Chromecast is a dongle that is used for your television. It connects to the TV’s HDMI port to add smart functions to your TV. Chromecast pairs to your home network, and then your smartphone can control it. It will allow you to open an entertainment application on your phone, and with the help of Chromecast, you can play content on your TV. It is an excellent platform for streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Chrome, Android, and many others that support Google Cast.

In 2013 first Chromecast was launched by Google and then updated in 2015 with the Chromecast 2 and updated again in 2018 with the Chromecast third-gen. While all Chromecast supports full HD content. These Chromecast models have got increasingly faster with stronger Wi-Fi to hold a connection better.

Chromecast versus Chromecast Ultra

Chromecast is the standard third-generation which is effectively a similar device to the Chromecast Ultra, but it loses 4K streaming capabilities, and in return, it is less than the price. When you have no intention of streaming in 4K, or just need a Chromecast for a less-used TV, then this will fit into your budget.

Chromecast Ultra is the only device that allows you to stream Stadia games on your television and can also cast any content in 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. Unsuccessfully this device does not support the new Google TV platform and is also no longer sold on Google’s website.

How does Chromecast Work?

The most important thing to understand about casting is that it is not about sending the content from your phone to the Chromecast dongle. In the vast majority of cases, you all are doing it by using your phone to tell the Chromecast device what content it wants to play by pointing it at the source. After that, Chromecast uses its connection to retrieve that stream in the best quality it can which means that if you connect a Chromecast Ultra to a 4K TV, for example, it will play 4K content that you cannot view on your phone.

Although when you are mirroring your phone on the TV or viewing a website, then you are sending that from your phone or computer directly to the Chromecast, and both need to stay connected. This is the case when you are casing your Android device screen and a tab from Chrome or your Chromebook desktop.

• Requirements: 

First of all, you need to plug it into an HDMI input on a TV/display as well as connect it to a power supply. On Chromecast, this could be a USB socket on the back of your TV, whereas for Chromecast Ultra, it has to be a wall socket, or there is not enough power for it to work. 

After that, you also need an adaptable Android device or iOS device with the latest version of the app, now called Google Home installed, or you need a compatible Windows computer, Mac, or Chromebook with the latest version of the Chrome browser installed.

The Google Home app is the same app that you use to control other Google hardware such as Nest Hub and to set up smart home features to control by your phone. Your Chromecast and device or computer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, you cannot cast to your TV.

• Set-up:

Setting up of Chromecast is very simple, which involves plug-in your Chromecast into your TV’s HDMI port and a power source and then install the Google Home mobile app on your mobile device to begin the setup process and follow the app’s setup instructions.

Then the app will automatically find your Chromecast and produce you to connect it to the same Wi-Fi network connected to your mobile device. You can also connect Chromecast with your computer. Install the Chrome browser on the computer. After that, search to chromecast.com/setup from the browser to set up Chromecast.

• Things you can do:

With Chromecast, you can emit movies, TV shows, and photos from Cast-enabled apps on Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones, iPads, and you can also emit entire sites or tabs from the Chrome browser at Windows, Macs, and Chromebooks. To manage your Chromecast, you can use the Google Home app or Google Cast browser extension. Mostly, there is no user interface and no remote required. All the control comes from your phone or computer. You can also emit your Android screen to your TV or from particular apps on your phone.

Benefits:

• It displays a solid 1080 pixel picture.

• Your TV USB port can power it.

Cons:

• Google TV does not support it.

• There is no Ethernet port.

 Hello Reader! This is Elisa Wilson, and I hope you are having a fantastic day! I have worked for more than a decade in many multinational companies, and I also have five years of experience in digital writing. I like to write general blogs which can click with readers spanning across multiple domains and industries. I invite you to read my work on my site, and if you want to offer your criticism for the betterment of my work, you can do so. Reach the site: “Roku.com/link” to read my work.