TECHWEEK
Google is not phasing out its Chromecast TV box, even though it has decided to cease production of the hardware. The company intends to roll out an Android 14 firmware update for Chromecast with Google TV later this year. This information was confirmed by Google during the Made by Google event, as reported by Android Authority, although a specific release date for the firmware has yet to be provided.
“While the Chromecast with Google TV is no longer in production, Google will still release software updates for the box, and Android Authority has learned that those will include an update to Android 14.”
Android TV 14 introduces several new features, including low power modes, support for Matter/Thread as a home hub, picture-in-picture functionality for home cameras, and additional enhancements.
The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) was launched in 2020, initially operating on Android 10. It later received an upgrade to Android 12, which has been the standard for the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) since its release in 2022. The recent update to Android 14 marks the second significant operating system upgrade for the Chromecast with Google TV (4K), as Google bypassed Android 13 for television devices and Android 11 for Chromecast. Nonetheless, while the Chromecast has been updated to Android 14, it will not support all the features available in the latest Google TV Streamer model due to certain hardware limitations. For instance, the Chromecast lacks a Thread radio, which is necessary for managing smart home devices via Thread. Additionally, Google has not yet confirmed plans to introduce the new Home panel interface to the Chromecast.
It has been officially announced that the new Google TV Streamer, set to succeed Chromecast, will launch concurrently with Android 14.
