This year, the Google TV Streamer arrived as the successor to the Chromecast lineup. It also marks a new beginning for Google’s streaming devices, discontinuing the Chromecast brand and opting for a new form factor. Now, reports of a mysterious “Google TV Streamer Pro” have sparked debate among the community.
A Redditor shared a screenshot of an intriguing find at an online retailer. Under the “Supported Devices” section, the Google TV Streamer product page explicitly mentions “Google TV Streamer Pro.” The other items listed are the two versions of the Chromecast with Google TV (HD and 4K) and the Google TV Streamer itself.
Google possibly considered launching a Pro version of the Google TV Streamer
The discovery raised suspicions that Google was considering releasing two versions of its set-top box during development. In the end, the company only released one, so they would have cancelled the “Pro” model for unknown reasons. Another option is that Google is actually working on a Pro version of the device that will be released later. However, this seems the least likely option since the current leaks don’t support it.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that a potential Google TV Streamer Pro has emerged. A benchmark, allegedly related to the device, had surfaced a while ago. The only apparent difference with the final product seems to be a CPU running at 2 GHz instead of the advertised 1.8 GHz of the Google TV Streamer. However, another Redditor found that the current device is already capable of reaching 2 GHz.
So, in the end, the Pro model would actually be the same TV Streamer that’s already available. The development process for new devices is complex, and a lot can change. That said, it would be interesting if Google is actually working on a “Pro” variant of its set-top box. The company could focus on cloud and streaming gaming to target an audience eagerly awaiting a new NVIDIA Shield product.
