

The Apple TV has its own interface controlled by the Siri Remote, letting you browse through apps and access media of all sorts on the TV itself. Of course, the bigger difference comes in functionality. Just fold the Chromecast in half: magnets keep it compact when not in use. Link that to your TV and plug in the AC adapter cable and you’re ready to stream. The HDMI dongle is directly attached, with a magnetic connector that makes it easy to fold the cable in half for compact transportation. Google’s Chromecast, on the other hand, is truly pocketable: The second-gen unit, released in late 2015, looks like a small toy or candy disc-and even comes in bright yellow and red options to complete the illusion. While easy to pop into a bag for travel, or move between screens at your home, it’s primarily built to rest beneath a TV and blend in inconspicuously with your setup. The Apple TV has a pretty sleek profile, packing a lot of tech into a dense black box, but it has surprising heft to it.
