A next-generation Google TV Streamer is reportedly in development, and the two most interesting changes have nothing to do with speed. According to a source familiar with the matter speaking to 9to5Google, the new box would gain built-in far-field microphones and presence sensing. As of October 10, Google hasn’t commented, and the report rests on a single unnamed tipster.
The device pictured above is the current Google TV Streamer. No image of the unannounced model has leaked. The report describes its design as largely unchanged anyway, just slightly narrower and more compact.
It Would Listen Without the Remote
Today, saying “Hey Google” to a Google TV Streamer means talking to the remote, because that is where the microphone lives. The leaked model is said to move mics into the box itself, using a far-field array. That makes the streamer behave more like a Nest speaker than a set-top box. You would be able to ask it something from across the room with the remote nowhere in reach.
It also means an always-listening microphone parked permanently under your TV. The leak says nothing about how a mic mute would work, or whether there would be a hardware switch for it. That is the detail worth watching if an announcement comes.
It Would Notice When You Walk In
The second addition is presence sensing. Per the report, the streamer would detect someone entering the room and wake the TV to an ambient screen. That screen would show the time, the weather, or a Google Photos screensaver. The idea is not new to the platform. Android Central notes that TCL already ships presence sensing on some of its own Google TV-branded televisions.
The Smaller Changes
- Processor and storage: faster chip and more onboard storage than the current model’s 32GB. No figure is given for either.
- Remote buttons: two new shortcut buttons would join the existing YouTube and Netflix buttons.
- Find My Remote: unchanged. The button stays on the back of the streaming device, as it is today.
There is no launch window and no price in the leak. For reference, Google raised the current model to $149.99 in September 2026. That is background, not a hint at what a successor would cost. Treat all of this as pre-announcement chatter until Google says otherwise.
Sources: 9to5Google, Android Central
