It’s been about five years since Google first launched a little game changer they called the Chromecast, a clever device that boosts the IQ of non-smart TVs, enhancing them to work with your smartphone and smart home. This year, the tech giant released the third edition of this digital dongle. Read on to learn more about this latest version of the Chromecast, and then enter this contest for a chance to win one of your own.

Google Chromecast makes a standard TV smarter

Some people have a little devil on their shoulder tempting them to do things they know they shouldn’t while a little angel on the other shoulder encourages them to stay on the straight and narrow. The devil on my shoulder tells me I need a smart TV in my life, no expenses spared. And I can’t say I disagree with him. After all, a TV that’s connected to the internet effectively puts an endless stream of content at my fingertips. But then the angel on my other shoulder gets his two cents in, “Come on Kevin, aren’t you trying to save? You’ve got a perfectly good HD TV at home.” And I can’t disagree with him either. If only there was some kind of compromise! Enter: Chromecast. It adds smarts to standard televisions, so I can enjoy a premium smart TV experience while staying savvy about my spending.

If you’ve never heard of the Google Chromecast, then allow me to summarize. This small, Wi-Fi-connected dongle connects to the HDMI port at the back of your TV and lets you cast content from compatible apps on your smartphone to your big screen. By simply tapping the cast icon on apps such as YouTube, Netflix, and thousands more available for iPhone and Android, your smartphone essentially becomes your remote control, letting you stream live TV, movies, sports, news, and much more.

Chromecast works alongside Google Home. Simply tell Google what you want to see and your Google Assistant will communicate this message to Chromecast. Your requested content will start playing on your big screen without you even having to lift a finger! One of our colleagues, Erin Lawrence, wrote a fantastic how-to article on how to pair your Google Home to your Chromecast-enabled TV, so you can learn more about how Chromecast syncs so effortlessly with your smart home ecosystem.

And this 2018 iteration of Google Chromecast is the best one yet. It boasts improved Wi-Fi connectivity, support for 1080p resolution at 60fps for smoother video performance, and Bluetooth integration for advanced interconnectivity with your smartphone and other Google-powered smart devices in your home.

By design, all these tech updates have paved the way for Chromecast to be compatible with speaker groups. Google have recently started rolling out support for multi-room audio across their entire range of Google-powered speakers, and thanks to Chromecast, that includes your TV’s built-in speakers! Picture your next get together: a house full of friends and family charmed by a jazzy playlist that can reach the furthest corners of every room thanks to music playing in sync across all your devices. If you already have a Google Home speaker and a standard, non-smart television, the addition of a Chromecast will help you create a multi-room audio setup and a voice-controlled smart TV. What a difference a little dongle can make!

HOW TO ENTER:

You can only submit one entry for this contest. In a comment below this article, tell us what a difference this Google Chromecast would make to your home life? Would a voice-controlled TV be a game changer for you? Would streaming content revolutionize your downtime? Would a multi-speaker audio setup change the way you enjoy music? Maybe it’s a feature not mentioned in this article? In a sentence or two, tell us one thing you like to do that this Chromecast could improve.

WHAT YOU CAN WIN:

We will randomly draw two winners. Each winner will win a Google Chromecast (third generation). The prizes are outlined in the Rules and Regulations posted below.

This contest runs from November 27th until December 11th.

Remember, you can only enter once. However, you probably know someone who would love to smarten up their home entertainment setup, so please share this contest and they too will have a chance to win one of these prizes.

Google Chromecast Contest Rules and Regulations

Good Luck.  

We frequently have many contests running at Best Buy so check out the “contests in progress” page for more great contests to enter.

 

Kevin McElligott
Kevin McElligott
Kevin cut his teeth as a journalist writing articles for trade publications in Dublin. He moved to Vancouver and honed his craft first as a copywriter, and now as an Editor at Best Buy. He enjoys cooking when he has the time, playing soccer, and just recently ran in his first marathon. Fitness is important to him, and he needs the exercise thanks to his fondness for donuts.
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432 COMMENTS

  1. My TV has a great picture and sound but it is not that smart so Chromecast would enable me to watch my favourite Netflix shows on it.

  2. I won’t have to connect my laptop to the tv using an HDMI cable and the voice controlling feature is a bonus!

  3. Having the ability to use voice commands would just make life easier than always looking for the remote that always seems to disappear. I might be older but this one person who would love to learn new tricks

  4. I would love Chromecast to ‘smarten’ up our television so that we could stream Netflix on our TV.

  6. This would make an amazing gift for my mom as I already won a smart TV. She would love streaming her shows and photos

  9. I own 2 first gen Chromecast and they are the best from turning on my TV’s to streaming right from our phones Netflix YouTube family pictures updated versions gen 3 I would love to see what new things there capabilities can do for my family

  10. A voice-controlled TV be a game changer for me; I’ll still be able to use the TV while looking for the remote!

  12. A voice controlled tv would most definitely be a game changer. So when my husband inevitably falls asleep in front of the tv, I won’t have to get up from bed to shut it off.

  15. Have the original chromecast on the bedroom and just use a google home to control it and turn the tv on and off. No need to try and find the remote when you are falling asleep. Would like to win one for the updated features and wireless speeds for streaming.

  16. My old tv could be put to good use to stream movies though my phone’s Netflix app. No more clunky cables behind it just one Chromecast solves all the extra VCR, dvd junk 🙂

  18. it would make it much easier for my husband to connect to Netflix,,,ha ha he is electronically challenged

  19. It would allow more access to current programming than what we currently have. It would give us more options. Thanks for the opportunity to win this product!

  22. We have one out of three TVs in the home already using Chromecast, it was our test device. Now, the kids prefer using that TV. So to avoid fights, we need Chromecast on the other two. Please give us peace this Christmas season.

  29. I would love to win one of these to give to my father who is disabled. He has a Google Mini Home which is already helping him so much and this would help with the TV stuff – he loves his TV.

  32. Family members have mobility issues so this would definitely make things so much easier for her rather then having to get up every time.

  34. I can never find the remote and when I do I can’t find the buttons I need without my glasses. I would like my Google Assistant to l communicate a message to Chromecast so I can painlessly watch tv….

  36. My 3 year old daughter would be able to have our google mini turn on the chromecast for some Netflix and Peppa Pig bingeing.

  40. Chromecast integrates with the rest of the house! Finally able to watch all the cool original content and docs from Netflix.

  43. The chromecast could make it easier at home for my grandparents to operate a TV. Installing it might help to accommodate their needs. (Though I feel as like they like keeping things old fashioned)

  45. voice controlled tv would be awesome especially for when my mom is staying with us because she doesn’t have a lot of hand dexterity

  46. The chromecast would allow my kids to cast their favorite Netflix shows to our TV since we don’t have any smart TV’s in the house! That way they don’t have to be inches away from the tablet.

  48. I’m a huge sucker for smart home technology. Currently have a google mini, nest thermostat, ring doorbell, and some smart lighting. Would be nice to be able to use my google mini to make my TV smart, sometimes we can’t fine the remote to start up netflix 😛

  49. in addition to being able to review photos and video from my phone I would be able to watch you tube and Netflix. the ability to stream music you just be amazing.

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