Chromecast (3rd Generation) Review

What is Chromecast 3rd Generation?

The Chromecast has been around since 2013 and was an early way to view HD video on a TV (known as "casting"). While the Chromecast 3rd Generation was updated in 2018 and is still the inexpensive, bare-bones way to cast video from just about any source (or format) to your TV, its successor, Chromecast with Google TV, is the newest model out now. The 3rd gen doesn't support 4K or HDR video, or Dolby Atmos sound, but still does a solid job of making lots of content available. Chromecast relies on your phone, tablet, or other devices to initiate the supply of content.

Read more about the most recent Chromecast model: Chromecast with Google TV Review

Chromecast vs. Chromecast with Google TV 

The Chromecast 3rd Generation is definitely inferior to its big brother, Chromecast with Google TV. Essentially, the $50 Chromecast with Google TV does everything the Chromecast does, and better, with added features. It has 4K and HDR video ability, Dolby Atmos sound, and a remote that can be voice-controlled; it also has Bluetooth and can tie into your home's Nest camera system.

The Chromecast 3rd Generation is a basic, simple way to get streaming content to your TV in HD format. That's its goal, and it does that job well. 

Chromecast pricing

Chromecast is a great value proposition: it retails for just $35. You can find it for $30 at Amazon, Walmart, and BestBuy. That's a rock-bottom price for a streaming video device. 

Chromecast features

The Chromecast remains the same size and shape as it has been. It's a two-inch circle-shaped dongle with a short HDMI cable and a micro-USB jack. The Chromecast is intended to hang from a spare HDMI port on the back of a TV -- out of sight. Also, the magnet that attached the previous version to the HDMI plug as a strain relief is gone now. It comes with a USB cable and a power adapter, which you'll need if your TV doesn't have an available USB jack to power the Chromecast. 

This version of Chromecast, the third generation, is improved over the last one by the addition of 60 frames per second video in 1080p. But the framerate doesn't mean much because nearly all streaming content not in 4K resolution tops out at 30 frames per second. One exception is gaming, which could see an improved performance from the increased framerate.

Google says it's about 15% faster than the earlier Chromecast, but that's it, as far as upgrades from the second generation device.

There's no remote with the Chromecast. This is a very basic device. You'll actually use your phone or tablet as a remote.

The simple interface is the Google Home app you install on your device. Once ready to go, you look for the "cast" icon on the video you want to show on your TV. The tech here is actually ingenious: you aren't mirroring your device -- in fact, you can change to another app or even turn it off once the video is streaming, and it will keep going. The Chromecast links to the source, not your device, and takes the video from there. You control playback, stopping, fast-forwarding, and rewinding from the device, so you'll want to leave it on while you're watching.

There are cast icons on many, if not most, media platforms these days, from Amazon Prime Video to Netflix to Facebook to YouTube. Local TV station apps even have them, so if they offer a Live TV option, you could watch local news from your old home town no matter where you live. 

Here's a list of popular apps you can cast:

• Netflix

• YouTube TV

• Amazon Prime Video

• Hulu

• HBO Max

• Showtime Anytime

• Sling TV

• Vudu

• BYUtv

• Comedy Central

• Crackle

• Disney+

• Discovery+

• fuboTV

• Google Play Music

• Google Play Movies

• MTV

• Peacock

• Philo

• TBS

• TNT

• Sundance TV

• STARZ

• MLS Live

• FOX Sports

• NFL Sunday Ticket

• CBS Sports

• NBC Sports

• YouTube

• Facebook videos

• Twitch

• Spotify

• Pandora

• Vevo

• TuneIn

• SoundCloud

...and many, many more. That's always been part of the charm of Chromecast: finding new gems that you didn't realize were "castable."

The best performance will, not surprisingly, come from a Chrome browser on your device, so if you aren't currently using that, go ahead and download it just for Chromecast.  

Chromecast will even let you cast images from your Google Photos albums and can be set up to run as an automatic slideshow when your TV isn't showing video. 

And visitors can show you videos they've found or play music they like --without giving them your Wi-Fi password -- by using the Guest mode. 

Owners of a Google Assistant device, for example, the Google Home Mini, will find they can control the Chromecast with voice commands. If it's connected to the same network and logged into the same Google account, telling the Assistant to play a movie on Chromecast will prompt it to start.  

Setting up a Chromecast 3rd Generation

This is how you do it:

• Plug in the Chromecast, both via HDMI and USB power

• Download the Google Home app to your phone or tablet (even if you have an iOS device, you can still get the app here

• Open the app and select "Set Up New Device" ( or the Add icon, +)

• Click "Set Up Device"

• Then "Set Up New Devices in Your Home"

• Now you'll be asked to "Choose a Home"

• Select the Chromecast device you want to set up (you may only see one)

• Confirm the four-digit code you see on the TV

• Choose whether you want to send device stats and crash reports to Google

• Set your Chromecast's location, which becomes important if you have more than one Chromecast, like one in the living room, and one in the bedroom.

• Tap your Wi-Fi. If your device is already on it, you won't have to enter a login.

This sounds more time-consuming than it really is--it'll take you about a minute to complete.

Now you're ready to find video content to stream. You might start with YouTube or even Facebook videos before selecting a movie and TV streaming service.

Our final take

The lower price point, easy setup, and operation from about any mobile device make the Chromecast 3rd Generation a good choice for anyone who doesn't plan to entirely cut the cable cord, and isn't using a 4K TV (yet).  

Owners of the Chromecast 2nd Generation won't find much difference here and should pass on this iteration. A good alternative for those looking to upgrade is the Chromecast with Google TV instead.

If you just want to try the technology, this is the easiest and cheapest way to do it. For 35 bucks, you can explore the world of streaming video and decide how serious you are about it. If you're shopping around see how three of the biggest brands stack up in our Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire comparison.

One advantage it offers over other similar devices is that you can be scrolling on your phone, see an interesting video, and have it on your big screen TV in just seconds.

You'll get a lot of use out of the Chromecast. It converts any TV with an HDMI port into a smart TV.