Updated
Updated · Droid Life · Aug 31
Google Raises 2-Year-Old TV Streamer to $149.99 as Chip Shortages Lift Costs
Updated
Updated · Droid Life · Aug 31

Google Raises 2-Year-Old TV Streamer to $149.99 as Chip Shortages Lift Costs

3 articles · Updated · Droid Life · Aug 31

Summary

  • $149.99 is now the Google TV Streamer price on Google's store, up $50 from $99.99 for the unchanged 2024 device.
  • RAM and chip shortages appear to be driving the increase, with the report pointing to AI-fueled component demand and no new hardware upgrades to justify the higher price.
  • Best Buy has already matched the new price in both Porcelain and Hazel, while Amazon was still listing the streamer at $99 at the time of publication.
  • The move fits a broader pattern of Google hardware price increases tied to rising component costs, extending beyond the streaming box.

Insights

With the Google TV Streamer now at $150, will budget-conscious buyers abandon the ecosystem for cheaper streaming alternatives?
Are rising component costs the real reason for Google's 50% price hike, or is Gemini AI secretly driving up the bill?