Google’s next Chromecast could ditch the dongle design

What made Google’s Chromecast so appealing is the fact that it is small and compact. It is essentially a dongle that plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port and stays out of view. Interestingly enough, Google could be changing up their approach to the Chromecast by ditching the dongle design.

According to images shared with 9to5Google, the next-gen Chromecast could end up looking like a more traditional set-top box. This device will apparently be known as the “Google TV Streamer”, as you can see in the image above. On the surface, it doesn’t look like a set-top box and more like a wireless charger.

We appreciate the sleek new look, although it is rather wide. It is unclear if that is simply a design choice or if it could serve another purpose. For example, 9to5Google suggests that the wider design could be useful for the Tap to Cast feature that made its way to the Pixel Tablet earlier this year.

It is also unclear if this new Google TV Streamer will replace the Chromecast series entirely, or if it will exist alongside the more traditional Chromecast dongles. We’re sure that there will be some users who might still prefer the dongle design. As for the accompanying remote, the layout is familiar, although physically it is longer.

There is no word on when this new device will launch, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled.