Google tends to release new Chromecast models only sparingly (you can still buy a year-old 1080p unit today), but it can be more aggressive with the Google TV model. 9to5Google sources claim that the company is already developing a new Chromecast with Google TV. Documentation and code investigation revealed the codename “Boreal”, while 9 to 5 understood that Android TV media hub would be released in late 2022.
The alleged leak doesn’t mention specs, though newer processing power with wider video support may be needed. XDA and others have he heard Android TV will require AV1 video format support after March 31, and this is conspicuously missing from the existing Chromecast with Google TV. The company can also take the opportunity to resolve common complaints, such as modest storage.
As long as the leak is accurate, the question is whether or not this is a direct replacement for the existing Chromecast or a separate, higher-powered model. Given that the existing Chromecast already supports 4K HDR, a replacement seems more likely. It’s clear that any changes would be substantial enough to warrant a new internal moniker – Google doesn’t normally hand out names for minor revisions.
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