(Your milage may vary, but more on that in a moment.) Again, none of this is Google's fault - but it does make it harder to recommend buying any 4K streaming device right now, the Chromecast Ultra included. That is a lot of money for what feels like a marginal improvement in quality. This is something lots of customers likely won't realize, and there's no prompt in the Google Home app to remind you to upgrade your Netflix plan.Īs for Vudu, a 4K rental costs a whopping $9.99 while buying a movie costs an even steeper $29.99. If you want to watch 4K, you'll need to sign up for the $11.99 plan, which also lets you watch simultaneously on four screens rather than two. I totally forgot that was the case and spent half an hour watching streams in 1080p before remembering that I hadn't upgraded my Netflix plan. For starters, the standard $9.99-per-month Netflix plan doesn't include 4K streaming. There are other problems with the 4K experience on top of limited content. As for content that supports high dynamic range - arguably a bigger step forward in terms of video quality than 4K resolution - there's even less of it out there. ![]() And Vudu has a paltry 68 movies available to rent or buy in 4K. Just about all of Netflix's original content (as well as Breaking Bad) is available in 4K now, but that's about it. While Netflix and Vudu have 4K content you might want to watch, the catalog is still small. YouTube is heavy on tech-demo videos but lacking in things you'd actually want to watch. The only apps I found that supported 4K streaming were Netflix, Vudu and YouTube, with the former two options being the only ones in the group offering shows and movies you've actually heard of. That's not a fault of the device it's the reality of the streaming space right now. The big catch here is finding 4K content to watch. Most of the time, there's a little buffering as you're starting something up, but things loaded quickly and consistently for me after a few seconds on a 100-Mbps connection. Once you open a video stream in the app, tap the Cast button when it appears on-screen, select the Chromecast Ultra and the video will start playing on your big screen. The Google Home app presents suggestions for apps that are compatible with the Cast technology, including all the usual suspects like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Vudu, HBO Go and Now, WatchESPN, MLB.TV, and NBC Sports, among many others. Using the Chromecast Ultra is no different from using any other Chromecast. I know I'm repeating myself, but there's really no other way to say it. Then you're free to start casting content to your TV using any compatible third-party iOS or Android app. From there, it's a matter of getting it on your home network (WiFi or wired) and signing in with a Google account. Install the Google Home app on your phone, plug in the Chromecast and the app will detect your new hardware. Setup is also identical to what you'll find with a standard Chromecast. Unfortunately, the Chromecast Ultra can't be powered by your TV's USB port anymore you'll need to plug it into a wall socket. The brick actually has an ethernet port in it, all the better for quickly streaming 4K videos. The power cord, however, is different this time. Just like the standard Chromecast, the hardware here is minimal: There's the aforementioned HDMI socket, a micro-USB port for power and a reset button. ![]() By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy.
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