ethernet, Atmos compatibility, and a host of other premium features to the table.
- Fast and powerful streaming device
- Has a Gigabit Ethernet port
- Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos
- On the pricey side
- No hands-free Google Assistant
It’s been a minute since Google put out a new streaming device, but the wait is no more. The Big G’s latest and greatest is the Google TV Streamer, a 4K streaming device that runs faster than any Google streamer that came before it. Oh, and it’s hardware that all but spells the end for the Chromecast lineup.
Unlike the Chromecast gear of yesteryear, the Google TV Streamer is meant to sit front and center with soundbars, speakers, and other AV components. It even comes in two different colors (Porcelain and Hazel). Powered by a quad-core processor, the Google TV Streamer is 22% faster than Google’s Chromecast lineup, which means you can except lightning-fast UI navigation, animations, and load times for your Google TV streaming experience.
The Streamer is also Google’s first dedicated device to add Dolby Atmos to its list of accolades, along with leading HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. This is also the first Google TV streaming device to include a Gigabit Ethernet port, Matter-Thread compatibility, and up to 32GB of storage (with 4GB of RAM).
Read Our Review
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At twice the price of Google’s last 4K streamer, I expected better
Other noteworthy features include a Find My Remote button, Google Assistant voice controls (remote required), and the ability to beam content to the Streamer via Chromecast.
Premium pick
Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019)
For Android TV enthusiasts
If you want to do more than just stream movies on an Android TV box, Nvidia Shield TV Pro is the best (and maybe only) choice. No Roku streamer comes close to the Shield TV Pro’s capabilities. For one, it gets 3GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, both of which are more spacious than most other streaming hardware. If you attach an external hard drive to it, you can even turn it into a great Plex server.
- Same great 4K video
- Extra RAM means it’s even quicker
- Can be used as a Plex server
- Very expensive for a set-top box
The Shield TV Pro is the fancier version of the base-model “tube.” It has all the same features, plus extra RAM and storage, USB ports, and Plex integration — the Shield itself can act as a server that you can stream content from to other devices.
Left: Google Chromecast, Right: Nvidia Shield TV Pro
At $200, it’s very obviously not for most people; this is an enthusiast option through and through. If you were thinking about the regular Shield TV, though, the added perks might be worth it for you.
Best value
Onn Google TV 4K Pro
Toe to toe with the Google TV Streamer
Onn is a Walmart house brand (akin to Best Buy’s Insignia label) that has garnered a solid reputation for great streaming devices at greater prices. Such is certainly the case with the Onn Google TV 4K Pro, which is so fast and easy to use, we have no doubt it will give the Google TV Streamer a run for its money.
- Zippy performance
- Intuitive controls and Google Assistant features
- Has an Ethernet and USB-A port
- Great price
- Looks a little cheap
- Picks up hair and dust easily
The Onn Google TV 4K Pro is what you would get if you combined a Google Assistant-powered smart speaker with the Google TV OS. This Walmart exclusive delivers exceptional performance, great picture quality, and the Google TV platform gives you access to thousands of movies and shows, and even a handful of games.
With its quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM (plus 32GB of storage), the Onn 4K Pro is snappy, intuitive to use, and gives you hands-free Google Assistant capabilities.
This is also one of the cheapest streaming devices to include an Ethernet port. And while you won’t get the Gigabit bandwidth the Google TV Streamer is capable of, hardwiring your internet connection is always a savvy choice. But don’t worry if you have to use Wi-Fi, as the Onn 4K Pro offers Wi-Fi 6E support, too. We were also glad to see a Find My Remote button right on the front of the device.
Read Our Review
I didn’t want to like this Walmart streaming device, but it won me over
The best way to bring Google TV into your home
You’ll even be able to connect a media-packed USB flash drive to the back of the 4K Pro to view photos and videos on your TV. For $50, the Onn Google TV 4K Pro does a lot; so much in fact, that if you don’t care about Gigabit Ethernet, Dolby Atmos, or Matter-Thread compatibility, you should definitely buy the Onn 4K Pro over the Google TV Streamer.
Another great Nvidia option
Nvidia Shield TV (2019)
A solid Android TV holdover
The standard Nvidia Shield TV gets you many of the benefits that the Shield TV Pro is known for — a beefy Tegra X1+ processor, the companion app, and an impressive AI upscaling, to name a few. It has a cylindrical design unlike any other dongle and uses the same remote control as the Pro, which is miles better than the one bundled with older Shields.
- Great video quality with lots of supported standards
- Quick performance
- Excellent upscaling for sub-4K content
Nvidia’s tubular Shield TV has been available since 2019, so it’s not the newest “box” on this list — but we still think it’s the best Android TV device for most people today. Thanks to its custom Tegra X1+ chipset (and despite its two gigs of RAM), it’s super snappy. It also plays nice with more audio and video standards than you can shake a stick at, including Dolby Vision and Atmos, and has some of the most natural upscaling you’ll see in any streaming device.
Nvidia also traditionally offered legendary software support for its Shield TV devices, too. It’s expensive at $150, though, and it’s got HDMI 2.0b — which doesn’t mean much now but could present an issue when content that takes full advantage of HDMI 2.1 is more prevalent (whenever that is). If those things don’t bother you, the Shield TV is an excellent pick.
An affordable smart TV
TCL 65-inch Q6 Series (Q651G)
A budget-friendly Google-powered TV
New to 2024, the TCL Q6 Series (Q651G) delivers a stunning picture with exceptional brightness levels and a wide color gamut. While it doesn’t quite touch the motion clarity of more expensive TCL models, the Q6 offers brilliant gaming optimizations and a snappy Google TV experience.
- Bright and colorful picture
- Fast and responsive Google TV OS
- Great for gaming
- Only 60Hz refresh rate
- Poor off-angle viewing
TCL is a fantastic TV company that makes great-looking 4K QLEDs that cost far less than the competition. Mind you, you’re not making any significant sacrifices for this lower cost either, especially in the case of the 2024 Q6 Series.
Leveraging quantum dots for enhanced color brightness (especially for HDR content) and a wider color gamut, the TCL Q6 delivers a vibrant picture across all HDMI inputs, and even has the ability to game at up to 120Hz when you downscale the resolution to 1080p or 1440p. This bodes well for PS5 devotees who don’t want to splurge on a native 120Hz LED or OLED TV. (The native refresh rate of the Q6 is 60Hz).
The Q6 supports all leading HDR formats and supports VRR for tear-free gaming. While Google TV is used for all UI elements, it’s the smart platform where the TV truly shines. You’ll have access to thousands of movies and shows, AirPlay 2 casting, and the ability to interact with your TV and smart home devices via Google Assistant.
The TCL Q6 isn’t the end-all-be-all of Google TV-powered smart TVs (that honor goes to the Sony A95L), but if you’re looking for a low-cost QLED that is awesome for gaming and comes with tons of apps, look no further.
Super premium
Sony 65-inch XR A95L with Google TV
There’s no beating a QD-OLED
The Sony XR A95L is the kind of flagship TV that will flabbergast you with its supreme picture quality and bevy of onboard features. It’s also one of the best ways to experience Google TV from the comfort of your living room couch.
- Astonishing brightness and colors
- Great off-angle viewing
- Perfect for PS5 gaming
Sony is always on the cutting edge of technological innovation, especially when it comes to TVs. For years now, the brand has been responsible for some of the best high-performance models on the market, and the amazing XR A95L QD-OLED is further proof that Sony will never rest. Having a TV that can deliver the best of both QLED and OLED picture tech is just the start because Sony’s patented Cognitive Processor XR takes care of the A95L’s picture processing. The end result: Powerful peak brightness and arresting colors, coupled with clean, distortion-free imagery at any resolution. It doesn’t get much better than this, friends.
Sony has been using the Google TV OS for several years, and the latest version of the system is lightning-fast and easy to use. The A95L is also a fantastic TV for gamers (especially PS5 owners), and thanks to features like VRR and ALLM, you won’t really have to worry about lag affecting your next online multiplayer match.
Also consider
Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
Reliable 4K for $50
The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is one of the best ways to experience the Google TV OS at a cost that most of us can wrap our heads around.
- Super affordable
- Great remote control
- Relatively snappy performance
- Limited storage space
- Only one USB port
The Chromecast with Google TV is a great option if you’re put off by the Shield TV’s high price. At 50 bucks, it also offers broad AV standard support, and unlike the Shield, it has HDMI 2.1. It’s only got eight gigs of storage, though, which will be a problem if you want to use lots of apps. It’s also only got one USB port, which is used for power — so if you want to connect accessories like SD cards or hard drives, you’ll need both a compatible USB hub and a 45-watt (or higher) Power Delivery charger.
Still, it’s generally simple to use and doesn’t cost much, and being a first-party Google product, it should enjoy long software support. It’s a great starter Android TV device.
What’s the best Google TV streaming device for you?
The Google TV platform is only going to get better, which is why it’s our job to stay on top of the brand’s cutting-edge hardware and software. But for right now, we’re glad to call the Google TV Streamer our best overall pick. It’s hard to say no to great features like Gigabit Ethernet, Matter-Thread compatibility, and one of the fastest-running Google TV devices the world has ever seen.
For another $100, you can go with our premium pick, the NVIDIA TV Shield Pro. This bad boy was released over five years ago, and while it’s still running Android TV (the building blocks of Google TV), the Shield Pro can be used as a Plex Media Server, and comes with an expandable 16GB of storage. It’s also compatible with just about every major HDR and audio codec you can think of.
Need to keep the price on the lower side? We get it. That’s why we’ve included the Onn Google TV 4K Pro as our best value pick. It actually has a lot of the same features and performance metrics as the Google TV Streamer, sans Gigabit Ethernet and Matter compatibility. But this $50 streamer even pulls double duty as a hands-free Google Assistant smart speaker!
Google TV Streamer
The new generation of Google TV streaming devices has arrived! The Google TV Streamer runs fast, is packed with apps and features, and is a breeze to use.
