Chromecast vs Chromecast ultra – Which Chromecast works for you?
The easiest way to smarten your TV if it’s not already a smart TV is to use a streaming device that comes loaded with plenty of apps. Chromecast is very helpful to people who have TVs with no smart features yet or don’t plan on getting one but need more content variety. The Chromecast and Chromecast ultra are dongles that will allow you to stream or cast content onto your TV from your phone, computer, or tablet.
The Chromecast 3rd gen has an intuitive interface, a wide variety of content, and a great option if you want to turn your TV into a smart TV capable of streaming Amazon prime video, Netflix, Hulu, and more. The Chromecast Ultra is a powerful and fast streaming video device if you own a 4K TV that will support the latest video streaming formats for your TV.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Chromecast and Chromecast ultra?
Product |
Chromecast |
Chromecast ultra |
4k resolution |
1080p |
2160p |
HDMI ports |
1 |
1 |
USB ports |
0 |
1 |
Streaming capability |
4K |
4K HDR |
Chromecast vs Chromecast ultra. How do they differ?
4K resolution
This is the main feature that differentiates the Chromecast ultra from the regular Chromecast. Chromecast can only support an output streaming video of up to 1080p, while the Chromecast ultra is capable of playing up to 4K 2160p resolution videos complete with HDR color. HDR videos have lots of pixels covered when you compare it with the regular 1080p, and every pixel can handle a broader range of light output and color selection. This means you get more crisp pictures with precise and vivid details.
The Chromecast Ultra has better video resolution that will give your TV more light and color for stunning videos.
Ethernet connection alternative
On one side of the Chromecast is a built-in HDMI cable and a micro-USB port on the other. It also comes with a 69 inch USB cord that you can easily connect to a wall outlet if your TV doesn’t have an open USB port. However, unlike the original Chromecast, the Chromecast ultra can’t be powered by a USB port on your TV. It has a micro-USB port that needs to be connected to a wall power source using the included adapter. This means you can use the Ethernet adapter to connect directly to your router or modem to deliver a faster and more reliable network connection. You can stream videos with less buffering using wifi and at higher speeds and this will also enable Netflix to send a 4K HDR signal to your TV.
The Chromecast ultra can use an Ethernet adapter to directly connect to your router to deliver faster, reliable, and stronger wifi connections for a constant 4K HDR signal.
Wifi connectivity
Both Chromecast and Chromecast ultra supports 802.11ac wifi with a dual-band of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands that allow for a good quality stream, but Chromecast will only deliver a video resolution of up to 1080p. Chromecast Ultra has extra internal antennas that help with delivering a higher streaming performance and with latency.
Chromecast Ultra has better wifi connectivity thanks to extra antennas that improve its streaming performance.
Chromecast vs Chromecast ultra – A comparison review
Chromecast 3rd generation
This Chromecast is the 3rd generation model that was released in 2018. It’s fast and intuitive and a great HD video streaming player that will provide you an inexpensive way of watching Netflix, Amazon prime video, Hulu, and others on your big screen. It’s a small circular dongle that is about 2 inches wide that you can attach at the back of your TV. It has a single micro-USB port at the back to connect either to your TV’s USB port or the wall using an adapter and a reset button. Chromecast uses an upgraded 802.11ac/b/g/n wifi antenna that will help boost its performance.
It has a simple very easy to understand interface and you control everything from your phone, computer, or tablet using the Google Home app. You can also cast whatever content you’re watching on your phone or computer onto your TV. You just need to open the content you want to watch and click on the cast button so it appears on your TV screen, then you can use your phone to pause, fast forward, play, rewind, or adjust the volume. Chromecast can stream most of the major streaming services including Disney plus, Netflix, Amazon prime video, Hulu, Twitch, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC sports, and many more. You can also enjoy audio streaming apps like Pandora, Tidal, and Spotify. Chromecast is seriously fast, but it takes longer to get up to full 1080p, but with a stable internet connection you won’t experience any buffering.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Fast performance
- Simple and easy to use interface
- Intuitive interface
Cons
- Has no remote control
Chromecast ultra
Chromecast Ultra is a 4K capable UHD media streamer that supports 4K in HDR. This little HDMI dongle will allow you to watch streaming content on your TV from streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, even YouTube. It’s very simple to use, you just plug it into an HDMI port on your TV and the power cable directly into the wall. To install ultra, you just use the google home app on your phone or computer and also use it to set up google assistant for services like Netflix where you can use voice commands so you can be able to stream your favorite movies, music, and shows. As a 4K media streamer, ultra requires a lot of bandwidth, and streaming 4K HDR videos can be very demanding.
With a good 5 GHz wifi connection, you can get good speed, but a wired connection with your router will give you higher and more reliable speeds to stream more consistently over Ethernet. Ultra is a google cast device that relies on your smartphone or tablet for most of its navigation and playback controls. You just click on the cast icon on the compatible media apps like Netflix YouTube, and Vudu on your phone to watch them on your TV. Ultra has no on-screen menu or remote, you use your phone, tablet, or PC for control. It has improved performance with ultra loading time which means videos load faster, but this will depend on your network speeds.
Pros
- Simple and easy to use
- Has an Ethernet connection
- Very affordable
- Supports HDR and Dolby vision
Cons
- No remote control
- You need a smartphone, tablet, or computer
Conclusion
Chromecast and Chromecast ultra are google media streamers that you plug into an HDMI port on your TV and a stable internet connection to stream video or audio content. While the original Chromecast doesn’t support 4K resolution, the Chromecast ultra can handle 4K HDR resolution perfectly.
So which one is better Chromecast or Chromecast ultra?
Chromecast ultra is a better media streamer because it can support 4K HDR videos of up to 2160 p and it comes with an Ethernet adapter so you can use it to connect your streaming device directly to your router or modem for faster and more reliable wifi speeds that are important for streaming 4K.
FAQ
Does Chromecast work with a hotspot?
You can use your phone’s hotspot wifi network, but it will depend on your phone, but the hotspot user interface can show a warning sign indicating that Chromecast will not be able to find the network.
How do I connect to Chromecast without the internet?
While Chromecast can work without an internet connection, its firmware has to be up to date. You use the Google cast-ready app and click on the cast button on your primary device to begin searching for nearby compatible devices.
