The Google Chromecast has been a valuable gadget for many, helping them turn any display with HDMI functionality into a smart TV. According to reports, Google is now working on a more affordable Chromecast streaming stick aimed at users who don’t have a new, flashy TV. A source close to the project has said that the device is being developed under the codename ‘Boreal.’
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According to the source, Google’s plan is to market the device as the “Chromecast HD with Google TV,” offering a maximum output resolution of 1080p at 60 frames per second. Previous versions of the Chromecast had the same functionality, but the new version will also feature the company’s Google TV OS platform and an accompanying remote control.
This means it is very similar to the latest Chromecast, except that it can’t offer 4K capabilities. This is where the price differential will come from. The new budget Chromecast is expected to cost 20-25 percent less than the 4K capable version.
The low-end Chromecast with Google TV will reportedly feature an Amlogic S805X2 CPU alongside a maximum of 2GB RAM, as well as a Mali-G31 GPU. That should make it capable of decoding the new AV1 video codec. This streamlined open-source codec offers higher quality pictures with less data usage, improving the overall viewing experience, even on low bandwidth connections.
AV1 streaming is starting to become a popular protocol, with Netflix recently starting to use the new standard for streaming shows and movies on certain Samsung, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices. The new Chromecast will likely replace the older OS-less devices and could compete with the Roku, Xiaomi, and Fire TV sticks, which sell for between R699 and R1,199 in South Africa. The flagship Chromecast costs around R1,500 in South Africa.
