The HDMI cable that should have come with the Google TV Streamer is half off

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It is pure tech company logic. Google has decided that the essential HDMI cable required to use its new $99 Google TV Streamer will be sold separately. But don't worry, because Google is offering a $10 discount on its $20 HDMI cable for anyone who pre-ordered a TV Streamer.

Android TV has a long way to go

That's right, the cable needed to connect the streaming box to your TV costs $10, after a one-time $10 discount (via 9to5Google). The 6.5ft HDMI 2.1b cable is designed specifically for the Google TV Streamer. Google calls it the Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable and sells it for $19.99 on its website.

The $10 discount Google is offering applies only to this HDMI cable, and so far it is only for people who have pre-ordered the Streamer. Buyers receive an email that reads "Because you recently pre-ordered the Google TV Streamer, we're giving you a discount on the new Google Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable."

The fine print alludes to former Chromecast users, which means new customers may not receive half-off the HDMI cable. The discount expires on November 30.

The decision to not include an HDMI cable with the Google TV Streamer is a baffling one. Many buyers will presumably be coming over from a Chromecast with Google TV, which makes it likely they won't have an extra HMDI cable laying around. Our own Taylor Kerns was surprised by the lack of an HDMI cable when he recently reviewed the powerful new streaming box.

The good news is the box works with any HDMI cable, so buyers who have a spare laying around can use that. But there is a problem. Because of the low, flat profile of the Google TV Streamer, many HDMI cables raise up the back end of the streamer and cause it to wobble.

The TV Streamer itself is a fantastic device. It is fast and responsive and streams great-looking video. The lack of an HDMI cable is a bit of a head-scratcher, though. Google may be nickel-and-diming customers here, and that leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. At least some people will get $10 off.

The Google TV Streamer is a new set-top streaming device from Google that improves upon the Chromecast 4K. It boasts Dolby Vision, which should offer a wider range of colors and deeper blacks when viewing supported content, and even doubles as a smart home hub with Thread support and Matter compatibility. With AI smarts in tow, the device can curate content based on your preferences across all of your subscriptions, and organize them conveniently in one place.

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I pre-ordered, got my streamer on Wednesday but didn't get this HDMI email.

All you folks that like this new streamer must have a media console with wires showing. This new streamer IS A NON-STARTER for anybody who has a clean, uncluttered TV hanging on the wall with all wiring hidden, because the new streamer can no longer hide behind the TV but instead now is an exposed eyesore of focal-point clutter. HARD PASS ON THE NEW GOOGLE STREAMER.

Terry, you don't need to show the streamer, I have mine hidden in a cabinet. It can't hang from the HDMI port like the last one. But it small enough to mount behind the TV if you want.

you talk about e-waste all the time on this site, and you now are railing against Google for not including an HDMI cable? is there literally any house in the world that would purchase that product that does NOT have an HDMI cable (or 12) floating around already? come on.

Many of the people ordering this are replacing a Chromecast that had a built in HDMI. That and the fact that most HDMI cables won't allow this unit to sit flat, and many wont be 2.1b compliant, are all reasons this should have included the cable.

MediaTek takes the reins

At twice the price of Google's last 4K streamer, I expected better

Apple and Nvidia stay winning

Blame this one on the Big G

Farther range, longer battery life, louder siren

There's some gimmicky AI involved, though