Google may be developing a new device called “Google TV Streamer” to replace “Chromecast”

Google has been planning a revamped streaming device for years, and it looks like 2024 will finally be the year it arrives. A recently leaked image shows a pill-shaped device at an angle and an attached remote (similar to the Chromecast).

This streaming device probably won't be a dongle like Chromecast, but something that sits on your desktop like an Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Cube, or smart home hub. This image9to5GooglePublished by. 9to5Google reported in April that Google is developing a new streaming device to replace Chromecast.

The device will be called the “Google TV Streamer.” This suggests that Google plans to drop the Chromecast name and unify it with the “Google TV” brand.

The Google TV Streamer looks like a small dock. The remote is similar to the Chromecast, but with a more vertical design. In the image, you can see that the remote has Back, Home, Audio In, Volume, Mute, YouTube, Netflix, and a star icon buttons.

With no official announcement from Google, we can only speculate as to why this radical design change is happening. Perhaps the company opted for the larger size to accommodate higher-performance components that wouldn’t be possible with a smaller dongle. For better performance, more storage, smart home features, and more.

Google is working to make its devices compatible with Thread wireless technology as part of its efforts toward the Matter smart home standard, so it's possible that the Google TV Streamer will also support Thread for smart home applications.

The new form factor could be part of Google’s marketing strategy to align its streaming products with the overall design of its devices. It could also be a strategy to compete directly with tabletop streaming devices, like the Apple TV.

Google may announce the Google TV Streamer at its Made by Google event on August 13, US time. In addition to the new Pixel smartphone, smartwatches are expected to be announced at the event.