Is Chromecast dead? Not so fast
I received a lot of dismayed emails last week after Google announced that it was discontinuing production of its Chromecast streaming dongles.
Will existing Chromecast devices stop working? Will there be something to replace them? Are there better solutions that use the phone as a remote, or ways to mirror your phone or laptop to the TV that are worth considering instead?
The short answer to these questions is that you don’t need to worry too much. If you’re still using a Chromecast device now, it should continue to work as normal, and there are plenty of ways to replace your Chromecast in the future if you need to. But if you haven’t been paying close attention to Google’s various branding quirks over the past decade, the details can be difficult to understand, so let’s break it down.
This story is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best media streamers.
Chromecast vs Chromecast vs Chromecast
Much of the confusion comes from the fact that the word “Chromecast” can refer to several different things:
- The original Chromecast dongles: Google released these between 2013 and 2018, including the first-generation thumb-shaped model and its round successors. They rely solely on your phone, tablet or computer as a remote control and have no TV-based menus for navigation.
- Chromecast with Google TV: These include the 4K model that launched in 2020 and the HD model in 2022. Both are based on Google’s Android TV operating system, with real remotes and downloadable TV apps. (The name “Google TV” refers to Google’s menu system that helps you figure out what you want to watch.)
- Integrated Chromecast: This feature for smart TVs and streaming players lets them receive content from your phone, tablet or laptop, just like the original Chromecasts. It’s included as standard on all Android TV and Google TV devices – including the Chromecast with Google TV dongles mentioned above – and is also available on Vizio SmartCast TVs and 2024 LG TVs.
Unlike the original models, Chromecast with Google TV has a real remote control and a large screen menu system.
Unlike the original models, Chromecast with Google TV has a real remote control and a large screen menu system.
Jared Newman / Foundry
Unlike the original models, Chromecast with Google TV has a real remote control and a large screen menu system.
Jared Newman / Foundry
Jared Newman / Foundry
Google stopped selling the original Chromecast dongles years ago, so last week’s announcement only referred to the newer Chromecast devices with Google TV: You can still buy the old devices for now, but Google won’t make any more once supplies run out.
As for Chromecast Built-In, Google is quietly renaming this feature to “Google Cast,” but the functionality isn’t changing or going away. You can still tap the Cast button in apps like Netflix or YouTube on your phone, then select a Cast-compatible device to play the video on. You can also use Google Cast to mirror the entire screen of an Android phone or a computer running Google’s Chrome browser.
Google Cast works not only with Chromecast devices, but also with compatible streaming players and smart TVs.
Google Cast works not only with Chromecast devices, but also with compatible streaming players and smart TVs.
Jared Newman / Foundry
Google Cast works not only with Chromecast devices, but also with compatible streaming players and smart TVs.
Jared Newman / Foundry
Jared Newman / Foundry
Even as Google’s Chromecasts disappear from shelves, there are still plenty of other devices with Google Cast support. Walmart’s Onn devices with Google TV, for example, start at $15 for the HD model (though I recommend the $20 4K version or the $50 “Pro” box). The $100 Google TV streamer, also announced last week, will also support Google Cast. In addition, all Android TV and Google TV-based smart TVs from manufacturers like TCL, Hisense, and Sony will support Google Cast.
All this means that you won’t have to resort to using your existing Chromecast hardware before it’s no longer available. Casting and screen mirroring will remain.
How long do current Chromecasts last?
The first generation Chromecast from 2013 and the third generation model from 2018.
The first generation Chromecast from 2013 and the third generation model from 2018.
Jared Newman / Foundry
The first generation Chromecast from 2013 and the third generation model from 2018.
Jared Newman / Foundry
Jared Newman / Foundry
Google only guarantees five years of security updates for Chromecasts and other home tech. That window has already expired for the original Chromecast line, and for Chromecast with Google TV 4K, that means only one more year of guaranteed support.
But in a statement, Google spokeswoman Danielle Thayer said the company “generally supported our devices longer than stated.”
This claim applies to much of the Chromecast lineup. The only Chromecast that Google no longer supports is the original thumb-shaped dongle from 2013. All other models will still receive software updates starting in August 2024.
And even though the first-generation Chromecast has reached end of life, it may still work. Google simply warns that users “may notice a reduction in performance.”
In other words, no one is turning on the kill switch on your Chromecast. If it works and you’re happy with it, feel free to keep using it.
Are there other options?
If you opt for new hardware, Chromecast and Google Cast aren’t the only options for second screen control and screen mirroring on your TV.
The best alternative is Apple’s AirPlay, which lets you mirror the screen content of any iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It’s compatible with Apple TV streaming boxes, Roku streamers, and a growing number of smart TVs. While Chromecast’s phone-as-remote capabilities are superior—you can launch a video from one app on the TV while simultaneously playing a video from another app on your phone, for example—screen mirroring with AirPlay is smoother in my experience.
Roku devices, Fire TVs, and some smart TVs also support a standard called Miracast, which allows screen mirroring from some Android phones and Windows PCs. However, I’ve found this to be unreliable, especially compared to Chromecast and AirPlay, and would especially advise against looking for Miracast dongles.
Amazon, meanwhile, is pioneering an open alternative to Chromecast and AirPlay called Matter Casting. The company has some clever ideas for improving casting, but it’s unclear how much traction it will have with device makers and streaming services.
Consider, too, that streaming devices have come a long way since Chromecast was introduced in 2013. Because Chromecast offloaded all navigation tasks to your phone, it was once an attractive alternative to the underpowered Roku and Fire TV devices. The hardware was inexpensive at $35, but avoided the unbearable sluggishness and storage limitations common to other budget streamers a decade ago.
These days, for the same price, you can get a fast and smooth streaming device with a real remote, a big-screen menu system, and apps that run directly on the TV instead of the phone. Google itself knows this, and that’s why it’s trying to dismantle the Chromecast brand after banking on it for so long.
Sign up for Jared’s weekly Cord Cutter newsletter for more streaming insights.
