Even though it has been a few months since the second version of the famous Chromecast came out, it could still seem like a very good value if you’re looking for a way to make pretty much a TV without “smart” capabilities into a TV worthy of any living room. But is the 2nd iteration of this popular device still worth it in 2017? Let’s find out…
First of all, the box that the device comes in is pretty unassuming. It knows that it’s there to get a job done and it has not a lot of needless paraphernalia come with it. It’s just the device, its charger and the cables that connect to the TV. That is literally it.
But just because these kids of devices come in small packages does not mean that everything that they do is small. Quite the contrary, in fact. There are 3 things that I take into account when reviewing any gizmo for myself and for other people.
It is obvious that Google has gotten a lot better at design than they used to be. Starting with the introduction of Material Design just a couple of years back, it now is apparent that the big G is serious about catching up to competitors -namely Apple- on the design department.
This device is compact, minimalistic but polished at the same time. Just because of its size it wants for nothing and it really doesn't scream for attention. It’s connected to your TV to do its job and that is about all it wants to do. The rotating photos when the device is not streaming is a nice touch, one that can be personalized to you through the Google Home app.
A lot of people felt that the original Chromecast was a bit too simplistic. I never agreed with such notions given that this product is both cost-effective and doesn't make any outlandish claims about itself, I think that was part of why the original was so successful.
But that was then and this is now and the reality now is that Google has kept the course and given the consumer a very useful device that anyone can use for a plethora of reasons. Need to cast a presentation to a TV that for some ungodly reason doesn't have streaming capabilities? Done. Need to quiet down the children but you’re sick of watching the same 5 episodes of Spongebob Squarepants? Chromecast’s got your back. Need to actually put on that movie or episode of Netflix? No problem.
All of this is possible through the respective apps that do what you need. Once you set up your Chromecast, a process that takes all of 5 minutes at the most, you’ll start seeing the “Cast” icon pop up in all of your favorite apps. Not only that but if you use the browser Chrome, you can even cast your tab or even mirror the whole display to the TV that’s connected to the Chromecast. Very convenient.
The reason why durability is on here is because of all the planned obsolescence that we have grown accustomed to. If you’re going to buy a device only to have the company that put it out ask you to replace it one year later, that’s fine, but that will always be a minus in my book.
The good news is that the Chromecast 2 doesn't play that game. Google clearly was thinking of providing a lot of value for not a lot of money ever since the first Chromecast came out. The proof is in the pudding, the device lasted nearly 3 years before being replaced and the first version of this device is still perfectly usable as I understand it.
Even if Google decided to update this device tomorrow, I would still feel more than comfortable holding on for an update. Maybe even skip the next generation of the device all-together, because I've used this little device for more than a month now and it hasn't broken a sweat yet. I would like to commend Google for offering this kind of value to the consumer.
There’s not a lot that can or should be said about why somebody who is in the market for this kind of device should not get one right away. This little dongle has become a staple of my living room and I would recommend anybody who is even thinking about getting one to do so as they are very likely to be satisfied with their purchase.
