A $20 bill with a hole in your pocket could be more advanced than ever when it comes to streaming devices. And nothing epitomizes this better than Walmart’s new Google TV box. It was launched a few weeks ago under the company’s ‘Onn’ brand. For $19.88, you get a streaming player that’s nearly identical to Google’s Chromecast with Google TV 4K in terms of performance and everyday user experience. The same content transfer home screen features recommendations, built-in casting, and Google Assistant integration.
The main thing that separates the $50 Chromecast from Onn’s more affordable gadget is Dolby Vision. Google’s streamer has it, Walmart doesn’t. But it does have basic HDR10, and in a world where Samsung’s most expensive TVs continue to omit Dolby Vision, it’s possible to live without it without suffering huge FOMO, especially at this price. is.
With a black matte plastic design, this streaming pack is designed to fade into the background forever once you plug in the power cord (unfortunately Micro USB) and HDMI cable. And the remote control follows Google’s guidance. Most of the layout was the same as Hisense’s Google TV. (Yes, we’ve reviewed the Google TV Streamer on a TV that runs the same software, but what are you going to do? At least we now have another point of comparison on performance.) The remote works via Bluetooth, so you’re free to do whatever you want can. Tuck the box behind the TV if necessary. Inside the box is a small strip of adhesive and an HDMI cable to do just that. It has everything you need for an Andrew Jackson bill.
The white remote does a good job of avoiding the cheap impression. The buttons are clicky, not mushy, and never come loose or creak. His four branded buttons on this clicker are for YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus and Paramount Plus. Early feedback indicates that at least software can be used to remap these. So even if any of these services inevitably go bankrupt or rebrand, they won’t dry up completely. The remote has a built-in mic that makes it a handy assistant when you want to search for content by voice, issue smart-hi-home-hi commands, or check the weather with a long press of his button. I have big hands, so it wouldn’t surprise me if I preferred the Walmart remote over his cramped Chromecast version.
Setting up Onn is the same as any other Google TV device. The Google Home mobile app simplifies the process without having to slowly type your email address and password on the remote. At one point, you’re asked to select which service you’re currently subscribed to, but on that list Max already notices that he’s been replaced by HBO Max. Speaking of Max, it works fine on Google TV, even though it has unstable releases on some platforms.was able to resume edge of tomorrow I clicked from the ‘continue watching’ row on the home screen and it immediately jumped to the 4K HDR stream. As is always the case with this movie, my intention was to just demo a few scenes…and then watch the whole thing. again.
Elsewhere in the Google TV experience, the recently streamlined navigation and[ライブ]You’ll notice FAST (TV with free ads) channels popping up like an avalanche of tabs. Google TV also supports multiple user profiles, including child accounts that offer only age-appropriate programming.
Unfortunately, the Onn Streaming Box runs with just 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, the same as a 4K Chromecast. Over time, however, Google has devised ways to make the most of these constraints by optimizing how the platform uses storage. Walmart devices run smoothly without major hangs or slowdowns. It has a processor roughly on par with the 4K Chromecast, but this streamer supports native AV1 decoding, unlike Google’s. But I think most of the fluidity and responsiveness comes from Google’s software improvements, plus his Walmart tweaks. At $20, you can’t really complain about performance.
I still believe Google TV will have a fast flagship device at some point. All of these devices are outmatched by the horsepower of the Apple TV 4K. But no one touts the Onn box as it is. Out of the box, it can handle platform animations and menu transitions without frustration. The 1st generation Onn Android TV box had some overheating issues, but I didn’t notice any sluggishness or choppyness after watching 4K for extended periods of time. The larger case and redesigned heatsink seem to keep everything level (for now).
On the one point that Onn’s Google TV 4K Streaming Box isn’t aimed at home theater power users, I’m not going to stretch it. Not suitable as a Plex server or cloud gaming gateway. For these purposes, I would still recommend Nvidia’s tubular Shield TV or Shield Pro to everyone. Early buyers also report that Onn can’t play media stored on his NTFS drive. But there is still room to tinker and explore. Advanced users are free to install different launchers or “debloat” the device for maximum performance. After all, it’s still basically an Android gadget.
So far, it’s all been pretty impressive for $20, but at twice the price, the Chromecast can claim an edge in a few areas. Google’s streaming dongles support both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos. Walmart has the best HDR10 and Dolby Digital surround sound, although Onn can’t offer either of those. If you have a high-end TV with beautiful picture quality, it might make sense to spend more money on one that lets you check out all the latest home theater formats and specs. I didn’t feel like I was missing a big opportunity while testing the Hisense U8H. Regular HDR is good enough for highlights and bright scenes.But I’m also someone who likes to know what I’m getting all things My TV can do that, so I’m not sure I can stick with Onn for the long haul.
But… it’s $20. Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box is cheaper than Fire TV Stick Lite up to 1080p. If you buy a Roku TV Express, you’ll pay more, but it’s also limited to standard HD. You can easily find very cheap obscure Android TV boxes on Amazon, but I strongly advise against buying them. Linus Tech Tips recently made an informative video on why you should spend your money. a bit Learn more about trusted brands that don’t covertly load spyware onto your device.
Walmart is Walmart, and it’s understandable to be concerned about aggressively reducing competition to such extremes. That alone might lead some to other options. But there’s no denying that this is a great streaming gadget for the asking price. It lacks the Dolby Vision and Atmos that the Chromecast with Google TV 4K offers, but the Onn feels more stable and performant for everyday entertainment. And you get the same content-rich software.
Until Google announces its next player, I’d probably recommend this for anyone looking for an easy option. Home theater buffs will instinctively ignore her Onn player, which makes sense, but for everyone else it’s a very compelling deal. All for the same price (and a few cents less) than a month of her on Netflix Premium.
Photo: Chris Welch/The Verge
