Is Chromecast with Google TV a better buy than Roku or Amazon?
Google's new Chromecast is a smart rival to Roku and Amazon  But eight years is a long time in technology. In 2013 the iPlayer was in its infancy, Netflix was still sending out DVDs in the post and catch-up TV meant recording programmes onto a hard disk or even a video cassette. The changes since have made the original Chromecast something of an anachronism. Its model of using your phone as a combined remote control and video player was never copied by rivals like Apple, Roku and Amazon Fire, who instead released self-contained streaming sticks for around the same price. The Chromecast is awkward and cumbersome by comparison. Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... But the new model changes that. The 60 Chromecast with Google TV is a palm-sized device that contains everything youd expect from a smart TV, minus the screen. Unlike its predecessor it has a dedicated remote control and its own menu system, which can pull in content from all the usual paid-for and free streaming services and play them in 4K ultra high-definition, assuming your TV is compatible. In other words, it behaves exactly like the similar products from Roku and Amazon. It also has built-in voice recognition to save you the trouble of searching through different apps and menus. Asking it out loud to play last Tuesdays Emmerdale should avoid the need to root through the ITV Hub. The new Chromecast is also better integrated with the other Google services you probably use on your phone and PC. Its ideal for watching YouTube on the big screen, and for projecting slideshows of pictures youve saved to Google Photos. Its not perfect, though. You cant power it from a USB socket on the back of your TV, and the mains cable creates more clutter behind your TV. Its also not always as fast as it could be, and you cant always trust the voice assistant to find the cheapest option for watching a programme. Besides, Roku and Amazons rival products also have voice recognition and cost 10 less. But the Chromecasts menu design and its integration with Googles other services are unbeatable. The intense competition for access to your TV is driving all kinds of special offers, and it may be the price that determines your final choice. Currently, for instance, Rokus Premiere 4K streaming media player is only 25  5 less than the more basic version without 4K. But prices change by the day. Competition also means that most of these sticks now allow access to the streaming services of rival companies. There are a few exceptions, though, so check before buying any model that it supports the apps you need. Britbox in particular runs on only a few platforms. At around 100 more than its rivals, its hard to recommend the Apple TV streaming box to anyone other than die-hard iPhone enthusiasts  so that leaves Google, Amazon and Roku in the frame. Theres no doubt that the new Chromecast is finally a worthy competitor to the other two, and you cant go far wrong with any of them. If you want the snazziest on-screen display, go for Google, but for all-round convenience, simplicity and versatility  and despite its dated menu design  my money is still on Roku. Other than 4K capability, functionality is similar across the range, so choose the model that offers the best value at the time.