Apple and Google contend in a whole host of orbit , frommobile operate on systemstomusic platforms , so it follows that they have competing stream media protocols as well — something that we ’ve been hearingplenty aboutat CES 2019 . But how precisely do these technologies work ? And how do they stack up against each other ?
Here we ’ll guide you through the In and outs of AirPlay 2 from Apple ( the new rise to the original AirPlay ) and Google Cast , which is the streaming tech that comes construct into Chromecasts ( the Chromecast is the thespian , Google Cast is the monetary standard ) . If you ’re confused about finding a place for these standard in your smart home , this should help .
AirPlay 2 vs Google Cast: the basics
AirPlay 2 and Google Cast fundamentally do the same line of work , hence this comparison piece : They take a streaming media filing cabinet from one gimmick ( like your phone ) and put it on another ( like your television ) . If you ’ve ever sent a YouTube TV from your telephone to your Chromecast dongle then you make out how the tech act in practice .
These two standards patronize sound recording , video , images , and screen mirroring . In some apps and scenario , subject is stream directly over your local wireless fidelity internet ; in other case , the experience machine picks the relevant stream directly from the web rather than the machine you ’re lead up the stream from .
Google Cast in the main uses the second method acting — pulling content from the World Wide Web , whether that ’s a Spotify song or a YouTube telecasting . If you take the air out of the house , your stream carries on playing , you just wo n’t be able-bodied to control it any more . Casting a vane internet browser lozenge is one scenario where the connector is done forthwith over your wireless local area internet internet , though .
Photo: Alex Cranz (Gizmodo)
Traditionally , AirPlay 2 has used the first method acting , pushing the watercourse from one twist to another via Bluetooth or your local wireless local area web web . There are are now a growing number of exclusion though , including playing Apple Music tuneson a HomePodor iTunes film on an AirPlay 2 compatible TV , where the stream is picked up immediately from the entanglement ( you ’ll see the option to AirPlay flat from iCloud on an Apple TV ) .
The benefits of the straight - from - the - web approach are that it takes some pressure off the send twist , so your phone ( for example ) wo n’t be using up as much battery or processor . The benefit of the gadget - to - gadget option , which is only available in some AirPlay scenario ( say , cyclosis content already downloaded to an iPhone ) , is that it works in places without access to an outside net .
If the stream is being picked up from the World Wide Web , AirPlay still need a sending gimmick to be associate : Beam a buy iTunes picture show or a Netflix show from an iPad to an Apple television set via AirPlay , for example , and if the iPad is disconnect from the web the flow stops . Stream a picture from an iPad to a Chromecast via Google Cast , on the other hand , and the stream hold on even if the iPad disappears from the connection .
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
AirPlay 2 vs Google Cast: the features
As we ’ve said , on a basic level , these two standards do the same problem : Get content from a modest sieve up on a braggy one . However , there are differences , both in the gadget and apps you may use , and the various feature you ’ve get useable to you .
Both AirPlay and Google Cast rent you expend the send off twist as a remote to contain whatever ’s on screen . you could also behave on using other apps on your phone and pad of paper while streaming — this has n’t always been the typeface with AirPlay but seems to work more often now base on our testing , at least with contentedness pulled from the web , like YouTube .
Some difference depend on the app . Say you ’re beaming picture from YouTube on an iPhone , either via AirPlay ( to an Apple TV ) or Google Cast ( to a Chromecast ) . The latter choice lets you queue up up videos to view next , which you ca n’t do with AirPlay ( though you could still carry on browse other videos ) . On Netflix , you’re able to browse other deed while Google Casting but not while AirPlaying .
As far as audio goes , both these standards support multi - way audio playback , so you could send podcasts or music to several connect speaker rather than just one , and have your tunes follow you around from room to room . AirPlay 2 has added the option to plunk speaker unit and control volumes separately from Control Center in iOS .
Smart adjunct integration is available in both Google Cast and AirPlay as well , look on the devices you ’re using . you could use either Google Assistant or Siri to get videos or music sent to a unlike twist using only your vocalization , take the relevant hooks are build into whichever app you ’re trying to stream from .
In terms of video resolution , for the time being AirPlay is limited to 1080p — you’re able to download content straight to an Apple TV 4 K from iTunes and work it in 4 KB that manner , but if you ’re using AirPlay , 1080p is the limit . Google Cast can brook 4 K picture flow , as long as you ’re using a 4 atomic number 19 source ( like Netflix ) and a 4 cat valium thespian ( like the Chromecast Ultra ) .
AirPlay 2 vs Google Cast: the devices and apps
It ’s here that you ’ll find the biggest conflict between AirPlay and Google Cast . Google Cast just needs an Android gimmick or Chrome internet browser . While Apple has just begun to put AirPlay on hardware it does n’t make itself — primarily wise loudspeaker and impudent tv set — you still require an iOS twist , a Mac , or iTunes on Windows to do the sending ( with AirPlay in iTunes for Windows limited to audio ) . There ’s no AirPlay option available on Android , not even in the Apple Music app .
As for receiving gadget , the ones that snap up the most aid are the Apple TV 4 jet for AirPlay and the Chromecast for Google Cast . For AirPlay , you ’ve also make the HomePod , as well as a growing number of speakers and television system set : Apple has a full list here , and you could expect it to keep bring longer .
Other Google Cast compatible devices admit Google Home speakersof motley sizing , as well as Android TV sets , that have Chromecast functionality built right in , andthe Nvidia Shield . Various third - party devices also have Google Cast support , covering tv and speakers , just like AirPlay — break out the official list from Google . That list does n’t include Sonos loudspeaker system : They ’re have Google Assistant sustenance , but not Google Cast sustenance , despite being quick for AirPlay 2 .
As for peregrine apps , as you would await there ’s no Google Cast backing in the aboriginal audio and video apps for Io , which are AirPlay only . Just about every third - party app on Io substantiate AirPlay , and must support Google Cast too , admit YouTube ( and YouTube TV ) , Netflix , Spotify , Hulu , and HBO . One notable elision is Amazon Prime Video , which only sustain AirPlay on iOS .
Amazon Prime Video is also one of the few apps for Android that does n’t stick out Google Cast . Just about every other audio and TV app bar Apple Music does , admit all the 1 we just mentioned above . Predictably , AirPlay is nowhere to be found , as we ’ve already said , unless you want to put your content in the custody ofa third - political party app . To see a full inclination of Google Cast - enable apps , chatter here .
As with so many other tech choice of the modern age , AirPlay versus Google Cast is not so much about the features but about the environ ecosystem : If you ’re all - in on Apple ironware ( and iTunes movies ) , you ’re going to pretty much have to go with AirPlay 2 ; for everyone else , Google Cast allow a technology that ’s just as impressive .
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