Chromecast with Google TV to offer Fire TV-like interface, new leak reveals

Google will host an event tonight to unveil new hardware. The company will showcase Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A smartphones. Another new and long-awaited product is the next-generation Chromecast. The new media streaming dongle is said to come with various improvements. With just hours left for the official announcement, the interface of the new device has leaked online.

According to The Verge, the Chromecast with Google TV will run on Android TV. The interface seems pretty similar to what Amazon Fire TV or Roku has to offer. Users get a proper menu system which can be navigated through remote control.

The device shows content from all the streaming services on the device and shows them in a Netflix-style layout. It has dedicated sections for search, movies, shows, apps, and library. There is also a “for you” which is likely to show personalised content.

The Verge points out that the home screen looks very different from the usual Android TV-based interfaces. Another highlight of the new Chromecast is that it lets you sideload applications. It means users can experiment with apps that are not available on Google’s Play Store.

As far as remote control goes, it seems compact with a circular trackpad. There is a dedicated button to launch Google Assistant. It also houses hotkeys to access YouTube and Netflix.

According to older leaks, the new Chromecast supports apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube TV, Sling, Hulu, Peacock, Spotify, and HBO Max. It is likely to offer up to 4K streaming at 60fps. It is also said to come with HDR and Dolby Vision. The device could run on an Amlogic S905X2 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. It could also feature HDMI 2.1 with automatic low-latency optimisation. You can get Chromecast with Google TV in pink, grey and blue colours.