Google TV Streamer Successor Rumored With Microphones, More Storage

The updated device is said to keep a design similar to the current model, which measures 6.4 inches by 3 inches by 1 inch (16.3 cm by 7.6 cm by 2.5 cm), with the new version slightly narrower. The first Google TV Streamer went on sale in August 2024, at the same time Google discontinued its standalone Chromecast devices.

According to the report, the new model will add microphones, allowing users to say "hey Google" and issue voice commands or AI queries without picking up the remote, bringing the box closer in function to a smart speaker. Presence sensing is also tipped to be included, which could mean the screensaver loads when someone is in the room, with more detailed information such as the time and weather shown when a person gets closer.

Other rumored changes include a faster chipset and more storage than the 32GB offered by the current model for apps and files. The remote is said to gain two additional shortcut buttons alongside the existing Netflix and YouTube ones.

Google has not confirmed the product, and the report gives no indication of when an updated model might arrive or what it would cost. The current Google TV Streamer recently received a price increase to $149 in the United States, a figure that TechRadar noted will be central to whether owners of older hardware decide to upgrade.

The rumor comes roughly two years after the first Google TV Streamer launched. TechRadar reported that a new Apple TV 4K box is expected to be announced at an Apple event the following week, and suggested Google will not want to wait long before refreshing its own streaming hardware. The publication's writer, who still uses an older Chromecast with Google TV, said a faster device with more storage that also works more like a smart speaker or smart display could prompt an upgrade, depending on price.