The price is right for Google’s new Android TV device

Over the past few weeks, rumours and leaks about Google’s Android TV-powered dongle (and its 5G Pixel 4a) have been building to something beautiful. The new streaming device is currently known as “Sabrina” looks like a budget media streaming dongle that could replace your Chromecast (even your Apple TV) at a generous price.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Home Depot recently listed a Google “Sabrina-Abbey” bundle for US$49.99.

The rest of the listing featured placeholder Google Chromecast imagery and flavour text, but considering early leaks already pegged the cost-friendly Chromecast successor as “Sabrina”, the product title and timing can’t be a coincidence (unless some cheeky developer at Home Depot is trying to stir up news-hungry tech journalists).

Earlier leaks suggested the new device will have a redesigned UI that’s more in-line with what Google offers on its latest Nest/Home products.

Home Depot's removed listing of a Google "Sabrina/Abbey" Bundle"

Images and details of Google’s new streaming device first leaked back in June via XDA Developers. The new device, code-named “Sabrina”, is reportedly the successor to Google’s popular (and wallet-friendly) Chromecast Ultra device coming this year alongside the Google Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 4a 5G handsets.

The leaked images show a device that looks like a natural evolution to the Chromecast Ultra design and form factor. However, there’s one important distinction between the Sabrina and the Chromecast family, and that’s specifically the “cast” part of its nomenclature.

Image Source: XDA Developers

The Google Sabrina is said to be a standalone Android TV media streaming device with its own dedicated remote (possibly the Abbey component to Home Depot’s leaked product description?). Better yet, it’s a media streaming device that retains the humble form factor of a Chromecast device, taking up less space than an Apple TV or Roku.

There may still be the option to cast from your smartphone or tablet, but most importantly, the device won’t depend on it as current Chromecast devices do. Meaning you’ll be able to stream any Android TV-compatible app or streaming service (e.g. Netflix, Shudder or Disney Plus) directly from the Google Sabrina. In that sense, it’s more akin to Apple TV, or a Roku streaming box, but at a more generous price.

The leaked US$49 price tag of the Google Sabrina device makes it cheaper than the Chromecast Ultra 4K (US$69). In Australia, that might translate to somewhere between $69 to $79 for a Google Sabrina.

These leaks should be taken as a grain of salt. It’s possible the listed pricing was placeholder data that was never meant to see the light of day, but Google does have a history of offering decent deals on its Chromecast range.