Google Develops New TV Streamer With Built In Microphones

Google is developing a next-generation Google TV Streamer that could introduce hands-free voice controls, room presence detection, and upgraded hardware, according to reports published by 9to5Google on October 9, 2026. The upcoming streaming device is expected to retain the current model's overall design while adopting a narrower body, although Google has not announced a release date or price. The reported upgrades include microphones built directly into the device, a faster processor, more storage than the existing model's 32GB, and additional remote-control shortcuts.

The changes could expand the Streamer's capabilities beyond video playback by enabling voice interactions and automatically adjusting television displays based on room occupancy. According to 9to5Google, the microphones will sit behind openings on the device's slanted, pill-shaped surface. This arrangement is expected to let users issue voice commands without picking up the remote, including requests activated by saying "Hey Google".

The addition would change how users interact with the current Google TV Streamer, which relies primarily on the remote's microphone for voice input. The built-in microphones could also support spoken searches and other Google Assistant functions, although the report does not specify the full range of supported features.

Presence sensing is another planned addition, according to the same report. The technology can detect when someone enters a room, potentially triggering a Google Photos screensaver and displaying ambient information, including the time and weather, when someone approaches the television. TCL has already introduced similar functionality in a television running Google TV software. Bringing the capability to Google's standalone streaming device would extend this type of room-aware display experience beyond compatible televisions.

The new Streamer is also expected to receive a faster processor and storage capacity exceeding the current model's 32GB, according to 9to5Google. The report does not identify the processor or disclose how much additional storage Google plans to provide. Google is also reportedly revising the included remote while retaining its existing overall design. Two additional shortcut buttons are expected to join the current YouTube and Netflix buttons, while the Find My Remote button will remain on the back of the streaming device.

The hardware refresh follows a price increase for the existing Google TV Streamer in August 2026. TechRadar reported that the US price rose by $50 to $149, increasing the cost of buying the current model ahead of the anticipated successor. The first Google TV Streamer launched in August 2024, when Google discontinued its standalone Chromecast devices.

According to 9to5Google, the transition from the Chromecast with Google TV 4K to the current Streamer followed a four-year gap, with a lower-end HD model arriving in between. Reports published by TechRadar and Digital Trends on October 11 and October 10, respectively, also highlighted the absence of confirmed launch details. Google has not disclosed when the next-generation Streamer will arrive or how much it will cost, leaving both the release schedule and final specifications unconfirmed.