Google Chromecast with Google TV

Product from Amazon US, as this is not stocked in Amazon SG. But works well in Singapore. Good buy. More worthwhile than the original chromecast, since it can cast but also function as standalone streaming device.

Nice,I enjoy it

I can verify that the plug for this is a USA style plug but you can put an adapter on it because it is 100 volt to 240 volt capable. I’ve also found that you can run this off of a 5 volt phone charger, so long is the amperage is enough. Most phone chargers these days have more than enough amperage. I upgraded from the HD model (used on an older TV) after buying a new LG TV that has really poor smart features implementation. I tried the HD model on my new 4k TV for a while, and it still looked excellent on everything that wasn’t in HDR10 or other newer black level format. Honestly not a huge difference between resolution of the HD and 4k devices, because most content we still watch is HD. You need larger than a 50″ TV to notice, at 7 feet or further away. But there was a big difference when HDR formats were part of the image (HD model didn’t have as many pixels to work with and the image was then darker). My new TV is a 4k TV and the Chromecast 4k runs at 10 bit 4:2:0. It was capable of 10 bit 4:4:4 on the HD model in 1080p. Oddly, this meant the 1080p image color in 10 bit 4:4:4 was very slightly deeper with the HD model over the 4K in 10 bit 4:2:0, with the tradeoff that it was too dark on the HD model using 12 bit settings. Both do have other 12-bit capabilities though, if your screen is capable of that. On my TV the HD model will accept the 12-bit connection but then certain apps like Disney get wonky and my Bluetooth doesn’t work or the Disney+ app won’t open. I found that to be the case on the HD model, but not on the 4K. I also learned that audio settings can affect whether Disney+ will open. I switched to 2 channel audio and now it opens (probably an issue with my TV’s capabilities). Most every bit of content these days and probably for quite a while (even 4k Bluray) is 10-bit anyway, so although running in 12 bit on the 4k model provided ever so slightly deeper colors, it also makes the overall image darker in the brighter areas. If you find HDR content too dark, you can adjust the bitrate under the Settings cog/Display & Sound/Dynamic Range & Color format. You can also dump HDR entirely, which is a godsend if you find it too dark. My Chromecasts both have their minor bugs related to apps. For some reason I also lost the ability to purchase or rent movies from Google TV due to something that happened with my Google account. I seem to break something, but I don’t know what, because it also affects my phone as well. I’ve contacted Google about this message error I get, but they’ve been of no help at all. One of the Google techs flat told me that they have no idea how to fix it. And I know I’m not the only one who receives this same message. The workaround for me is to purchase and rent movies through YouTube, which is all the same list anyway I think. I can also purchase them from Apple and any other app. It’s just so odd to me that I can’t get movies from Google TV to rent or buy anymore on the one device made specifically for the purpose. When I try to purchase I get an “Error Retrieving Information from Server. DF-DFREH-01”. This seems to be a Google problem and not a Chromecast problem, because it also affects my phone. But this problem highlights the issue that I have with pretty much all of my Google products. They’re sort of half-baked and full of bugs, and those bugs rarely get fixed before they move on to the next product. To be honest, I think it would be well worth it to buy an Apple TV instead (although I read YouTube is buggy on it) if you can afford it, but the reason I purchased Google because it allows me to use a VPN and access overseas video content from the device. I’m not sure the Apple TV can do that. So overall, I’m generally happy with this device as the video quality is generally very excellent, and much better than the video quality coming from my Smart TV’s own internal functions. And I find HDR content to be a bit of a mess, so the Chromecast allows me to change color format or shut off HDR entirely for a brighter picture, which my LG TV will not do by itself. This Chromecast 4k is Dolby Vision capable, which might solve these HDR problems on TVs capable of it (or on some, creates others). But the best my TV can do is HDR10. The entire implementation of these HDR formats is a complete mess on Disney+, for example. So disappointed that many of their titles are fake HDR that is simply SDR encapsulated and not really HDR, which causes dark video on TVs that cannot turn off HDR. Many of the Star Wars shows appear to be like this. Happy with the overall value of this device. Buy the 1080p for an older TV. But get the 4k for a newer 4k one. Simple as that.