Google first launched Chromecast in July 2013 - and ever since, it's been the most affordable streaming device on the market. It plugs into the back of your TV and turns your smartphone into a remote, allowing you to view Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, and a slew of other cast-ready apps loud and clear...

Easy to set up; No remote to lose (just use any smartphone to navigate; Low power usage; Has the lowest price out of all the products we tested

No parental controls; No home screen to easily access content; Must have smartphone

The main thing to know about Chromecast is that you'll either love it or hate it. Unlike every other media streamer in our buying guide, Google's $35...

Fast and easy phone- or tablet-based navigation; Automatic TV controls are a brilliant touch; Unbeatable price at $35 (frequently available for less...

Unusable without a phone; tablet; or PC; No universal search or on-screen menu system; Chrome tab mirroring still doesn't work that well

Our experience with the Chromecast was a bit marred due to the lack of iOS support at the time of our testing. We sent the device back before the app was released. Maybe in the future, we could get our hands on another Chromecast and make some appends to this review.

Function; Ease of Use; Resolution Quality

Setup; No Ethernet LAN Support

With the Google Chromecast UK release, Apple finally has some competition for its Apple TV . Both the Chromecast and Apple TV enable you to stream video and audio to television. And both come with iOS integration, so you can use your iPhone or iPad to control what plays on your TV.

Apple TV is easy to set up; Chromecast is easy to use; Apple TV has AirPlay and can stream almost anything from iPhone or iPad; Chromecast is integrated with key apps such as BBC iPlayer; Netflix and YouTube

Apple TV remote control is small and fiddly; Chromecast has no remote and only works with a few apps; Apple TV costs £70 more than Chromecast and doesn't have a HDMI cable in the box; Chromecast cannot stream iTunes music or Photos

Google has once again proved that it has the smarts to make streaming work. The new design is fun but functional, the new app more responsive and, for the most part, a joy to use. But the best thing about the Chromecast is the price - at a snip under ￡30, it is one of the cheapest ways to stream and...

Great new design; Easy to set up

Search needs improvement; More apps needed

Google Chromecast allows you to stream media from you PC or laptop, phone or tablet using wi-fi when you connect it to a HDMI port on your TV, it pretty much turns your ordinary TV to a smart TV. We got ours for about £30 on Amazon.

can turn your ordinary TV to smart TV

did not work for us

Bought this for my other half so he could put guitar lessons from utube on the box he loves it. he is a complete technophobe so has to be good!!!!!!!!!!!

Google's Chromecast is a brilliant addition to any TV! The old method of plugging your computer into the TV to display content and videos seems so primitive now as it is so easy to show content from a device on your network to your TV wirelessly.

super simple setup; easy to cast websites; fast loading times; high quality video

few sites support chromecast nativly; local content isn't supported out of the box

Google Chromecast is an HDMI dongle that once connected with any ordinary TV with HDMI port will convert it into a smart TV. With this dongle users will be able to stream anything that they see on their mobile, or tablet or laptop onto their big TV screen.

Even if you're already committed to another streamer, the Chromecast's new app alone makes picking one up well worth the 35 bucks.

New design fits any port; Slightly faster load speeds; New app is a huge improvement; Cross-platform search at this price is impressive

Search could use a bit of work; Still can't control playback from main app; What's On could stand some more personalization