Google Chromecast, the streaming dongle, was first launched in 2013 – and after more than a decade, Google announced that it would be discontinuing the dongle and replacing it with a new device, the Google TV Streamer 4K.
“After 11 years and over 100 million devices sold, we’re ending production of Chromecast, which will now only be available while supplies last,” the company said in an official blog post.
The main reason for the discontinuation of Chromecast was the dramatic evolution of technology. Google said in the blog post that it has invested heavily in Google Cast, and the feature is available on millions of TVs, including Android TVs.
Top 5 Cyber Monday deals
This year's Cyber Monday has officially kickstarted, offering up huge discounts on some of the market's leading tech products. Below, we'll list the best Cyber Monday deals we can find.
- Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED Curved gaming monitor - WAS $1,599.99 NOW $949.99 Save - $350
- LG C3 Series 65-Inch Class OLED - WAS $1,499.99 NOW $1,196.99 Save - $70
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6-Core - WAS $299.99 NOW $186.97 Save - $330
- Beats Stuydio Buds - WAS $178 NOW $99 Save - $300
- Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth 5.1 Headphones - WAS $349 NOW $199 Save - $150
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
“We are taking the next step in evolving how streaming TV devices can add even more capabilities to your smart TV, built on top of the same Chromecast technology,” the blog post read.
The company also said that the dongles will be available for purchase until the stock lasts. Plus, Google would continue to deliver software and security updates to the latest devices. It should be noted that Google did not specify which devices are included in the “latest devices,” considering that the last iteration of Chromecast was released in 2022.
The new Google TV Streamer will launch next month
As per the same announcement, Google mentioned that it would be launching Google TV Streamer, which is a set-top box – and possibly a competitor ro Apple TV.
The Google TV Streamer can double up as a smart home hub for your Google Home and Matter devices, along with a built-in Thread border router. The sleek-looking device packs an improved processor, twice the amount of memory, more storage, faster navigation, and some AI features powered by Gemini.
Considering the specs, it is certainly a major upgrade over the Chromecast dongle. As per reports, this set-top box comes with a price tag of $99.99 and will be released on September 24th, which is in a few weeks.
In any case, Google doesn’t seem to be waiting around for the ‘Made by Google’ hardware event to unveil new products, which is scheduled for August 13th. We’re hoping to see more of Google’s new products at the event.
