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Google Chromecast (3rd Gen, 2018)

GoogleStreaming device

Chromecast (3rd Gen, 2018)

Released October 2018.1Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Post says the newest Chromecast is available from the Google Store starting today in the listed countries. Release month October 2018. Last checked 23 October 2026.

Max output resolution
1920 × 1080
HDR formats
Not available
Operating system
Not available
Storage
Not available

46 of 97 fields known.

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At a glance

Ports

  • HDMI
  • Micro USB

All specs

SourceCalculated

General

Series
Chromecast8Reviewwhathifi.com/reviews/google-chromecast-2018Read 13 October 2026Review of the 2018 Chromecast, the successor of the 2015 Chromecast. Same family name.
Model numbers
NC2-6A52Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Google Store Help device information for Korea: product Chromecast, model name NC2-6A5, release date Jan 23, 2019. The 2015 2nd-gen Chromecast used the same model name, but this entry shows the 1080p 60fps device. Release date here is the Korean release.
GTIN / EAN
84277610613112Spec databaseupcitemdb.com/upc/842776106131Read 21 October 2026UPC 842776106131 (EAN-13 0842776106131), model GA00439-US, listed by Target, Best Buy, Dell, Home Depot and others as Chromecast 3rd Generation in Charcoal. A Chalk unit may carry another code and is not covered.
Announced
9 October 20181Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Google blog post by the Chromecast product manager. Thurrott and Engadget date the launch to October 9, 2018.
Status
Discontinued5Press article9to5google.com/2022/09/22/chromecast-discontinuedRead 13 October 20269to5Google, September 22, 2022: with the launch of the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), Google confirmed the Chromecast (third generation) is being discontinued. It stays on sale until stock runs out. Updates continue.
Predecessor
Not available
Successor
Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)5Press article9to5google.com/2022/09/22/chromecast-discontinuedRead 13 October 2026Google confirmed the third generation is discontinued with the launch of the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) at the same $29.99 price. A Google spokesperson said Chromecast with Google TV is the next generation of Chromecast.16Press article9to5google.com/2022/09/22/chromecast-google-tv-hd-priceRead 23 October 20269to5Google says the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) replaces the Chromecast 3rd Generation at the same $29.99 price.
Launch price (US)
$351Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Post says Chromecast is still just $35. US price excluding sales tax. Later cuts to $29.99 are excluded.
Launch price (EU)
€3913Press articlegooglewatchblog.de/2018/10/google-bringt-neuen-chromecast-nach-deutschlandRead 21 October 2026GoogleWatchBlog, October 24, 2018: the new Chromecast costs 39 euros in Germany, sold through the Google Store, Saturn and MediaMarkt. The smarthomeassistent.de article of December 2018 gives the same price. Price includes VAT as published.
Markets
US, CA, GB, AU, NZ, JP, SG, NL, SE, NO, FI1Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Post lists the first Google Store countries, including the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Finland. More countries followed in 2019. The stored list is not claimed to be complete.
Colours
Charcoal, Chalk1Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Post names two colors, Chalk and Charcoal.
Form factor
Dongle7Reviewtomsguide.com/us/google-chromecast-3rd-generation,review-5843.htmlRead 13 October 2026Review calls it a circular dongle that attaches to the back of the TV with a built-in HDMI cable.

Video output

Max output resolution
1920 × 1080px2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: Resolution up to 1080p 60fps. Full HD 1920 x 1080 is the standard 1080p raster. TechRadar says Chromecast is not 4K.
Max output refresh rate
60Hz2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: up to 1080p 60fps. HDR and chroma conditions are not stated.
Video output modes
Height (px)Refresh rate (Hz)
108060
Source2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: up to 1080p 60fps. Only the highest published combination is stored.
HDR formats
Not available
Dolby Vision profiles
Not available
HDMI version
Not available
HDCP version
Not available
HDMI-CEC
Yes4Maker product pagesupport.google.com/chromecast/answer/7199917Read 13 October 2026Google help page What is CEC for Chromecast and Google TV Streamer devices. Casting switches the TV input and can power on a CEC TV. The device must use a wall outlet for power and not a USB port on the TV. The page is not specific to the 3rd gen.
Automatic frame rate matching
Not available
Dynamic range matching
Not available
Upscaling
Not available

Video decoding

Video codecs
H.264, VP83Maker product pagedevelopers.google.com/cast/docs/mediaRead 13 October 2026Supported Media for Google Cast, Video codecs, Chromecast 3rd Gen: H.264 High Profile and VP8. TechRadar also lists MPEG-4. The maker page wins.
Video decode limits
CodecProfileLevelHeight (px)Max frame rate (fps)
H.264High4.2108060
VP8Not availableNot available72060
VP8Not availableNot available108030
Source3Maker product pagedevelopers.google.com/cast/docs/mediaRead 13 October 2026Chromecast 3rd Gen: H.264 High Profile up to level 4.2 (1080p/60fps). VP8 720p/60fps or 1080p/30fps. The page gives only vertical resolution. These are Cast receiver limits for streamed media.
Video containers
MP4, WebM, MPEG-TS3Maker product pagedevelopers.google.com/cast/docs/mediaRead 13 October 2026Supported Media for Google Cast lists the media container formats MP2T, MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV and WebM for all Cast Web Receivers, not per device. Only the three video containers shown with video codecs on the page are stored: MP4 (video/mp4), WebM (video/webm) and MP2T (stored as MPEG-TS). The page warns that HEVC is not supported in Transport Stream, which does not affect this device. Cast receiver apps decide what plays, so this is not a local-file player list.
DRM systems
Not available

Audio

Audio formats
AAC-LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital), E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/WAV, Vorbis6Reviewtechradar.com/reviews/chromecastRead 13 October 2026Review: the Chromecast supports AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/WAV and Vorbis audio files. Decoder and passthrough roles are not stated. What Hi-Fi says the Chromecast outputs up to Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 with compatible apps.
Audio passthrough formats
Not available
Dolby Atmos
No14Reviewtvguide.com/news/chromecast-reviewRead 21 October 2026TV Guide Chromecast review: the 3rd gen does not support 4K or HDR video, or Dolby Atmos sound.
Audio channel configurations
5.18Reviewwhathifi.com/reviews/google-chromecast-2018Read 13 October 2026Review text: plugged into a soundbar or home cinema system, the Chromecast outputs sound at up to Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 with compatible apps and videos. The review spec box instead lists Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, so only the 5.1 layout both statements share is stored. Surround output also needs a TV or receiver that reports support.
Max audio sample rate
Not available
Max audio bit depth
Not available
Bluetooth audio output
Not available
Bluetooth audio codecs
Not available

Processor and memory

System on chip
Marvell ARMADA 1500 Mini Plus (88DE3006)10Reviewedn.com/the-google-chromecast-gen-3-gluey-and-screwyRead 21 October 2026EDN teardown of a 3rd generation Chromecast (label shows FCC ID A4RNC2-6A5B) by Brian Dipert, February 18, 2025: the processor is the Synaptics MM3006, formerly the Marvell 88DE3006, the same IC as the 2nd generation. The ARMADA 1500 Mini Plus name for the 88DE3006 comes from Marvell's press release.
CPU
ARM Cortex-A711Press releaseinvestor.marvell.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/427/marvell-teams-up-with-google-to-enable-chromecast-2-0-and-chromecast-audioRead 21 October 2026Marvell press release (October 2015) describes the ARMADA 1500 Mini Plus (88DE3006) as a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 design. The EDN teardown found the same IC in the 3rd generation. No clock speed is stated, so cpu_clock_max_ghz is empty.
CPU cores
211Press releaseinvestor.marvell.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/427/marvell-teams-up-with-google-to-enable-chromecast-2-0-and-chromecast-audioRead 21 October 2026Dual-core, from the same press release.
Max CPU clock
Not available
GPU
Not available
RAM
512MB8Reviewwhathifi.com/reviews/google-chromecast-2018Read 13 October 2026Review tech specs list Memory (RAM) 512 MB. Stored as 0.512 GB, dividing the labelled MB by 1000. The same box lists Hard drive 2GB, which conflicts with the 4 Gbit NAND found in the EDN teardown, so storage_gb is left empty. EDN found a 4 Gbit DRAM chip, which is also 512 MB.
RAM type
Not available
Storage
Not available
Storage type
NAND flash10Reviewedn.com/the-google-chromecast-gen-3-gluey-and-screwyRead 21 October 2026Teardown: Toshiba TC58NVG2S0 4 Gbit NAND flash, twice the capacity of the 2nd generation. The article does not state a marketed storage size, so storage_gb is empty. The same article calls the Hynix H5TC4G63EFR-RDA a 4 Gbit LPDDR3-1866 SDRAM, but that part number belongs to the DDR3L family, so ram_type is left empty.
Expandable storage
Not available
Storage expansion methods
Not available

Connectivity

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 52Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz).
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz).
Wi-Fi MIMO
Not available
Built-in Ethernet speed
Not available
Optional Ethernet adapter support
Yes15Maker product pagestore.google.com/us/product/ethernet_adapter_for_chromecastRead 21 October 2026Google Store listing titled Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast 3rd & 1st Gen, seen in search results on 2026-10-21. The page now redirects to the Google Store home page, so the title is the only text read. Google's Australian listing is quoted as working with Chromecast and Chromecast 1st Generation. The adapter plugs into the micro-USB power port, replaces the power supply and gives a 10/100 Ethernet port. The device has no built-in Ethernet port, so ethernet_speed_mbps is empty.
Bluetooth version
Not available
Ports
ConnectorCountRole
HDMI1Video and audio output on a built-in flat cable
Micro USB1Power input
Source2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: Ports HDMI and Micro-USB. Tom's Guide describes a built-in HDMI cable on one side and the micro-USB port on the other. TechRadar calls it a flat HDMI cable.

Smart home

Thread border router
Not available
Matter controller
Not available
Smart home platforms
Google Home8Reviewwhathifi.com/reviews/google-chromecast-2018Read 13 October 2026Review: the Chromecast is now part of Google's Home family of products and is set up and assigned to a room with the Google Home app.

Remote control

We could not find any of these 9 fields. Show them
Remote model
Not available
Remote connection
Not available
Remote microphone
Not available
Remote voice assistants
Not available
Remote TV control
Not available
Remote finder
Not available
Remote backlight
Not available
Remote power
Not available
Remote charging port
Not available

Software

Operating system
Not available
Operating system at launch
Not available
App store
Not available
Casting protocols
Google Cast1Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026The post describes casting from apps through the Cast button. The Google Cast name comes from the Google Cast developer page.
Voice assistants
Google Assistant1Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Post: Chromecast and Google Home work together. Say what to watch with Hey Google and control the TV by asking. Needs a compatible Google Assistant device.
Hands-free voice control
Yes1Press releaseblog.google/products/chromecast/five-reasons-and-two-colors-why-we-love-new-chromecastRead 13 October 2026Post describes hands-free voice requests through Google Home. The Chromecast has no microphone and no remote. A linked Google Home speaker or other Assistant device is required.
Mobile remote platforms
Android, iOS2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: Operating systems Android, iOS, Mac and Windows. Only the two mobile systems fit the schema. Casting from a Mac or Windows PC uses the Chrome browser.
Accessibility features
Not available

Gaming

We could not find any of these 2 fields. Show them
Game services
Not available
Game controller support
Not available

Power

Power supply
USB8Reviewwhathifi.com/reviews/google-chromecast-2018Read 13 October 2026Review spec box: Power USB, power adapter included. Power comes from a bundled micro-USB cable. A wall plug is included, and a TV USB socket may also supply power.
Rated power input
5 V, 1 A2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: Power 5 V, 1 A power supply.
Included adapter output
5W2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Specifications: 5 V, 1 A power supply. 5 W is the exact product of the published voltage and current. Tom's Guide says the box holds a power adapter.
Max power consumption (claimed)
5W2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Korea device information lists Rated power consumption 5 W. This is the maker's rated figure on the KC label. It is not a measurement.
Standby power (claimed)
Not available

Measured

We could not find any of these 4 fields. Show them
Video playback power (measured)
Not available
Idle power (measured)
Not available
Standby power (measured)
Not available
Boot time (measured)
Not available

Dimensions and weight

Front and side, drawn to scale.

Dimensions
Width51.8Height51.9Depth13.8mm(2 × 2 × 0.5 in)2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Korea device information Size: 51.8 x 13.8 x 51.9 mm. The axes are not labeled. The disc is about 51.8 to 51.9 mm across and 13.8 mm thick. TechRadar gives 51.9 x 51.9 x 13.8 mm. Stored as two disc diameters and the thickness. The flat HDMI cable is not included.
Weight
40g(1.4 oz)2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Korea device information Weight: 40g.
Remote dimensions
Not available
Remote weight
Not available

Certifications

FCC ID
A4RNC2-6A5B9Regulatory filingfccid.io/A4RNC2-6A5B/User-Manual/NC2-6A5B-Manual-US-3943740Read 21 October 2026Google's Chromecast regulatory manual on the FCC filing lists Model NC2-6A5 and FCC ID A4RNC2-6A5B and says the FCC ID is printed on the back of the Chromecast. The 2015 device used A4RNC2-6A5 without the B. The UL test report 15U20917-E2V4 under A4RNC2-6A5B (July 2018) describes the 5 GHz antenna gain change from 2.1 to 4 dBi that Google announced for this model.
Other certifications
FCC Part 15 Class B, KC MSIP-CRM-A4H-NC2-6A52Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Korea device information lists KC certification MSIP-CRM-A4H-NC2-6A5 for model NC2-6A5. Stored as printed with a KC prefix. FCC Part 15 Class B comes from the FCC manual source.9Regulatory filingfccid.io/A4RNC2-6A5B/User-Manual/NC2-6A5B-Manual-US-3943740Read 21 October 2026The manual states the device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules and with the limits for a Class B digital device.

In the box

In the box
Chromecast, Micro-USB power cable, Power adapter7Reviewtomsguide.com/us/google-chromecast-3rd-generation,review-5843.htmlRead 13 October 2026Review: the Chromecast comes with both a micro-USB cable and a power adapter.
HDMI cable included
No7Reviewtomsguide.com/us/google-chromecast-3rd-generation,review-5843.htmlRead 13 October 2026Review: a built-in HDMI cable on one side. No separate HDMI cable is supplied.

Warranty

Manufacturer warranty (source market)
1year2Maker product pagesupport.google.com/store/answer/6160585Read 13 October 2026Korea device information: covered by a 1-year Google Hardware Limited Warranty. Market is Korea. Other markets were not checked.

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Sources

We read 16 sources for this streaming device. The numbers match the markers in the sheet.

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