Chromecast with Google TV

What does a new Chromecast with Google TV remote look like?

Ben Schoon | Apr 24 2024 - 5:30 am PT

The Chromecast with Google TV is getting a sequel, and it sounds like one of the changes will be a new remote. So, what does a new Chromecast remote look like? Let’s discuss.

Chromecast with Google TV hit the scene in 2020 with a pretty simple, but wonderful little remote. The compact and rounded remote sits comfortably in the hand and is very straightforward in terms of what it can do. Home, back, mute, Assistant, power, and input buttons are all you’ll found outside of the typical volume, D-Pad, and app shortcut buttons, and that makes it easy to just pick up and understand. Arguably, anyone who’s ever used a TV can figure out how this one works.

Plus, when combined with Google TV, there are some nice software tricks going on. The YouTube button can natively be remapped to YouTube, YouTube TV, or YouTube Music. There’s also the IR blaster, which can be programmed through Google TV to control your TV, soundbar, and other gear. It’s super user-friendly compared to the universal remotes of old.

So, realistically, I’m not sure much needs to change. The core ideas at play here are good.

That said, we already have some hints as to what could be coming.

In Android 14’s beta releases last year, a new remote clearly destined for a Chromecast was spotted. This new remote shared the same physical shape, but was a bit taller than the existing Chromecast remote and has more buttons. The volume buttons seemingly move from the side of the remote to the top, while a new “magic” button appears that, based on context in the software, is probably a custom shortcut button.

There are also other ideas we’ve seen Google toy around with. Along with the debut of Profiles in Google TV, the reference remote for the platform picked up a variation with a shortcut button to swap user profiles more quickly.

In a poll of 9to5Google readers last year, one of the top requests was also to add a Play/Pause button to the remote. And, admittedly, that’d be super nice given how Android TV OS apps tend to respond to the “OK” button very differently.

Honestly, I’d also just be happy if Google went the simple route and used its reference design remotes with a new Chromecast. The “G10” remote is just as simple and easy to use as the one shipping with the current Chromecast, but its tall and slim design is more comfortable, harder to lose, and leaves move flexibility for buttons.

Something the Nvidia Shield TV does well that I’d equally love to see Google copy is a “homing” button. On the Shield TV, there’s a button you can push to have the remote make noise. That’d be useful! Though, it’d arguably be even better if Google stuffed Find My Device support in there, or even UWB.

What do you want from a new Chromecast remote? Let us know in the comments!