The Google TV Streamer added one feature that all such devices need

By Phil Nickinson Published August 6, 2024

When a company drops a handful of press images alongside the announcement of a new product, we rarely get to see the back of the thing. And I get it — there’s nothing particularly photogenic about a bunch of ports and cords. And that’s mostly true of the new Google TV Streamer, which looks more like a router than it does a successor to the venerable Chromecast dongle.

But we did get the briefest glimpse of the rear of the device in Google’s promo video. In it, you see the USB-C power cable and a hint of the Ethernet port. And those are great.

But it’s a little button that’s I’m really excited about, because it adds a feature that not every streaming device has — a foolproof way to find a missing remote control. Press the button, and the new Google TV voice remote starts chirping, making it easier to find. That’s a feature that Roku has long had on its devices. And now Google’s got it, too.

That’s something that Apple TV 4K — which is still our pick for the best streaming device you can buy, though it may well have some competition now — doesn’t do. (I had to buy an AirTag and a case to replicate that feature. It works great, but it wasn’t free.)

Here’s to hoping that Apple and Amazon and anyone else slips in this little quality-of-life winner in their next devices. You might not use it often, but it’s a lifesaver when you need it.