Google raised the price of its Google TV Streamer to $149 (USD), a $50 (USD) increase from its original $99 (USD) price. The hike follows similar price increases from Apple and Amazon, showing streaming hardware costs are climbing across the industry.
What actually happened
Google increased the price of its 4K Google TV Streamer to $149 (USD), up from $99 (USD), according to The Verge. The new price appeared at the Google Store and Best Buy as of 31 August 2026, though Amazon still listed the original price at the time of reporting. The increase came two weeks after Google launched its Pixel 11 phone lineup with a $100 (USD) price hike over the Pixel 10 series. The Google TV Streamer first launched in 2024 and doubles as a smart home hub. Other hardware makers have raised prices too. Amazon increased its Fire TV Stick 4K Max price by over 40 percent to $84.99 (USD) earlier in August 2026. Apple raised Apple TV 4K prices in June 2026, to $199 (USD) for the 64GB model and $249 (USD) for the 128GB model.
How we got here
Streaming device prices had stayed fairly stable since the category matured in the late 2010s. Component shortages have started driving up costs across consumer electronics, from laptops to game consoles, according to The Verge. Apple's June 2026 price hikes touched multiple product lines, not only the Apple TV 4K. Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max jump of over 40 percent came just weeks before Google's move. Google itself had already raised phone prices with the Pixel 11 launch. Together these increases suggest hardware makers are passing rising component costs to consumers, ending a long stretch of stable pricing on everyday tech.
Why this matters for you
For shoppers, waiting no longer guarantees a lower price. Anyone eyeing a Google TV Streamer should check Amazon, which still listed the $99 (USD) price at the time of reporting. For builders in smart home and AR hardware, rising component costs signal tighter margins ahead, possibly slowing new device launches or pushing prices higher across the industry. For bonuz readers tracking wearables and smart glasses, this matters because the same shortages driving up streaming box prices also touch displays, chips, and sensors used in AR hardware.
The bigger question
If component shortages keep pushing hardware prices higher across streaming boxes, phones, and consoles, will consumers slow down how often they replace devices? Or will manufacturers absorb more cost to protect market share and loyalty? The answer could shape how quickly emerging hardware categories, including AR glasses and other wearables, reach prices that everyday buyers are willing to pay for new technology.
What to watch
Watch whether Amazon matches Google's new $149 (USD) price or keeps selling the Google TV Streamer at $99 (USD). Watch also for further price moves from other hardware makers as component shortages persist into late 2026. Bonuz will track how these cost pressures ripple into wearable and AR hardware pricing, a category still working toward mainstream affordability.
