Chromecast by Google is the best casting device in the market. The first Chromecast device was launched by Google on 24th July 2013. Since then, five different types of Chromecast devices were launched, the latest being the Chromecast 3rd Generation, launched on 10th October 2018. Chromecast Ultra is the fourth device in the lineup. It was launched on 6th November 2016. Though Chromecast Ultra was launched before 3rd Gen, it is the advanced device in terms of technical specifications. In this article, we will review the features and specifications of the Chromecast Ultra.
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What is Google Chromecast Ultra
Google Chromecast Ultra is a type of casting device that is used to cast media files and games from your PC or smartphone to the TV. It is often called as a Casting or Mirroring device. It is the most advanced casting device from the Google lineup and it is the costliest one too. This casting device is specially developed for people who want to cast 4K videos and images.
Note: To get the complete 4K casting, your TV should support 4K resolution.
Design
Like all the Chromecast devices, Ultra is a circular-shaped device. The changes in the device are minimal. Changes like the letter G is imprinted on the bottom part of the device. On the backside of the device, there is a magnetic strip to hold the HDMI port. Other than these, there are no significant changes in the device. The dimensions of the device are 58.20 by 0.53 by 58.20 mm (LWH). The length of the power cable is 2m. The weight of the device is 47 grams (1.6 oz). It is available only in black colour.
Chromecast Ultra Setup
The Ultra device requires additional external connection when compared to other Chromecast devices. Apart from the HDMI port and micro-USB port, an Ethernet port is available. If your WiFi spot is far away from the device or you are not getting enough speed from the WiFi, you can use the Ethernet cable as the 4K streaming requires a faster internet connection. The Ethernet port is available on the Power adapter.
The on-screen setup process is almost the same to all the Chromecast devices, except for one change. When you use the Ethernet port for internet connection, you don’t have to set up the WiFi connection in the on-screen setup process. This makes the setup process one step easier.
Technical Specifications
The supported Wireless connection is 802.11ac (2.4 GHz). For 4K and high-performance streaming, you can use 1×2 MISO (Multi-Input Single Output) Wi-Fi connection.
The supported operating systems are Android 4.2 and higher, iOS 9.1 and above, macOS 10.9 and later, Windows 7 and above.
What’s in the Box
In the box, you will get one Chromecast Ultra device, Power cable, Power adapter with Ethernet port. You need to have the Ethernet cable if you want to use the Ethernet port.
Streaming Quality
The device is capable of streaming resolutions up to 4K Ultra HD and HDR (High Dynamic Range) for picture quality. To get the 4K streaming, your TV should support 4K streaming, 4K content providing apps like Netflix, a fast and reliable internet connection (20 Mbps). To get HDR content, you should have HDR-supported TV.
If your TV is not 4K supported, the casting content will be optimized to your TV’s maximum streaming quality.
Supported Apps
There are a lot of Chromecast supported apps on Android and iOS. Almost all the streaming apps have a built-in Cast icon. Apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and other similar apps can be easily cast to Chromecast connected TVs. The apps that don’t have the Cast icon can be mirrored easily using casting apps for smart TV.
Any apps that you have on your smartphone or PC can also be cast or mirrored to Chromecast.
Supported Devices
Like the previous version of Chromecast, Ultra can support content from Android and iOS smartphones. For other smart devices, the Chrome browser is the key to use Chromecast Ultra. Without the Chrome browser, you can’t cast most of the application from your PC.
As long as your device is connected to the same WiFi network as the Chromecast Ultra, you can cast contents from your PC or smartphone.
Available Countires
Chromecast Ultra is available in 19 countries like United States, UK, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, France, Finland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherland, Norway, New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Sweden.
It is not available in countries like Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, and India. In these countries, Chromecast 3rd Gen is available.
Chromecast Ultra Price
Chromecast Ultra is priced at $69 in the USA and £69 in the UK. The price tag seems to be higher when you compare with other Chromecast devices. 3rd Gen is priced at $35, which is almost half the price of Ultra.
Verdict
Chromecast Ultra is the best device for those who have 4K supported TV. The only standout thing in the Ultra is the 4K streaming, other than that all the Chromecast devices are the same. If you want 4K casting, you can buy the Ultra.
That’s all everything you need to know about Chromecast Ultra. Before get into the buying process, make sure that the device is available in your country. If you need to know about any other things in the Ultra, tell us in the comments section. Do follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for more related tech updates.
