Chromecast 4K vs. Chromecast HD

The 2020 release of the Chromecast with Google TV was a significant step in the right direction for Google. It pushed forward into the realm of USB-C while offering up to a 4K resolution and a significantly improved user interface.

If you can afford it, the $50 4K Chromecast is an excellent purchase. And don’t worry that it’s a bit older than its lower-resolution relative. It received an Android 12 update, which further streamlines the user experience, in addition to adding more in-depth control HDR, surround sound, privacy, and security options. This update also addressed one specific bug that periodically prevented supported USB hubs from working after a reboot.

If you’re not concerned with 4K resolution or don’t have a setup that supports HDR and surround sound, though, the more recent HD Chromecast is an even better deal at just $30. In terms of menu navigation, performance, and ongoing security, it’s basically identical to the more expensive option.

Check out our full comparison of the two Chromecasts for more on how they compare.

Don’t forget a USB-C charger

First, know that you likely won’t be able to power any of these devices using the power supply that comes with either the newer or older Chromecast model. The included wall adapter simply can’t deliver enough juice to power the streaming dongle and a USB-C hub, which requires roughly a 15W overhead. Moreover, connecting multiple devices to the hub increases its power consumption. You’ll know if you’ve exceeded the power supply capacity if your Chromecast freezes or if individual components, such as a flash drive, webcam, or mouse freeze or disappear.

Any power supply you choose must support the USB-C Power Delivery protocol and should have a capacity of at least 45W to ensure reliable performance. As always, opting for a USB-C charger that’s USB-IF certified to protect your devices is a good idea. We’ve highlighted two appropriate USB-C chargers from Nekteck and Ugreen.

The Nekteck 45W USB-C Charger is the least expensive and will work fine, but the Ugreen’s Revodok 10-in-1 USB C is a newer model and built with 100W PD charging. Plus, its extra ports are a welcome streamline to your workflow, accommodating multiple peripherals while offering efficient power management. Of course, you don’t need to spend a ton for a decent USB hub. The budget-friendly Mission USB hub is a worthy bare-bones alternative. And Totu’s 7-in-1 Type C hub is a worthy mid-grade option with enough ports and power for the average user.

Do you need an Ethernet connection?

Slow Wi-Fi connections are a common problem with streaming devices, so many users want a USB-C hub mainly for a wired network connection. This keeps your resolution as high as possible and helps streamline the entire user experience since much of it takes place within apps as they’re actively accessing the internet. If a wired connection is your main goal, the Itramax Ethernet Adapter is worth considering because it’s purpose-built to add a wired connection, and that’s it.

Make it easier to navigate the Chromecast

It’s also common to add a keyboard and mouse to the Chromecast to make it easier to use apps and search for media. These should both be plug-and-play installations. If enhanced input is something you’re interested in, make sure you get a hub with two or more USB-A ports. The only hub on our list that doesn’t fit that description is the Itramax; all others support multiple Type-A peripherals.

Alternatively, since Chromecast dongles support Bluetooth connections, you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse without much hassle.

Store more offline content

If you’re looking to expand the onboard storage of your Chromecast, a flash drive, SD card, or microSD card can help. Keep in mind these devices must be formatted in FAT32 for the Chromecast to access them. This does limit the viewing of external media to files of 4GB or less. If you want to access larger video files, you’ll have to convert them to a different format with a more efficient codec and get them under the 4GB mark.

It’s worth noting that at its initial release, the new Chromecast with Google TV had an app storage issue that led to a nearly full internal drive (and, therefore, frequent slowdowns) after just a couple of apps were installed. If you’re still experiencing that issue, make sure you’ve updated your Chromecast, as later patches have largely mitigated the problem.

A note on file storage

Both recent Chromecast dongles use only the FAT32 file system, which is slower, older, and less versatile than the NTFS or exFAT architectures. You won’t notice any issues in terms of pure performance, but there’s one big limitation with FAT32. Drives using the FAT32 standard can’t store individual files greater than 4 GB, smaller than some uncompressed video files that may or may not be in your collection.

Make sure to format all microSD and USB storage using the FAT32 file system, or they won’t work with a Chromecast dongle, no matter what hub you use to connect them.

Using peripherals with Chromecast

For what it’s worth, we have confirmed that each of our recommendations is compatible with the Chromecast with Google TV as long as you have an appropriate power supply. To use most of the added peripherals, you will have to access some developer options that are slightly hidden in the settings, but it’s not that difficult. To enable the developer options, first, go into the Settings menu and then into the Device Preferences submenu. Next, select About and click on the Android TV OS Build seven times. It’s basically the same process used to unlock Developer Mode on a Chromebook or Android smartphone.