Google’s idea was a small Chrome OS computer called the Asus Chromebit, announced in 2015. It plugged into a display and let the display work as a computer screen; it did not turn a television’s built-in software into ChromeOS. Google’s current TV platform, Google TV, is an Android TV OS-based entertainment experience—not a Chromebook for the television.
What Google announced in 2015
On March 31, 2015, Google introduced the Asus Chromebit as a “full computer” smaller than a candy bar. The company said users could plug it into a display to turn that display into a computer, and announced a planned price of less than $100 with a summer release target. Google’s announcement describes the device and its intended use.
In a November 2 post, Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer described the Chromebit as an $85 device expected to be available in the next couple of weeks. Google suggested uses such as replacing an inexpensive desktop or turning a business billboard into a digital sign. Those figures are announcement-era pricing, not current buying guidance. Google’s November announcement does not document the device’s complete retail history or a final discontinuation date.
Did Google make a Chromebook for TVs?
Not in the sense of converting a television into a Chromebook. Chromebit was a Chrome OS computer that used a connected display. The television, if used as that display, would show the computer’s output; its internal operating system would not become ChromeOS. The title’s wording is a reasonable shorthand for Google’s display-connected-computer idea, but Google’s announcements do not identify a formal “turn TVs into Chromebooks” plan.
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- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
What happened to Chromebit?
The available Google announcements establish that Chromebit was announced and describe its intended launch and uses. They do not establish its full sales history, market reception, total sales, or a definitive end-of-life date. It is therefore not possible to give a reliable specific date for when it was discontinued—or to state why it disappeared—from those announcements alone.
Was this connected to Google’s ChromeOS and Android plans?
In November 2015, amid speculation that Chrome OS might be folded into Android, Lockheimer wrote: “While we’ve been working on ways to bring together the best of both operating systems, there’s no plan to phase out Chrome OS.” That statement addressed the future of ChromeOS, not a plan to put it inside televisions.
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- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Google later described a different platform direction. In a June 12, 2024 post, it said ChromeOS would be developed on large portions of the Android stack, including the Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks. Google cited goals including accelerating AI innovation, simplifying engineering, and improving how devices work together. It also said the changes would not be ready for consumers for quite some time and that ChromeOS updates and development would continue in the meantime. The post describes platform engineering, not a TV-to-Chromebook product. Google’s 2024 ChromeOS update explains the plan.
What Google TV does instead
Google describes Google TV as a user experience built into selected televisions and streaming devices, powered by Android TV OS. You can get it on a compatible smart TV or add it to an existing television with a streaming device. It is an entertainment interface, not a ChromeOS desktop. Google’s Google TV page describes the platform.
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- Watch the entertainment you love with Chromecast with Google TV, including live TV in up to 4K HDR; discover over 700,000 movies and TV episodes, plus millions of songs
- Get fast streaming, and enjoy a crystal clear picture up to 4K and brighter colors with HDR
- Your home screen displays movies and TV shows from all your services in one place with Chromecast 4K; get personal recommendations based on your subscriptions, viewing habits, and content you own
- Press the Google Assistant button on the remote and use voice search to find specific shows, youtube tv streaming, or search by mood, genre, actress, and more; control the volume, switch inputs, play music, and get answers, hands-free
- Chromecast is easy to install and compatible with almost any TV that has an HDMI port; to get started, just plug it into your TV’s HDMI port, connect to Wi-Fi, and start streaming
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Google’s current Google TV Streamer (4K) is an external streaming player. Its Google Store listing showed a price of $99.99 when accessed on October 4, 2026; prices and availability can change. Google says the device requires a television with HDMI and an HDMI 2.1 cable, which is sold separately. It adds Google TV streaming functions, not Chromebit’s computer capability. Google Store listing.
Basic TV mode
On televisions with Google TV built in, Google’s Basic TV mode limits certain features: users cannot install apps, access services that require a Google Account, or cast from another device. This is a restricted Google TV operating mode, not a way to switch the television to ChromeOS. Google’s Basic TV support page lists the limitations.
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- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Can you turn your TV into a Chromebook now?
Google’s current TV products do not provide the Chromebit-style desktop-computer function. If you want Google TV on a compatible HDMI television, a streaming device such as Google TV Streamer adds that entertainment platform; it does not recreate a ChromeOS computer. The historical Chromebit concept and today’s Google TV devices address different needs.
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