Review: Forget Chromecast, Walmart’s Onn Android TV is cheaper and just as good

While smartphones regularly threaten to become more expensive every year, the market for set-top boxes and HDMI dongles is somehow falling to seemingly impossible lows. When we were introduced to Chromecast with Google TV last year, with 4K HDR support and the full capabilities of Android TV, it seemed like a $50 gadget would be the best we could ask for. As it turns out, a new competitor with similar specs and a lower price has come from an unexpected source: Walmart…and it’s pretty good.

Specifications

Goodness

Not very good

Design, hardware and what’s in the box

A 4K onn streaming box is average, and that’s probably the point. The device is a small black plastic box with rounded corners. There’s a microUSB port on one side for power and an HDMI port on the other side for the TV signal. The other side has a small white LED and a discreet button to start the pairing process or initiate a factory reset.

Quite a few people have complained that the onn 4K doesn’t look good compared to their other AV equipment because it has cables running out of opposing sides. I suspect this may be intentional, based on the lack of rubber feet and because the box is so lightweight that the cables can easily pull it off most surfaces. I think the best solution is to stick it to the back of the TV using Velcro strips.

The remote has most of the buttons you’d expect to use with an Android TV, plus four service buttons for direct access to YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max. Unfortunately, these buttons cannot be remapped using common tools like Button Mapper, but I think it may be possible to work around this for a few buttons by loading custom apps with matching pnames. There are also some buttons to directly control the TV’s power, input, and change the channel up or down. The setup process offers configuration of the IR codes for your TV remote control.

There’s nothing glaringly wrong with the remote, and most people won’t have any complaints, but there are several issues that a pedant like me would love to fix. While I tend to nitpick about everything, there are two things that stand out above the rest.

Firstly, the textured white plastic is doomed to discolour and take on a dirty look due to the oils on our hands. I assume white was chosen because it is easier to see in the dark, but any number of bright colors would be equally visible while maintaining the illusion that we are clean creatures.

I was also disappointed by the rounded back that allows it to roll on flat surfaces, making it necessary to hold it in place on the table while pressing the buttons. Additionally, it’s not very wide and I had to grip the remote a little tighter than usual to keep it from moving in my hand when pressing the buttons. After about 30 minutes of continuous use, I noticed that my hands were a little sore from the effort I put in to maintain my grip. This will never bother someone who only uses the remote to briefly start a show or movie, but it will be inconvenient for activities like searching YouTube or watching a lot of short clips and music videos.

It’s simple details like this that make me want to reach for the TV remote. Fortunately, the HDMI-CEC implementation works well. I’ve had some weird issues with the power button causing the TV to turn off and back on immediately, but I’m not sure if I should blame the TV, other connected devices, or onn 4K.

The package also includes power and HDMI cables, each of which is approximately 1 meter (just over 3 feet) long. This seems a bit short for a power cable, but it’s probably long enough for most home entertainment centers.

Software and performance

I was originally worried that Walmart might be putting a lot of unwanted apps in here to get a little extra profit from a low-cost device, but it’s actually running an unspoiled version of Android TV. I didn’t see any rude apps plugging Walmart products or services, unlike what you might see from the Fire TV (and Apple TV).

In fact, the only customization that caught my attention was the list of recommended apps during the setup process, and that was just the introduction of a few well-known streaming services. From this menu, you’ll have no choice but to install Hulu, HBO Max, and Prime Video; But they can be uninstalled once you reach the main interface. Netflix and Disney+ are also pre-installed and are not removable, but I think that’s a requirement for streaming 4K content. If you dig into the app player, you can also find the ugly, non-removable “MoviePlayer” app that’s probably best left alone.

App and game playback speeds are basically on par with Chromecast and Google TV. I didn’t notice any frame drop or vibration, but I didn’t install anything that required excessive effort. Since there’s only 8GB of storage space, about half of which is taken up by the operating system and some pre-installed apps, you won’t have much space for big games anyway. If you have an OTG cable with power through, you can connect more external storage devices and wired Ethernet adapters. I also tried out Stadia, and it was like playing on Chromecast Ultra, which is usually too powerful for me.

Internally, the hardware is virtually identical to that of the ADT-3, Google’s developer-friendly reference device. It uses the same Amlogic S905Y2 SoC with a 1.8GHz quad-core CPU and ARM Mali-G313 MP2 GPU, and it’s even made by the same company Askey.

onn 4K vs Chromecast with Google TV

The release of onn 4K raised a simple question: Is getting a Chromecast with Google TV worth the extra $20, or can we save a few bucks to get something just as good? In my opinion, the answer to that comes down to future firmware updates and exclusive features, but neither option comes with much certainty.

It remains to be seen whether we’ll see OS updates for the onn 4K in the future, but it may come down to how successful it is and whether Walmart is willing to pay the ODM (original device manufacturer) for the new versions. There’s an update at the end of the setup procedure that pushes the security patch up to April 2021, which may indicate that Walmart and Askey won’t abandon it right away.

Of course, the appeal of Chromecast with Google TV isn’t just about timely OS updates;possibleTo get new and exclusive features. Google hasn’t historically shown enough interest in Android TV over the years, but now that there’s a relevant first-party device out there — we’ll pretend the Nexus Player didn’t happen, just like Google does — it’s a little easier to imagine something similar to the “Pixel experience” on Our televisions.

Should you buy it? Rating 9/10

Walmart TV 4K Android

definitely. Despite the questionable future of software updates and some relatively minor quibbles about the remote, this thing really is a great buy… given its price. It’s not the greatest hardware out there — so you’ll have to spend a little more for the NVIDIA Shield. Nor are they the newest, sleekest or most promising features – ask CCwGTV if that’s important. But this little streaming box checks all the most important boxes: it’s cheap, works great, and has no major drawbacks.

Walmart’s prices are so low that they may be an impulse buy for many people. Even if you’re tempted to spend a little extra to put a Chromecast with Google TV in your living room, it’s easier to invest in placing a 4K device in other spaces like a guest room or workshop.

Buy it if…

• You need a streaming device with 4K resolution or higher
• You want the Android TV experience with minimal investment

Don’t buy it if…

• You demand the latest and greatest software and features
• Want to play games locally on this device (game streaming services are fine)

Where to buy

• Walmart