If you can’t decide between Chromecast vs Anycast, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will show you all the differences between these two wireless streaming devices. Besides having different physical designs, they are also different in terms of features and how they operate.
Continue reading below to find out more information about:
– The supported resolutions on Chromecast and Anycast
– The processor and memory that each device uses
– The available apps on Chromecast and Anycast
– Whether they support 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks or not
– The battery drainage of Chromecast vs Anycast
– Which wireless streaming device that is generally better
Supported Resolutions
Perhaps we should start by taking a look at the supported resolutions on Chromecast and Anycast. It actually depends on the model that you choose. Each device here is available in two different models that have different maximum resolutions. See also: Chromecast vs Miracast
On Chromecast, there are two models available, the regular Chromecast and the Chromecast Ultra. With the regular Chromecast, the maximum resolution is Full HD (1080p). Meanwhile, with the Chromecast Ultra, you can get a maximum resolution of Ultra HD (4K). Besides having different names, the two models also have slightly different looks, with the regular Chromecast having a gray finish and a smaller logo and the Chromecast Ultra having a black finish and a bigger logo.
On Anycast, choosing the right model for your needs is a little bit more difficult because, despite being available in two models as well, the two models look extremely similar to each other. There is an Anycast device with a max resolution of 1080p, and there is also an Anycast device with a max resolution of 4K. So, make sure that you check the product name when buying.
Whichever that you choose between Chromecast vs Anycast, before you run to the closest 4K dongle, you should check if your TV supports 4K or not. If your TV doesn’t support that resolution, and you are not planning to upgrade your TV anytime soon, it is probably better to get the 1080p dongle instead. The 1080p dongle is cheaper, and is able to work with most TVs nowadays.
Hardware
A wireless streaming device runs on a processor and memory. With better hardware parts, the device will be able to process content faster and show it on the TV without any lag or delay. In general, both Chromecast and Anycast use good-quality hardware. You won’t need to deal with any ridiculous lag or delay that may disrupt your streaming experience.
Chromecast is using the Marvell Armada 1500 Mini Plus 88DE3006 SoC, which contains dual 1.2GHz ARM Cortex A7 processors. It also has 512MB of Samsung DDR3L RAM. Anycast, on the other hand, is using a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor that is coupled with 256MB of RAM.
If we compare only the processors, Anycast may have a slight lead, especially when dealing with a task that can only run on one processor. It has a sligthly more advanced processor. However, we can expect the overall performance of Chromecast to be better in real-life uses due to having dual processors and a larger memory.
When tested, there is almost no noticeable difference in the processing speeds. The initial connection of Chromecast vs Anycast is just slightly slower, but this is because it pulls content from the Internet rather than just mirroring the smartphone’s screen. Once the content is up and running, Chromecast generally responds faster to commands. On the other hand, Anycast is faster with the initial connection, but a little bit slower when responding to commands later.
They have similar warranty terms. Each of them is backed by a 1-year limited warranty, which will cover any defect in materials or workmanship, but won’t cover any damage from user abuse or improper use.
Connectivity
Although they both are designed to be wireless multimedia streaming solutions, they actually work in different ways. Chromecast doesn’t actually take content from your smartphone. Instead, when you are streaming on your smartphone and then choose to cast the content to your TV, the dongle will pull content from the Internet via your home’s Wi-Fi network. On the other hand, Anycast will simply send the screen of your smartphone to the TV.
This is why Chromecast requires a working Internet access all the time. In contrast, Anycast only needs the dongle and the smartphone to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, regardless of whether an Internet access is available or not.
Of course, Chromecast has added some mirroring capabilities for select Android devices. If your smartphone supports this feature, it is possible to mirror your smartphone screen to your TV via the Chromecast app. Additionally, regardless of your device’s platform, you can cast the tabs in your Chrome browser to the Chromecast dongle as well.
On the other hand, Anycast is only for mirroring. It can’t pull content directly from the Internet. However, Anycast is compatible with a wide range of services. It can use Miracast, AirPlay, DLNA, and Ezmira. As the effect, it can be quite flexible and versatile. It can work with various online and offline devices.
Both Chromecast and Anycast are compatible with most smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers that have Wi-Fi. Chromecast’s wireless connectivity is particularly great because the dongle supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks properly. You can choose the frequency on the mobile app. Meanwhile, Anycast’s wireless connectivity only supports 2.4GHz, so it is more vulnerable to interference issues if you have a lot of wireless devices that use the same frequency nearby.
Apps
The next notable difference between Chromecast vs Anycast is the way they work with apps. It should be noted that Chromecast has a dedicated app where you can make adjustments and configurations easily, whereas Anycast does not have any.
The Chromecast app is used for the initial set-up. You will need to enter your Wi-Fi details in order to connect the dongle to your home’s network and your Google account. Once it has been set-up, you can also use the app to adjust settings and control the dongle remotely. The app is available for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. In other words, you can use Chromecast from pretty much any mobile and desktop device.
There are now many content streaming apps with built-in Chromecast support. Some notable examples include Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu, and YouTube. When you are streaming through one of such apps, you can open the menu and select the Chromecast option to watch the content on your TV. The TV will pick up right from you left off. Then, you can use your smartphone as a remote control, or use it for other activities.
Anycast is much simpler, but also with fewer capabilities. It doesn’t have a dedicated app. You just need to plug the dongle to your TV, and then open your smartphone’s settings to scan and pair it. It supports Miracast and AirPlay protocols, meaning that it can work with Android and iOS smartphones just fine. It should be able to work with Windows and Mac devices as well.
Once the dongle is paired, you will have the option to cast the screen to your TV. When activated, the TV will start showing everything that is displayed on your smartphone. This will allow you to watch movies or play games using your TV. Unfortunately, this also means that you won’t be able to use your smartphone for other activities as long as you are streaming. If your smartphone’s screen goes to sleep, the TV will also go black.
Battery Drainage
Finally, when choosing between Chromecast and Anycast for streaming content, you may want to consider the battery drainage factor. Since these two devices work in different ways, they also have different levels of battery drainage. In general, Chromecast will be more battery-friendly than Anycast.
Chromecast won’t drain your smartphone’s battery while you are streaming content. This is because the dongle receives data from the Internet rather than your smartphone. You can let your smartphone’s screen sleep, and Chromecast will still continue streaming. This is definitely a huge benefit for people who often stream via their mobile devices.
Anycast is not so battery-friendly because it is entirely dependent on the smartphone’s screen. In essence, it works as a wireless version of an HDMI cable. It is a bridge that will allow multimedia data from your smartphone to go to your TV.
When you are streaming content to your TV with Anycast, your smartphone is actually the one that tackles the biggest job. Your smartphone takes data from the Internet, and then streams the data to the dongle. Your smartphone’s screen must remain on for the entire duration, and this will drain the battery very quickly.
Chromecast vs Anycast
Conclusion
In general, Chromecast is better and more recommended. It is able to stream content from the Internet, rather than your smartphone, so it is much more battery-friendly. Since Chromecast is not dependent on your smartphone’s screen, it will allow your smartphone to go to sleep or do other activities while it is streaming. Also, it will provide better overall performance.