Chromecasts aren’t the best streaming gift for everyone

It’s getting harder and harder to find people who don’t at least occasionally use streaming services, but a good way to discourage people from streaming is to make the process more arcane than necessary. 

With streaming hardware rapidly getting to the point where even 4K-compatible sticks and boxes are cheap, these things can make for easy holiday gifts. You don’t have to break the bank and it’s almost guaranteed that the recipient will find something to do with it. Entertainment is universal, after all.

But it’s not always universally accessible. Google’s Chromecast devices are one of the more common streaming devices, and for good reason: At just $35, even the base model is a useful little gadget that can beat built-in smart TV apps. But if you’re shopping for streaming hardware for a parent or anyone else who isn’t totally tech-savvy, you may want to look elsewhere.

Chromecasts are great at what they do, but their unconventional approach can cause headaches for those more used to traditional TV tech.

Not remotely simple

You may already know this by now, but Chromecast isn’t simply a Google-branded version of a Roku or Apple TV. All of those devices ultimately serve the same purpose, but Google’s circular toy does so in a way that might make it annoying to people who have gotten used to the old ways of watching TV.

Simply put, Chromecasts don’t come with a remote or much of a system-level interface of any kind. Once you plug it into your TV’s HDMI port and a power outlet, you have to install the Google Home app on your phone and log into a Google account to set the Chromecast up. After you’ve done all that, your phone becomes the remote.

Instead of using the any such included remote to browse a simple menu screen, like on an Apple TV or Roku, you “cast” things from your phone to the Chromecast. Open the Netflix app, press the “cast” button, and it’ll go to the TV. Some people love this because it cuts down on remote clutter and they might already use their phone for everything anyway. I get that, and I can relate.

That said, it’s clearly not for everybody. I can think of several beloved relatives who would hate having to deal with that just to watch their shows and films. They’re better at using remotes than phones because they’ve been doing it much longer. Even I, a professional tech writer, have occasionally been tripped up by the Chromecast’s process. 

Great gift-givers consider everything they can about the recipient before making their purchases. If you want to give the gift of high-quality streaming to a loved one but you think they might find Chromecasts a little tough to wrangle, it’s okay! There are other options.

Some good alternatives

Like I said, there are approximately a million devices that can do the exact same thing as a Chromecast in a way that might make more sense to the prospective streamers in your life. Alright, maybe not a million, but certainly more than enough.

Amazon’s Fire TV line, for example, has an Alexa-powered voice remote and starts at just $25, without even factoring in holiday sales. For just $10 more, you can go up to 4K streaming, if that’s something that matters to the recipient you have in mind. 

Roku definitely has the widest variety of streaming devices, from tiny sticks to booming soundbars with streaming tech inside them. Again, the most basic option goes for just $25 and comes with a remote that’s easy to use, if not especially full-featured. To be specific, cheaper Roku devices tend to come with remotes that can’t voice search. The Roku mobile app helps, but we’re trying to avoid smartphones here.

Finally, Apple TVs are on the pricier end of things, but they’re slick and largely hassle-free streaming boxes for folks who have already bought into Apple’s ecosystem. If you own something on iTunes, you can watch it on your TV with an Apple TV. The swipe-based remote has a steep learning curve, though, so watch out for that.

Oh, and one last thing: Don’t worry too much about app availability. Pretty much all the mainstream apps are on every device now. Google and Amazon gummed up the works in this regard with a corporate feud, but that ended earlier this year. 

In fairness, Chromecasts are still pretty cool

I don’t want to give the impression that I hate Chromecasts or that people shouldn’t buy them. Some people are justifiably tired of remotes. One could call them a relic of the old order, a reminder of the past that belongs in museums instead of on living room side tables.

Letting house guests cast whatever they want to your TV is one fun thing you can do with a Chromecast. Sometimes you need to show everyone at a party the weird old 90s music video where an oiled-up Jason Statham is a background dancer. I was recently at a social gathering where that exact scenario played out with the help of casting technology.

At an uncertain point in the near future, you’ll even be able to use a regular Chromecast Ultra as a gaming device courtesy of Google Stadia. 

They aren’t worthless devices by any means. I would just advise against buying one as a permanent streaming solution for someone who isn’t accustomed to, or interested in, doing everything with their phone.

Believe it or not, there are still plenty of folks out there who would prefer not to.