Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): content

Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): content

  • Supports most major streaming services
  • Can be tricky to find new things to add
  • Music, games and other apps available

So what can you actually watch with the Google Chromecast (3rd Generation)? Well, at this point, quite a lot. 

Basically every major streaming service out there has a Cast button built-in. That includes the main services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, plus tons of smaller streaming services like Crunchyroll and Twitch. If you’re in the UK, expect support for Sainsbury’s Movies and TV, Blinkbox, BT Sport, NowTV, Napster and, of course, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport. There are clearly a lot of options out there—many of which you probably use on a daily basis.

Even better, if you use the Google Chrome browser, you can Cast your entire web browser to the screen by going into the settings in the top-right corner and clicking ‘Cast…’

The only problem with Chromecast’s content selection is that it can be hard to find more apps when you’re looking to expand your streaming video arsenal—that’s because, while other streaming devices have dedicated store to find new services, all Google has is its Home app. 

To find new services in the Home app, you have to go into the Browse section and scroll down to the bottom to find new services. Along the way you’ll see content recommendations for the services you already use—which can come in handy—plus a complete list of all the apps installed on your phone that support Chromecast. 

Of course, streaming shows and movies isn’t the only thing Chromecast can do. There’s also music, games and utility apps that are simply more enjoyable on a big screen, and most of the main audio streaming apps like Tidal, Pandora and Spotify are support on Chromecast. You can find a complete run-down in our best Google Chromecast apps guide. But it’s worth calling attention to Plex, Big Web Quiz, Deezer and AllCast—all of which are great when you’re looking to mix things up. 

Cast button

Google Chromecast (3rd Generation): performance

  • Only 1080p streaming, no 4K
  • 15% speedier than previous model
  • Needs a wireless connection to work

If you’re wondering what the difference is between the Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) and Chromecast Ultra is, it all comes down to performance. The former, reviewed here, is all about 1080p streaming while the latter can play native 4K content. 

That’s kind of a big deal if you have a 4K TV and want to see things in the highest possible fidelity. But if you can live without the added clarity, Chromecast still works with 4K TVs so don’t worry too much about it. It's also worth mentioning the Chromecast Ultra has been discontinued—you're best checking out the Google Chromecast with Google TV now. 

The same is true if you’re comparing the older 2nd Generation Google Chromecast with this newer 3rd Generation model. There’s about a 15% difference in speed between the old model and the new model, but in practice it’s almost imperceivable.

Speaking of performance, with the right connection speed, the Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) is seriously fast. Once we found a video, we were able to get it to stream and fully buffer within 20 seconds (videos start playing in low resolutions in under five seconds, but it took a bit longer to get up to the full 1080p on our 149Mbps connection). 

As long as your internet connection stays stable, you shouldn’t experience any buffering—we certainly didn’t—however it is certainly possible for that to happen if your connection is sporadic or if the Chromecast is too far away from your wireless router. 

Speaking of wireless routers, currently the Chromecast only works over a wireless connection. So, if you need a hardwired connection because of connection issues, you might want to upgrade to the Chromecast with Google TV.

Lastly, for those inclined to wonder about video and audio codecs, the new Chromecast supports H.264 1080p, H.264 720 x 480, MPEG-4, VP8 video and AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/WAV, Vorbis audio files.

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