The Onn 4K Pro is a better option than the Google Chromecast, so save your money

Summary

In light of the fact that two things are true, let’s simply get right to the point: At first glance, the name of the Onn 4K Pro Streaming Device is quite basic. In addition, I would get it rather than a Google Chromecast that comes with Google TV.

I am not ashamed to say that I had some reservations about a Google TV streaming box that retailed at Walmart for fifty dollars. I am indeed displaying my anti-Walmart prejudice in that way. Even if it is not fair, it is there, and because of that, I may as well simply express it right off the bat. In the event if this were a Target streamer, would my feelings be different? (I have no idea.) Furthermore, it is due to the fact that I have been using a Chromecast with Google TV for the previous four years, which isn’t very powerful. It is the same price. A significant number of the same specifications. And a significant amount of latency.

What caused me to alter my mind? Actually, there are a couple things. There are a few things that are unexpected.

Onn 4K Pro is a better : The essentials

In the event that you are unfamiliar with any or all of this, we will provide you with some background information below. Walmart’s house brand is called Onn, and theoretically it should be styled Onn with full capital letters and punctuation, but we are not going to do that. It is comparable to the Insignia for Best Buy.

Moreover, the Onn 4K Pro Streaming gadget is the most recent Google TV gadget that Onn has released. Onn launched a 4K gadget in 2023; thus, this is not the company’s first 4K product.

A 4K resolution is supported, which is a feature that should come as no surprise. The streamer from the previous year did the same thing. At this point, the “Pro” aspect could be a bit more up to debate. Perhaps it is due to the fact that it is compatible with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Or maybe it is the fact that, unlike any other Google TV gadget that I can think of, this one has microphones embedded into the body, making it a device that does not require the use of your hands. If you wish to give it orders or questions using your voice, you do not need to first locate the remote control in order to do so.

The Google TV Cube is essentially a Google TV counterpart of the Amazon Fire TV Cube, except it is much more affordable. Although this is not the only difference between the two devices, it is the most significant one. And the Onn 4K Pro, which is what I’m going to refer to it from this point forward, offers a few fundamental characteristics that Android geeks are going to think are really fantastic.

Because it features Ethernet, you may continue to use hardwired connections. Alternatively, if you choose to keep things wireless, it is compatible with Wi-Fi 6, which is also referred to as 802.11ax. Although I utilize an Eero Pro 6 mesh system on gigabit fiber, I did not see a significant change in speed regardless of the configuration. However, this might have been a result of the speed test program that I was use at the time. In any case, a download and upload speed of more than 100 megabits per second is more than sufficient for the tasks at hand. In the event that you need one, an HDMI cable is included in the package. Very nice.

Furthermore, it is equipped with a USB-A connector, which is also a USB 3.0 port. This allows you to connect a hard drive to it and use it as built-in device storage, similar to what Android and Google TV have been doing for quite some time. Alternatively, you may use it as removable storage. There is a distinction between those two things in Android World. When you consider the fact that the Onn 4K Pro has 32GB of inbuilt storage, which is twice as much as the Fire TV Cube, it is possible that you will not even need to consider any of those alternatives. Even though only around 23 gigabytes of it are really accessible at the time of the first boot, it is still a significant improvement over the 8 gigabytes of storage that are available on a Chromecast with Google TV.

There is three gigabytes of random access memory (RAM) in the Onn 4K Pro; more on that in a moment. Additionally, it is functioning on Google TV as its operating system.

Onn 4K Pro is a better: This is the setup

Let’s repeat what I said before about how I was concerned about utilizing technology that was sold at Walmart. When it comes to performance, my first worry was whether or not this device would be as sluggish as the first Chromecast, which was compatible with Google TV. However, I was also concerned that it would be so cluttered with items from Walmart that it would be useless in any other context without them.

Neither of those things has proven to be a problem up to this far.

A pre-setup consideration is as follows: Take a moment to go over the quick-start instructions that is included in the package. This is for no other reason than the fact that the remote control has some additional features that you may not have encountered previously. You will also be instructed to keep the Onn 4K Pro in the open so that its microphones can really hear you. This will ensure that the microphones accurately pick up your voice.

A button on the front of the device that nearly seems to be nothing more than a logo or perhaps a power button (although the latter would not really make sense) is one of the additional features that can be found on the gadget itself. It turns out that the button is a remote-finder button specifically. If you press it, your remote control will go into a chirping mode. It also has a little LED that flashes, although that is almost completely pointless.

Additionally, a button that is located around the side of the box may be used to turn off the microphones that are normally always on in the device. When this occurs, there will be no message shown on the screen; however, you will notice that the four LEDs on the box that light up when you are providing voice commands are now a constant red color.

Chromecast or a regular television that is capable of running Google TV. You have the choice to either set things up manually on the TV itself or to go via the Google Home app on a phone. When it comes to the iPhone, the process is practically the same as it is on Android, which is a good feature. Make use of a phone, as I strongly encourage. Despite the fact that it is quicker, you will still need to set up ten or fifteen minutes. (On top of that, I also had a software upgrade on the first day itself.)

After you have gotten everything up and running, things ought to calm down after a few minutes have passed. (In fact, you will get a message on that; if there is some initial reluctance, you should continue to be patient. This is a regular occurrence when you are initially setting up a gadget of this kind.) There is also a possibility that you may get a few more alerts on ongoing activities in the background. This included updating the firmware on the remote control, which was my responsibility. Maintain a vigilant watch for them.

The control for the remote

In point of fact, there is a little bit more to discuss about the remote control. To begin, I find that I appreciate it a great deal, even more than the remote that is included with the Chromecast when it is used with Google TV. It has a more gentle curvature, which makes it feel more comfortable in my hand. In addition, there is something about the buttons that makes them feel a little bit nicer. Perhaps this is due to the fact that they are really a little bit smaller, or perhaps it is because there are more of them, and that they are packed more tightly.

Whatever the case may be, the most of the buttons, if not all of them, are also absolutely helpful.

In order to get things started, let’s talk about what has been called the “Magic Button.” Star Button is perhaps a more realistic name for it, and there is nothing especially magical about it. It is not really named that anywhere. The button may be customized, which is not something that is particularly novel in streaming gadgets.

You have the ability to assign this button to either any installed app that is otherwise available in the launcher (not just any random APK file format on the device), or you can assign it to switch to any other device that it is able to see is connected to your TV, and then change the inputs of that device. Both of these options are available to you. In the event that you decide to move from the Onn box to, for example, a Blu-ray player, this comes in useful.

You? Let’s simply leave it connected to an application

Nevertheless, there is a peculiarity here. You may change the app that the Star Button opens by pressing it for a longer period of time if it is already assigned to a certain app. On the other hand, if you have it set to cycle device inputs (for example, if you want it to operate a receiver rather than your TV), you will need to go into the settings menu of the remote control, scroll all the way down, and then you will find an option to modify the functionality of the Star Button. When the button is used to start an application, that menu choice is not shown.

At the very bottom of the remote, there are four branded quick-launch buttons that are labeled with the respective companies’ names: YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount+. Additionally, it is not at much a new phenomena; nonetheless, there is a fun little gimmick that may be used here. While you are holding down the YouTube button, you will be presented with the choice to have it assigned to either YouTube TV, YouTube itself, or YouTube Music. That is a touching addition.

There are a few other buttons that need mentioning, including: When utilizing this gadget, you and your spouse, roommates, or children may all receive your own suggestions thanks to the dedicated choices that allow you to swap Google accounts. This is an exceptionally convenient feature. (And suggestions continue to play a significant role in the experience of using the home screen on Google TV.) And the “Live TV Guide” button, which is shaped like a little television, will take you directly to the guide for Google TV. This guide incorporates a variety of sources, including YouTube TV, of course, as well as hundreds of FAST channels, which are free television channels that are funded by advertisements, from a variety of sources. In addition to that, there is a “Dashboard button” that is really a settings button by disguise. The dashboard of Google TV, which also contains alerts in addition to settings, is opened when you press this button.

I have one and only one issue regarding the remote, and it is a little one that is not unexpected at all. The buttons on the remote do not have any kind of backlighting. Given that this is a gadget that costs fifty dollars, I did not anticipate that they would have a backlight, but it would have been good to have one.

Onn 4K Pro is a better: It is the experience

In the beginning of this review, I expressed my doubts. What I was worried about was the latency. Regarding Walmart’s nonsense, I was concerned. Neither of those things is giving me any headaches as I wrap things up. The Onn 4K Pro has shown performance that is superior to that of any gadget that costs fifty dollars. Better than a Fire TV stick that costs fifty dollars. Better than a Roku stick that costs fifty dollars. And a significant improvement over the previous Chromecast with Google TV.

In the same way that it works on my other platforms, I did not have any difficulties when Dolby Vision was activated. The Apple TV 4K is my primary device for watching television, and I also make extensive use of an older Chromecast. Additionally, Dolby Atmos had a significant role in the majority of the services and content that are compatible with it. These include Stranger Things on Netflix and Top Gun Maverick on Paramount+.

I did have a couple glitches in which I did not get Atmos audio in the places where I would have considered it to be there. I was unable to acquire any Atmos via the Apple TV app (Dark Matter and Argyle were both inaccessible for some reason), and there were a few more films on Netflix that did not work properly. It’s possible that your mileage may vary, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it is resolved at some time in the future.

With the exception of the fact that you purchased it at Walmart, you may have thought that it was a genuine Google gadget.

An other element that took me by surprise was the complete absence of any kind of Walmart presence in the areas that I go on a regular basis. (If I’m being really honest, I had completely forgotten that Walmart had unloaded Vudu a few years ago.) There have been no display advertisements thus yet. I am not given any recommendations to purchase stuff from Walmart. The Google TV experience is nothing more than a generic and ordinary one. That in and of itself is still a fairly active item; there is a lot of content being shown on the home screen. However, I have not seen anything that I did not anticipate seeing. In addition, there were no Walmart-specific terms of service whatsoever that I was required to agree to during the initial setup process. In other words, the typical Google content.

Once again, it would not come as a surprise to me if things were to alter at some time. However, things are looking up so far.

However, the most significant enhancement that Google TV has brought to the table in comparison to Chromecast is the complete absence of any kind of latency. There is a possibility that it is not quite as smooth as what I am used to seeing on Apple TV 4K; however, this is a very minor criticism and something that I would anticipate from it just being a new platform. The process of navigating between home screens and applications is speedy, just how it should be. In the process of waiting for the options to shift from one tile to the next, I do not get impatient. I don’t know if it is due to enhancements in the hardware (remember that this system has three gigabytes of random access memory) or to development. And it makes no difference to me. Simply said, I’m relieved that it’s improved.

The voice control, by the way, functions just as you would anticipate it to. From the sofa, Google Assistant is able to hear me well. My voice is audible from the kitchen, which is around 25 feet away. Moreover, when the television is turned on, my soundbar is able to emit audio answers. However, if the television is turned off, the Onn 4K Pro will respond via a speaker that is built into the device (this is the same way that it works with the Fire TV Cube). After that, it will turn on the television and channel everything through it.

It is important to bear in mind that if you have any Nest Hub speakers within hearing, you may have discrimination issues. This occurs when the microphones of another device hear you when you actually intended the Onn 4K Pro to handle the situation. Nevertheless, this is not a flaw with the Onn 4K Pro; it is just the way that things operate in this regard.

Ought you to purchase it?

As of right now, I am able to declare without any kind of hesitation that if I were forced to pick between the Chromecast with Google TV and the Onn 4K Pro Streaming Device (ugh, stupid name), I would go with the latter. Both of them are priced the same. When it comes to paper, they are almost identical in every way. The same as Chromecast, it is running Android 12 and is now on the security update for March 2024.

What Onn brings to the table, however, is more. Ethernet as well as USB are already built in. Microphones built into the gadget itself allow for hands-free voice control of the device. It comes with a remote-control locator that is integrated right in. On top of that, it does not have the latency that you have while using the Chromecast.

A single price covers everything

It is no longer necessary for Google to produce a new Chromecast in the near future because of the Onn 4K Pro.

At the moment, everything is going according to plan. My worries with the Onn 4K Pro Streaming Device are mostly related to the software, and they are not as much about the hardware as they are about the software. It is possible that you may come across some subjective complaints. First, the remote control still has a plasticky feel to it. It is possible for the woven texture on the box itself to get dirty. Those who want to continue to compare it to the Fire TV Cube will find that there is no option for an infrared extension. My only complaint would be that it does not utilize a USB-C connection but rather a barrel power connector. On the other hand, they are quite little matters, and they are not genuinely issues that I have. It’s nothing more than observations.

For all intents and purposes, this is, for the time being, a reliable Google TV experience that just so happens to be branded and marketed by Walmart. Other than that, the experience is quite similar to what one would expect from Google anyhow.