What you need to know
- Google’s next TV Streamer will reportedly feature a slightly narrower design while retaining the current model’s overall look.
- Built-in far-field microphones could let users interact with Gemini hands-free without needing to pick up the remote.
- The new streamer could also get a faster processor, more storage, and a redesigned remote with additional shortcut buttons.
A new Google TV Streamer is reportedly in the works, and it could bring some pretty interesting upgrades over the current generation.
The Google TV Streamer remains one of the best streaming devices out there. It’s powered by capable hardware and runs a proper version of Google TV that doesn’t feel lacking in terms of features. And even though Google recently increased the price of the Google TV Streamer by $50, that doesn’t mean the company isn’t working on its successor.
According to a new report from 9to5Google, a next-generation Google TV Streamer is already in development, and it could bring some major changes to how you interact with your TV. The report claims the new Google TV Streamer will retain a similar design to the current model, although it will reportedly be slightly narrower for a more compact footprint.
But the bigger upgrade this time around could be the addition of built-in microphones on the streaming device itself.
Currently, if you want to interact with Gemini on Google TV, you need to use the microphone on the remote. But with the upcoming Google TV Streamer, that may no longer be necessary. Thanks to the reportedly built-in far-field microphones, users could simply say “Hey Google” out loud to interact with the device without picking up the remote.
In addition to the microphones, the report claims Google is also working on a presence-sensing feature for the new streamer. We’ve already seen similar functionality on some TCL smart TVs, and it could allow the Google TV Streamer to automatically detect when someone enters the room. For example, the TV could wake up and display useful information like the time, weather, or a Google Photos screensaver when it detects someone nearby.
Of course, the upgrades reportedly won’t be limited to software and smart home features. The next-generation Google TV Streamer is also expected to get a faster processor alongside more storage than the 32GB currently available on the existing model. Google is also reportedly redesigning the remote, adding two more shortcut buttons for YouTube and Netflix. The streamer itself could also feature a dedicated Find My Remote button.
The report doesn’t reveal when Google plans to launch the next-generation TV Streamer. However, with Apple reportedly preparing to unveil a new Apple TV 4K next week, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Google announce its own upgraded streaming device sometime this fall.
For now, though, there’s no confirmed launch date or pricing information. We’ll update this article as more details about the next Google TV Streamer become available.