Quick verdict
Google killed the Chromecast. After eleven years of the little streaming dongle, production has ended — and the Google TV Streamer 4K is its official replacement. It costs $159.99 RRP in Australia, though street prices have settled around $147 at Officeworks. It’s a proper set-top box rather than a dongle: faster chip, 32GB of storage, an Ethernet port, a redesigned remote and smart-home hub smarts via Matter and Thread. Our take: if your old Chromecast is getting sluggish, this is the upgrade Google wants you to buy — and at $147 it’s decent value, though it’s no longer the impulse buy the Chromecast was.
Google TV Streamer 4K Australian price and where to buy
Here’s the price picture (checked 8 October 2026):
$147 — Officeworks (cheapest major-retailer price we’ve found).
$159 — Big W (sold and shipped by Big W).
$159 — digiDirect.
Prices from Officeworks, Big W and digiDirect. That’s up to $13 under the $159.99 RRP — not a huge discount, but the price has been drifting down from launch, and OzBargain deal history shows it dipping well under $100 during clearance-style sales in late 2025.
What happened to Chromecast?
Google announced the TV Streamer on 6 August 2024 and said it plainly: the device replaces Chromecast. Production of both the Chromecast with Google TV 4K and the HD model has ended; they’re only available while remaining stock lasts. If you’ve got a Chromecast plugged in now, Google says it will keep supporting existing devices with ongoing updates — so nothing stops working. But the next one you buy won’t be a Chromecast.
Why the change? The 4K Chromecast launched back in 2020 for AU$99, and four years on it was showing its age — sluggish menus, 8GB of storage that filled up fast, and Wi-Fi only. Rather than refresh the dongle, Google went upmarket: a wedge-shaped box designed to sit in front of your TV, with the headroom for smart-home duties the Chromecast never had.
What it is and key features
4K HDR, properly. The Streamer handles 4K at 60fps with HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, plus Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. That’s the full modern spec sheet — nothing missing for a 2026 TV.
Faster and roomier. Google says the processor is 22% faster than the 2020 Chromecast, with 4GB of RAM (double) and 32GB of storage (quadruple). In practice that means snappier menus, quicker app loads, and no more “storage full” warnings when you install a few streaming apps.
Ethernet, finally. A gigabit Ethernet port on the box — the old Chromecast needed a separate power-plus-Ethernet adapter. If your Wi-Fi struggles with 4K, a wired connection is the single biggest reliability upgrade here.
Google TV with Gemini. It runs Google TV, aggregating 700,000+ movies and shows plus 800+ free live channels into one home screen. Gemini AI powers personalised watchlists for each household member, plus episode summaries, reviews and season breakdowns. Honest note: the AI bits are the least essential part of the package right now.
Smart-home hub. This is the real step up from a dongle. Matter support plus a built-in Thread border router lets it act as a hub for compatible smart-home gear, and the Google Home panel in Quick Settings puts cameras, lights, thermostats and doorbells on the big screen. If you have Nest cameras, you can live-stream them to the TV.
New remote. Redesigned with a textured back, volume buttons moved to the face (they were on the side before), and a customisable button you can map to your favourite app or a smart-home routine. Lose it down the couch and a button on the box makes it ring. Comes in Porcelain and Hazel finishes.
The honest caveat: what’s not so great
Here’s the part Google’s marketing skips. Australia’s Pickr reviewed it at 4/5 and landed on the uncomfortable truth: it’s not dramatically different from the Chromecast with Google TV it replaces. The interface is Google TV either way; the apps are the same apps. You’re paying for speed, storage, Ethernet and smart-home features — not a new experience.
The price jump stings too. The old 4K Chromecast was AU$99; the Streamer is $159.99 RRP. That’s a 60% increase to replace a device whose whole appeal was being cheap and simple. And there’s no HDMI cable in the box, which is a strange omission on a $160 streaming device — budget for one if your TV’s HDMI ports are all taken.
None of this makes it bad. But it reframes the buy: this isn’t an impulse dongle anymore, it’s a considered $147 purchase that competes with the Apple TV 4K rather than undercutting everything.
How it compares to rivals
vs Apple TV 4K (A$219 64GB / A$249 128GB). Apple’s box remains the premium pick: A15 chip, slicker interface, AirPlay, and a proper gaming-capable platform. But it’s $72–$102 more than the Google Streamer’s street price, and if you’re not in the Apple ecosystem, much of the premium is wasted. For Android households, the Google box is the rational buy.
vs the old Chromecast with Google TV 4K (AU$99, discontinued). If you can still find old stock at the old price, it’s a genuine bargain for a secondary TV — Google will keep updating it. But 8GB of storage and 2020-era speed are real limitations; for a main TV, the Streamer’s extra $50-ish buys a meaningfully better daily experience.
vs your smart TV’s built-in apps. The awkward rival. Most TVs sold in the last few years run Google TV, Tizen or webOS with all the major apps built in. A streamer only earns its place if your TV’s interface is slow, missing apps, or no longer updated — which, to be fair, describes a lot of 3–5-year-old TVs.
Who should buy it — and who should skip it
Buy it if: your Chromecast is sluggish or out of storage; your TV’s built-in apps are slow or abandoned; you want a wired Ethernet connection for rock-solid 4K; or you’re building out a Google/Matter smart home and want the Thread border router.
Skip it if: your current Chromecast still feels fine (Google keeps updating it); your smart TV already runs Google TV smoothly; or you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, where the Apple TV 4K’s AirPlay and integration justify the extra money.
Worth it? Our verdict
The Google TV Streamer 4K is the Chromecast all grown up — faster, roomier, wired, and smart-home aware. At the $147 street price, it’s a fair deal for what is now a mid-range streaming box rather than a budget dongle. The 60% price hike over the old Chromecast stings, and the experience isn’t revolutionary, but as the only official Google streamer you can buy new, it’s the default choice for Android households with an ageing TV setup.
Verdict: Chromecast is dead; long live the Streamer. Buy it at $147 if your current setup is struggling — otherwise, your old Chromecast has life in it yet.
Related launches
Apple AirPods 5 Australia: $219 Price, What’s New
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Australia: $399 Price, Worth It?
Ninja Luxe Café Premier Australia: $609 Cheapest Price
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Google TV Streamer 4K in Australia?
The RRP is $159.99. Street prices are lower: Officeworks has it at $147, while Big W and digiDirect list it at $159. Prices checked 8 October 2026.
Is the Google TV Streamer replacing Chromecast?
Yes. Google has ended Chromecast production — the TV Streamer is its official replacement. Remaining Chromecast stock is sold while supplies last, and Google says existing Chromecast devices will continue receiving updates.
What’s the difference between the Google TV Streamer and Chromecast with Google TV?
The Streamer is a set-top box rather than a dongle, with a 22% faster processor, 4GB of RAM (vs 2GB), 32GB of storage (vs 8GB), a gigabit Ethernet port, Matter and Thread smart-home hub support, and a redesigned remote with a customisable button and find-my-remote. The on-screen Google TV experience is largely the same.
Does the Google TV Streamer work as a smart home hub?
Yes. It supports Matter and includes a Thread border router, so it can act as a hub for compatible smart-home devices. The Google Home panel in Quick Settings lets you view Nest camera feeds and control lights, thermostats and doorbells from the TV.
Should I buy the Google TV Streamer or Apple TV 4K?
The Google TV Streamer ($147 street) is the better buy for Android and Google smart-home households. The Apple TV 4K (from $219) is faster and slicker with AirPlay and Apple ecosystem integration, but costs $70+ more — worth it mainly if you’re invested in Apple.
Sources
Officeworks — https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/google-tv-streamer-4k-goa05662au
Big W — https://www.BigW.com.au/product/google-tv-streamer-4k-/p/6002958
digiDirect — https://www.digidirect.com.au/products/google-tv-streamer-4k
TechRadar (launch coverage) — https://www.techradar.com/televisions/streaming-devices/google-tv-streamer
Pickr (AU review) — https://www.pickr.com.au/reviews/2024/google-tv-streamer-4k/
Apple TV 4K pricing (AU) — https://www.apple.com/au/search/Apple-TV-4K?page=1&sel=accessories&src=serp
