It is said to include AV1 video format support.
Update, January 24 (4:45pm ET): New info on low-end Google TV dongle emerges
What you need to know
- A new Chromecast with Google TV devices is reportedly in the works.
- No information is provided, although we suspect it may include support for the AV1 video format.
- Google may release the new dongle later in 2022.
The Chromecast with Google TV debuted only a year and a half ago, but its successor is reportedly already in the works. Rumor has it that the search giant is preparing to launch an upgraded Chromecast with Google TV later this year.
According to 9to5Google, internal documentation and code analysis confirmed the existence of the device, codenamed “Boreal.” The streaming dongle could be an upgrade to the existing Chromecast and Google TV, although its specs are unknown.
That said, there may be new processing power and AV1 video format support. According to XDA Developers, Google is reportedly specifically asking for the latter to appear in newer Android TV models. However, Google’s current streaming devices do not support the AV1 format.
For starters, the AV1 codec should minimize bandwidth requirements when streaming video without significantly compromising quality.What’s more, it’s a royalty-free format, unlike previous licensing standards like AVC
It’s unclear, though, whether the rumored dongle is a successor to one of the best streaming devices around, or just a higher-end model. But given that the device has a new internal codename, we may be looking at a replacement. We can only hope that Google also fixes the major flaws of the current Chromecast in the upcoming dongle.
Update, January 24 (4:45pm ET) ― “Boreal” may be a low-end Chromecast with a Google TV dongle
New information has emerged about the rumored Chromecast with Google TV devices. As Protocol reported on Monday, the new device could be called “Chromecast HD with Google TV.”
As the name suggests, we’re probably looking at a low-end version of Google’s current dongle, which only supports 1080p/60fps instead of 4K.
Protocol says the device will be powered by an Amlogic S805X2 CPU with a Mali-G31 GPU, enabling support for the AV1 video codec — something the current model doesn’t support.
By launching HD models, Google appears to be targeting other smart TV platforms like Roku and Amazon Fire TV, both of which sell a range of high-end and low-end models. This could make the Google TV platform more accessible, as it could be priced under $50.
It’s unclear when the device is expected to launch.
Chromecast and Google TV
Best Buy $50 B&H $50
Google’s latest streaming device has everything you could want, including 4K HDR support, Dolby Vision and Atmos support, and a remote for the first time. When you combine all of this with the great Google TV interface and low price, the Chromecast with Google TV is one of Google’s best new products in a long time.
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