The original Chromecast is viewed by many as one of the best streaming devices on the market. The tiny stick let users stream video from their smartphone or tablet to any TV or monitor with an HDMI cable – and cost a piddly ￡30.

Still great value for money; Added 5GHz Wi-Fi support; Compact design; Enhanced Chromecast companion app

Many features not active in the UK; Gaming is weak currently

Purchased for use in a public work space, exactly what we wanted.

Combining a small design and a price tag to match, Google's Chromecast has proved to be a popular way for people to easily stream video from a computer or mobile device to their television.

Redesigned app makes it easier to find streaming content; Improved Wi-Fi connectivity; Support from a vast array of streaming apps; Easy to set up and use

New design means device will dangle when plugged into an HDMI port; Requires computer or mobile device

Google wowed us with the Chromecast when it launched two years ago. At the time, the idea of a $35 device you could plug into your HDTV to watch streaming media was remarkable. It no longer seems as novel, with other inexpensive solutions on the market, even still the Chromecast remains a top-notch...

Inexpensive; Easy to set up; Compatible with many apps and services; Responsive

No major new features over the original Chromecast; Requires a smartphone, tablet, or PC to control

When I saw the first version of Chromecast it was around the same time as a similar product from Roku, to my mind the latter was a better product at a near similar price. So what will the second version have to offer to change my mind?

Google's second generation Chromecast isn't that different to its predecessor. There's a new design and a few clever tweaks, but for all intents and purposes, it's the same product in a prettier shell. What has changed is the Australian media landscape.

Easy to setup and use; Improved form factor; Support for 5GHz wireless networks

No option for a dedicated remote; No support for 4K streaming; A little more expensive this time

A little unclear why I had not had it before. A very good product. Broad support for many video services. Very stable. Easy to use. If you notice something, maybe it may be a little confusing that it will continue to play even if you quit the streaming app on your phone.

This is the third one I have bought and it is a great product. This made cutting the cord much easier. We stream Netflix, Hulu and use YouTube TV instead of the cable.

Google products are generally pretty reliable and usable. This product is no exceptions. Simple to use. Could use a little more integration to other services like Roku offers.

cost when on sale; integration with google home

limited content

The Google Chromecast is a cheap way to make your TV smart, but should you buy the Chromecast Ultra instead?