“Google Cast is replacing the Chromecast brand.

At I/O 2024, «Chromecast built-in» or “Chromecast built-in” was quietly renamed «Google Cast». Notably, this reverses a branding change made in 2016. In late 2016, the original «Google Cast» branding was phased out in favor of «Chromecast built-in». Given consumers’ awareness of the «Chromecast» dongles available, such a change was a logical one.

Consumer awareness of the «Chromecast» dongles made sense.

The name was still in use this January when LG announced at CES that its webOS-powered 2024 TVs would get built-in support for Chromecast (and Google Home). During the on-stage announcement, Google said:

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Today, we’re excited to announce that LG’s 2024 TVs will now have Chromecast built in. This means LG TV users will be able to launch a video on their phone or Chrome browser and, with one tap on the Cast icon, start watching on the best screen in their home.

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The Pixel Tablet with a charging speaker dock also gets that name.

The Pixel Tablet with a charging speaker dock also gets that name.

Announcing at I/O that Android Automotive will get Cast support, the company said: «Google Cast (formerly Chromecast built-in) is coming to cars». The updated branding is mentioned on Android.com (with a redirect to chromecast.com/built-in) and in this Google support article: Google Cast (formerly Chromecast built-in) delivers multi-screen TV and audio via speakers. The name «Google Cast» inevitably has the word «Google» in it, so that may be the reason for today’s change.

Here’s what we’re talking about.

As far as functionality is concerned, end users shouldn’t expect any changes, but a new icon may appear on the product packaging. The question today is how this will affect the branding of Google’s future Chromecast dongles. In April, we reported that Google was working on a new Chromecast based on Google TV. I don’t think Google will abandon the successful Chromecast brand — although «s Google TV» sounds clunky and should be removed. Today’s branding change may be to keep «Chromecast» for first makers’ products.

So I think it’s a good idea to keep the «Chromecast» for first makers’ products.