The Chromecast with Google TV is one of the best Android TV boxes on the market. It’s affordable, boasts Android TV with the Google TV launcher, and includes wide-ranging Android app support. However, the Google Chromecast has pretty limited onboard storage space. While you may think that if you stick to streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, and Plex instead of games, that’s not quite the case. Unfortunately, there are no USB ports or microSD card slots for storage expansion. However, a USB-C hub solves that issue. Here are the best USB-C hubs for the Chromecast with Google TV!
Best USB-C Hub for Chromecast with Google TV – Vemont USB-C Hub
The Vemont 5-in-1 USB dongle is the best USB-C hub for the Chromecast with Google TV. It features a trio of USB 3.0 Type-A hosts alongside a USB-C input. There’s a Gigabit Ethernet port for a hardwired internet connection. Therefore, the Vemont USB-C hub is great for cloud gaming or 4K video streaming. The USB-C input boasts 87W power deliver pass-through.
Since the Vemont is fully compatible with the Chromecast with Google TV’s USB power brick. However, if you plan to hook up a power-hungry hard drive, you’ll want a beefier wall charger like the Anker PIQ. Notably, unlike many USB-C dongles, the Vemont doesn’t include an HDMI port. While that’s not an issue for the Chromecast with Google TV which has its own full-size HDMI output, it could be a problem if you want to connect the Vemont with other devices such as Chromebooks, MacBooks, or other laptops. But for use with the Chromecast, it’s a fantastic choice.
Pros:
- Affordable
- 5-in-1 hub
- Great connectivity: 3x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 1x Gigabit Ethernet jack, 1x USB-C with power delivery and up to 87W pass-through
- Works with the standard Chromecast with Google TV power brick
- Compatible with loads of devices including Chromebooks, MacBooks, Windows laptops, tablets, and Android phones
- Fast USB transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps
Cons:
- Lacks full-size HDMI port
Best USB-C Hub for Google TV With Excellent Connectivity – TOTU 9-In-1
The TOTU 9-in-1 USB-C hub is the best USB-C for Chromecast users seeking to hook up lots of peripherals. Boasting outstanding connectivity, the TOTU includes three USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C with power delivery host, a microSD card slot, full-size SD card slot, HDMI output, and an Ethernet jack. With the TOTU 9-in-1 USB Type-C dongle, you can easily connect flash drives, hard drives, microSD cards, and SD cards for Chromecast with Google TV storage space expansion. Additionally, its Ethernet jack lets you tap into high-speed, low-latency wired internet which is perfect for 4K streaming or cloud gaming.
Because of its size and the ability to add loads of different devices, you might need a beefier power supply. Especially if you add multiple power-hungry accessories, the Chromecast’s standard USB brick might not be able to handle the load. However, the slew of input/output (I/O) options on the TOTU USB-C dongle makes it an excellent USB Type-C hub that works with the Chromecast with Google TV.
Pros:
- Works with Chromecast with Google TV
- 9-in-1 hub
- Outstanding connectivity: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB-C with power delivery, 1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet jack, 1x SD card slot, 1x microSD card slot
- Includes travel pouch
- Available in silver or pink
- Ethernet built-in – great for cloud game streaming or 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) video streaming
Cons:
- Connecting multiple devices may require a higher wattage USB power brick than the Chromecast with Google TV’s default one
Best USB-C Hub for Chromecast With Power Delivery – Anker PowerExpand 6-in-1 USB-C PD Ethernet Hub
Anker makes a bevy of fantastic USB power bricks, portable power banks, and other accessories. Its PowerExpand 6-in-1 USB-C hub is a solid dongle with power delivery and Ethernet that’s compatible with the Chromecast with Google TV. Because of its USB-C input with power delivery passthrough and a USB Type-C jack with data input, you can easily connect power-hungry external hard drives.
You’ll enjoy blisteringly fast data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps via its USB 3.0 and USB-C hosts. Excellent I/O includes an HDMI port, USB-C data port, USB-C power delivery input, a pair of USB 3.0 hosts, and an Ethernet jack. Depending on how power-hungry your external devices are, the standard Chromecast with Google TV USB wall plug might not be enough. While the Anker does tout plenty of inputs and outputs, it’s missing an SD card or microSD card slot. But you can always use a microSD or SD card to USB adapter. Overall, for ample expansion capabilities, the Anker PowerExpand is one of the top USB-C hubs for the Chromecast with Google TV.
Pros:
- 6-in-1 hub
- USB-C data input and USB Type-C power delivery passthrough port
- Excellent I/O: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB-C data port, 1x USB-C with power delivery passthrough, 1x Ethernet, 1x HDMI
- Up to 5Gbps data transfer speeds
Cons:
- Lacks SD card or microSD card slots
- May require a higher wattage power brick
Best Google Chromecast Compatible USB-C Dongles FAQs
Which hubs work with Chromecast with Google TV?
The best USB-C hubs that work with the Chromecast with Google TV are the Vemont 5-in-1 USB Type-C hub, Totu 9-in-1 USB-C hub, and Anker PowerExpand 6-in-1 USB-C hub with power delivery. Our favorite pick is the Vemont USB-C dongle, but the Totu and Anker provide plenty of inputs and outputs.
Is Chromecast with Google TV USB-C compliant?
Yes, the Chromecast with Google TV Android TV streaming box supports USB-C. It features a single USB Type-C input which is used for a power port. Adding a USB-C dongle lets you access flash drives, hard drives, SD cards, and Ethernet depending on the specific hub and its connectors.
Can Chromecast with Google TV be powered by USB?
The Chromecast with Google TV can be powered by a USB. In fact, it ships with a USB-C to USB Type-A cable and a USB power brick in the box. However, you may need a more powerful USB wall charger such as a 45W power adapter if you plan to connect lots of USB peripherals, hard drives, and SD cards.
How much power does a Chromecast with Google TV need?
The Chromecast with Google TV requires at least 5 watts as a minimum power requirement. The standard Chromecast power brick is 7.5W. However, depending on how many devices you connect using a USB-C dongle, you may need a higher wattage USB power brick such as a 25W or even 45W wall charger.
Best USB-C Hub for the Chromecast with Google TV – Final Thoughts
One of the most essential accessories for the Chromecast with Google TV is a USB-C hub. By connecting a USB Type-C dongle, you’ll gain access to hookups like USB 3.0 ports, SD or microSD card slots, plus Ethernet ports. Then, you can utilize external storage devices and take advantage of low-latency Ethernet internet. Particularly considering the Chromecast with Google TV’s paltry 8GB of onboard storage, a USB-C hub is a must-have. Especially for gaming and 4K video streaming, you’ll want a USB-C hub compatible with the Chromecast with Google TV.
Our favorite USB Type-C dongles for the Chromecast with Google TV are the Vemont 5-in-1 USB-C hub, Anker PowerExpand, and TOTU 9-in-1 USB-C hub. My hub of choice is the Vemont for its good connectivity and affordability. Enthusiasts looking to connect everything should check out the TOTU, while the PowerExpand with its dual USB-C ports – one for power delivery, the other for data input – works extremely well.
Your turn: What USB-C hubs do YOU recommend for use with the Chromecast with Google TV Android TV streaming box?
Written by Moe Long
I'm a writer, editor, cinephile, and tech buff. Aside from Tech Up Your Life, I write about film on Cup of Moe. I've been writing online since 2012 with bylines at MakeUseOf, SmartHomeBeginner, TechBeacon, DZone, DEV, DVD Netflix, Bubbleblabber, and Electromaker. When I'm not hammering away at the keyboard, I enjoy running, reading, playing with my adorable dorkie Sebastian, and watching film. Check out his online course, the Beginner's Guide to Affiliate Blogging From Scratch.
Tech Up Your Life is reader-supported and a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. However, all products are thoroughly tested and reviews are honest and unbiased. Learn more.
FAQs
What USB-C hub works with Chromecast with Google TV? ›
The Nekteck 45W USB C Wall Charger is the lowest priced one we could track down that meets its manufacturer's claims and delivers enough juice to run both the USB-C hub and Google Chromecast with Google TV. The plug folds away for easy storage, and it supports international voltages in case you need to travel with it.
How do I use a USB hub with Chromecast with Google TV? ›Connect your Chromecast to your TV's HDMI port. Connect the USB-C hub to your Chromecast. Connect the USB-C charger to a power socket and to the power delivery port of the USB-C hub. Connect your USB storage device to the hub.
What type of USB cable for Chromecast with Google TV? ›A usb-c to Gigabit ethernet adapter on the Chromecast with Google TV reports a maximum speed of around ~350Mbps.
Does Chromecast Ultra Ethernet Adapter work with Chromecast with Google TV? ›If you wish to connect Chromecast Ultra or Chromecast with Google TV without using Wi-Fi, the Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast lets you connect your device directly to your router through your wired Ethernet connection.
Can Chromecast with Google TV use USB power? ›If you attempt to use a power supply that isn't up to that standard, the device will boot up with an error message regarding the lack of power. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) has the same limitation, leaving the device unable to use TV power over USB.
How long is the Chromecast USB-C cable? ›Approx Length - 5 ft (1.5 meters).
Can I use any USB cable for Chromecast? ›It's important to only use the cables that come in the Chromecast Audio box; other cables may not work.
Can Google Home hub connect to Chromecast? ›You can use Google Home and the Google Assistant to control connected Chromecast devices and select TVs with Chromecast built in. TVs with Chromecast built in require Cast version 1.21 or higher. Not all TVs with Chromecast built in are compatible with Google Home voice control.
What is the power supply for Chromecast with Google TV? ›Chromecast with Google TV requires 5 Volt DC, 1.5 amp.
How many watts does Chromecast use? ›
You're not even going to believe how little energy it uses: 1.8 watts. No matter how long it idled or how much video content we threw at it, it stayed steady at 1.8 watts of power consumption with only minor 0.1 fluctuations up or down. What does that mean in real world terms?
How do I access Google TV via USB? ›- On your Android TV, go to the Home screen.
- Scroll down and select Settings .
- Under "Device," select Storage and reset .
- Select your USB drive.
- Select Migrate data. Move now.
- Download content to your device and cast the file rather than stream videos from the internet.
- Lower the video quality before casting to reduce the bandwidth required for casting.
- Enable Optimize Fullscreen Videos to disable mirroring and optimize quality for the screen you're casting to.
All you need to do to enable faster internet on a Chromecast Ultra is run an Ethernet cable from your router to the power adapter. This will afford the fastest network speeds available, potentially in any room in your home.
How much RAM does Chromecast use with Google TV? ›AV1 is a video codec known to be especially efficient, so the newer 1080p Chromecast might use less bandwidth to stream video. In addition, the 1080p version has less RAM: 1.5GB, whereas the 4K model has 2GB. That sounds like a downgrade, but in our experience, it isn't especially noticeable in normal use.
Is Chromecast faster with Ethernet? ›Ethernet has a lower theoretical max speed but it has a much higher actual minimum speed and doesn't suffer the congestion problem you may have with Wi-Fi. The real benefit of the Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast is being able to side-step the whole Wi-Fi congestion issue.
Why did Google discontinue Chromecast? ›Cause of Failure. The official reason Google provided for discontinuing the Audio line was that they already had many products for users to enjoy their music and podcasts. They informed customers the Chromecast Audio would still be supported but no longer manufactured.
Does Ethernet improve Chromecast? ›That's because WiFi is prune to all sorts of interference from walls and your Bluetooth headphones, earbuds, fitness band. This is why, if you really want a smooth internet connection for your Chromecast, then Ethernet is the best option.
Why does my Chromecast USB not have enough power? ›Check that your Chromecast with Google TV is plugged into the power adapter that came with it. If it's plugged into your TV's USB port or a different adapter, it might not be getting enough power. Check that the power adapter is plugged into a reliable wall outlet. Check that the cable also came with Chromecast.
Can a USB-C cable be too long? ›USB-C cables can be extended up to a total of 13 feet, but data transfer speeds and power output will be affected. For the fastest transfer speeds, 1 meter, or 3.3 feet, will be the longest that you want to go. For basic data transfer and charging, longer cable extensions will work fine.
Does the length of a USB-C cable affect speed? ›
At long distances, your USB cable may still supply power, but as the distance gets longer, your data transfer rate may get lower and lower - and at really long distances, you may not be able to transfer data at all. Eventually, even power delivery will fail too.
How much faster is USB-C Lightning cable? ›Data Transfer Rates
USB-C comes packed with USB4 support making it the clear winner here as it supports data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps (gigabits per second) while the Lightning connection only supports up to 480 Mbps (megabits per second) with USB 2.0. That's roughly an 80x faster rate with the USB-C connection.
The Chromecast Ultra uses a micro-USB connector, while the newer Chromecast with Google TV uses the newer USB-C connector.
Can you control Chromecast with nest hub? ›Play and control TV shows and movies on your Google Nest display or on any TV with Chromecast or Chromecast built-in using only your voice. Currently, you can only use select partners to play shows and movies on Nest displays or TVs using speakers or displays.
How does Chromecast work with Nest hub? ›Chromecast functionality also comes built into the Google Nest Hub and the Google Nest Hub Max. These smart displays will appear as Chromecasts on your network, letting you cast audio and video over to the device – not all video apps recognize Nest Hubs as displays, but many do.
Why is Netflix not on Google TV? ›Not every major streaming service allows its content to be included in Google TV's rows of aggregated recs: Netflix is the big holdout. The company bowed out of Google TV integration very shortly after the release of the 2020 Chromecast, and Google has been unable to bring Netflix back into the fold ever since.
Does Google Chromecast need a power supply? ›Chromecast Audio is controlled from devices on the same Wi-Fi network, such as mobile devices, tablets or computers, and is powered using the USB cable and provided power supply (#3, #4).
Can I use Chromecast without power supply? ›You must use the power supply included in the Chromecast Ultra box. Once your Chromecast Ultra is plugged in, you should see the Chromecast home screen.
What are the disadvantages of Chromecast? ›- No apps on the device.
- No remote control.
- Casting creates an information security vulnerability.
What's the minimum speed requirement for Chromecast to work? We recommend a minimum of 5 Mbps speed for good performance.
Why does Chromecast get so hot? ›
Chromecast may get hot to the touch; this is normal. Unplug Chromecast's power source and let it cool before removing it from your television. Use only the cables and plugs provided with your device to plug Chromecast into a power source. Using other cables or plugs may damage Chromecast and/or your television.
What format does a USB need to be for Android TV? ›Android TVs are compatible with external Hard Disk Drives (HDD) or flash drives formatted in NTFS file system or the FAT32 file system.
How do I improve Chromecast casting quality? ›Stuttering or poor quality
The Chromecast or TV with Chromecast built-in should be 15 feet (4 meters) away from the router, or less. Make sure both your Chromecast device and Android device are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network channel, either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
- From the Google TV home screen, at the top right, go to the profile icon.
- Select Settings.
- Select System Restart. Restart.
Use your Chromecast with Google TV (4K) or Chromecast Ultra to watch movies and TV shows in 4K Ultra HD and 4K HDR.
Does Chromecast support 5ghz? ›Chromecast (2nd generation) is compatible with both 2.4 GHz WiFi 802.11 b/g/n WiFi networks and 5 GHz networks, so you will see both when setting up the device. If you have a dual band router, you must disable AP isolation.
What is the fastest Chromecast? ›Both devices still look aesthetically the same, with the small, compact circular design we're familiar with. However, Chromecast Ultra delivers a few new features that Chromecast can't, including faster speeds and the ability to stream in 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) quality.
What is the best resolution for Chromecast? ›Video resolution ranges from 240p to 1080p and can be adjusted manually on each film by clicking the Settings icon. You can stream to Chromecast Ultra from the Google Chrome browser. Chromecast Ultra is 4K-compatible: for the optimal compatible resolution, make sure to select 1080p on the video you're watching.
Is Chromecast with Google TV slow? ›The Chromecast with Google TV is a great, affordable streamer with some awesome software, but its low-cost nature lends itself well to the device feeling super slow at times. Luckily, there are a couple of easy tweaks you can make to help keep it feeling quick.
Does Chromecast with Google TV support 4K 60Hz? ›Chromecast Ultra is designed to pick the maximum refresh rate (up to 60Hz) and resolution supported by your 4K Ultra HD TV's HDMI connection.
Is Chromecast with Google TV better than smart TV? ›
A Smart TV and Chromecast serve the same function – they load the internet onto your TV screen. But while they both have built-in apps, a Gen#4 Chromecast can use a separate source device like a phone, laptop, tablet, etc. so it can project this external content onto your TV.
Do USB-C hubs work with Android? ›This Type-C HUB from UGREEN has 6 ports including HDMI, USB 3.0, and Micro-SD card slots. It works great with Android smartphones such as the Galaxy Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, and S10.
Does Google TV work with cable box? ›Connection. All three Google TV devices connect to your cable TV service via a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable. One end of the HDMI cable goes plugs into the "HDMI Out" of the cable box while the other end connects to the "HDMI In" of the Google TV unit.
How long is the USB-C cable for Google TV? ›Quick and powerful. Connect your USB-C™-enabled gear to transfer data and charge devices¹. This cable comes in two lengths (1 m and 2 m) for the reach that you need.
What is the difference between a USB hub and a USB-C hub? ›A USB-C hub expands the number of ports available to connect your devices and peripherals, and options range from hubs that add USB-A ports to multiport USB-C hubs with Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, or SD connections.
Why are there so few USB-C hubs? ›The technology for the junction boxes is therefore not yet available. Intel -- the driving force behind USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 -- simply hasn't yet offered a technology solution that would leverage the benefits of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 across umpteen of the same ports.
Is USB-C hub better than USB? ›USB-C is more compact than its predecessors, reversible in connectivity (vertical orientation doesn't matter for a USB-C connection), and compatible with a number of connection types like USB-A, HDMI, Thunderbolt™ 3, etc. Also, due to power delivery support, charging capabilities and transfer speeds are faster.
What is the downside of Google TV? ›Google TV Disadvantages:
Not a lot of internal storage. Doesn't allow 4K playback on all streaming apps. More prone to lagging and slow load times.
...
Google TV (operating system)
| Developer | Google and others |
| OS family | Android |
| Working state | Discontinued (Google TV's SDK was removed in June 2014) |
If you only judge by the sticker price, the Chromecast with Google TV HD is the best streaming device you can buy for the least amount of money. For $30, you get a streaming dongle with a feature-rich remote, powerful voice controls, and a useful system for figuring out what to watch.