The Google TV Streamer has a rare Ethernet upgrade most streamers skip

While I enjoy the convenience a streaming stick offers, whether it’s a Fire TV Stick 4K Max or Walmart’s Onn 4K Streaming Device, the biggest drawback compared to set-top box streamers like the Roku Ultra, Apple TV 4K, or Google TV Streamer is the lack of ports.

Most streaming set-top boxes include both a USB port and an Ethernet port. The USB port is great for connecting to an external storage device so you can watch personal media or sideload apps. The Ethernet port is also extremely useful, especially if your Wi-Fi gets spotty from time to time, and you want a more stable internet connection for streaming.

But there’s one thing about the Ethernet ports on many streaming devices and the vast majority of smart TVs that drives me crazy: they’re severely underpowered. Here’s why.

On many smart TVs and some set-top streamers, the Ethernet port maxes out at just 100 Mbps. You’ll usually see this referred to as 10/100 Ethernet, or “Fast Ethernet,” which, by today’s standards, really isn’t all that fast anymore.

What’s even more puzzling is that only a handful of streamers have actually solved this Ethernet limitation, and the most affordable option among them is the Google TV Streamer.

The Google TV Streamer has an upgraded Ethernet port

This needs to become the standard

Credit: Google / Pocket-lint

The Google TV Streamer launched in September 2024, and even though it’s nearly two years old now, it still has a rare Ethernet feature that most other streamers and smart TVs skip: a Gigabit Ethernet port.

Gigabit Ethernet has been around for over 25 years, and its main advantage is simple: it’s 10x faster than 10/100 Ethernet, offering speeds up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps).

That translates to a noticeably smoother experience across the board, whether you’re downloading apps, streaming, pulling content from a home server like Plex, or gaming from the cloud. In other words, the Ethernet port on the Google TV Streamer is actually worth using.

I can’t say the same for most smart TVs or streamers stuck with 10/100 Ethernet, especially since newer Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 6 can often outperform it in raw speed. That’s not the case with Gigabit, though, where 1 Gbps speeds are still tough for most home Wi-Fi setups to beat.

Why don’t more devices have Gigabit Ethernet?

It’s cheaper for TV manufacturers to skip it

If you’re wondering why a lot of smart TVs and streamers skip Gigabit Ethernet, the answer is usually twofold. First, it comes down to cost savings. It’s an easy corner to cut for companies, especially since many people rely on Wi-Fi instead of plugging in an Ethernet cable. Second, most streaming services only require about 25 Mbps for 4K playback, so 100 Mbps Ethernet technically looks “good enough” on paper.

In my view though, TV and streaming device makers are missing the bigger picture. Gigabit Ethernet goes well beyond simply meeting Netflix’s 4K requirements, as 10/100 Ethernet does — it’s faster, more reliable, and far more useful in real-world use.

Once you move beyond basic streaming, whether that’s pulling high-bitrate 4K files from a home server using Plex or Jellyfin, or handling large app downloads and updates, 100 Mbps quickly becomes a bottleneck. Gigabit removes that ceiling, giving you more headroom for higher speeds, faster load times, fewer slowdowns, and a more responsive streaming experience overall.

And I think in 2026 it’s long overdue for Gigabit to become the standard on smart TVs and streamers, and at least Google understood this with the Google TV Streamer.

What other streaming devices offer Gigabit Ethernet?

The list isn’t very long

Besides the Google TV Streamer, there aren’t many devices that come equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port. The list really boils down to just three: the Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield TV Pro, and, of course, the Google TV Streamer.

Meanwhile, devices like the Roku Ultra, Fire TV Cube, and Onn 4K Pro do include Ethernet ports, but they’re all stuck with 10/100 Ethernet.

The Apple TV 4K costs $150 for the Ethernet model, while the Nvidia Shield TV Pro comes in at $200. If you’re specifically after Gigabit Ethernet for your TV, the cheapest option is the Google TV Streamer, which regularly goes for $100 but often drops to around $80 on sale — so it’s worth keeping an eye out for a deal.

It’s also worth noting that consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X include Gigabit Ethernet ports, so they can double as solid streaming devices if you’ve got one handy.